Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Finally! Some conservative representation during 'Pride Month'

Although Austin's "Pride Month" is typically recognized in August, the city's CBS affiliate was out in full force this month with its "All in Y'all" televised special. 

Airing on KEYE-TV, Chanel 42, on Tuesday (June 27) following the 6 o'clock news, the special was about as favorable to the liberal-progressive side as one would generally expect in terms of its presentation. But despite the framing of the issues with left-of-center terminology and imagery (e.g. calling bills designed to protect women and minors "anti-LGBTQIA+" and so forth), CBS Austin, in partnership with the Texas Tribune, did a relatively bold thing: 

They provided viewers a balanced room of panelists and audience members during a town hall-style program following the special! No, seriously, they did. No moderate Republicans with social-left sympathies, either -- actual socially conservative Republicans. The town hall aired immediately after a news package on sexuality bills that passed or failed during the recently concluded 88th regular legislative session. 

Here was the lineup: