America's leading LGBT rights groups
are divided in their reactions to Phil Robertson's reinstatement on
Duck Dynasty.
A&E announced Friday its decision
to keep Robertson on the reality show.
The news comes a little more than a
week after the television network suspended Robertson for comments
made during an interview with GQ. Robertson
told the men's fashion glossy that gay sex was an illogical “sin”
and put it in the same category as bestiality and promiscuity.
In
announcing its decision, the network reiterated its “disappointment”
in Robertson but added that Duck Dynasty
is “not a show about one man's views.” A&E added that it
would launch a national PSA campaign “promoting unity, tolerance
and acceptance among all people.”
(Related:
Phil
Robertson back on A&E's Duck
Dynasty.)
The Human Rights
Campaign (HRC) described the development as “positive.”
“We've
received assurances also that the Roberson family is now open to
working with African-American and LGBT people to address the real
harm that such anti-gay and racist comments can cause,” HRC
spokesman Fred Sainz told CNN. “That's been our ask since Phil's
comments ran in GQ,
and while it's a positive step, it certainly cannot and should not be
the last one.” (The video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
GLAAD felt
differently, criticizing A&E's decision in a statement.
“Phil
Robertson should look African American and gay people in the eyes and
hear about the hurtful impact of praising Jim Crow laws and comparing
gay people to terrorists,” GLAAD
said. “If dialogue with Phil is not part of the next steps,
then A+E has chosen profits over African American and gay people –
especially its employees and viewers.”