A western Michigan television news station's general manager has issued an apology following a staff memo that advised reporters to limit their coverage of LGBTQ+ Pride Month events. The memo, circulated among WOOD-TV staff in Grand Rapids, suggested that such coverage could be "divisive" within the community, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The memo reportedly urged staff to carefully evaluate the news value of Pride events, citing the conservative nature of western Michigan. It acknowledged that certain LGBTQ+ related topics could spark controversy among local viewers. Station owner, Texas-based Nexstar Media, swiftly responded, stating that the memo's sentiments did not reflect the company's values, journalistic practices, or respect for its audience.

WOOD-TV General Manager Julie Brinks issued a statement affirming the station's dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and its commitment to comprehensive and unbiased news coverage. Brinks apologized for any offense caused to the LGBTQ+ community and the station's viewers, assuring that appropriate measures would be taken to address the situation.

The incident unfolds against a backdrop of growing opposition to Pride events and pro-LGBTQ+ materials, a movement gaining traction among some Republicans and conservatives nationwide. This resistance has manifested in various forms, including campaigns to defund libraries that refuse to remove LGBTQ+ content from their collections, mirroring similar efforts in other states. The memo itself acknowledged receiving viewer pushback against Pride-related stories, highlighting the financial implications for news outlets navigating these sensitive issues.

The memo reportedly advised reporters seeking to cover Pride events to strive for balanced reporting, presenting perspectives from both sides of the issue. It emphasized that while staff might not personally agree with particular viewpoints, respecting viewers' opinions is paramount. Grand Rapids, located in Kent County, voted for President Biden in the 2020 election, while neighboring Ottawa County, also within WOOD-TV's coverage area, favored then-President Trump. Ottawa County recently witnessed a conservative Christian group, Ottawa Impact, gain a majority on the county’s board of commissioners, leading to several contentious decisions, including the closure of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department and the withdrawal of funding for the county's largest Pride festival in Holland. Despite this, an inaugural Pride festival in Grand Haven, Ottawa County, attracted thousands of attendees the previous weekend.