Last year, Lee, who is gay, and others met with Chuck Cochrane, the Telegram publisher, to request the ban be dropped. Lee said Cochrane responded via a letter, saying the newspaper was not prepared to change the rules. They're not thinking how their policy affects people and that the policy is a form of discrimination. It's especially ironic, he said, because the Bangor Daily News, a newspaper with a more conservative reputation, decided in December to run announcements of gay and lesbian commitment ceremonies. It's what the community will tolerate in changes.
Newspapers have to be very aware of the prevailing attitude of the community.
Olmstead recalled a story told by the late J. Russell Wiggins, the former editor of both the Washington Post and the Ellsworth American. Wiggins broke with long-standing tradition at the Post, and became the first editor of a major newspaper to run wedding photographs of black brides. Someday, we'll wonder why we even asked the question. That's not the case, according to City Councilor Tom Kane, who's been advocating a citizen review panel for the police for over a year. Chitwood did not return calls seeking comment.