The media is an influential force across the political, generational, and cultural spectrum. Considering the current sociopolitical climate and its impact upon legislation, particularly concerning the daily lives of community members, the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Latinos in the South program, with grant funding support from Emory University through the COMPASS Initiative, sought to examine the representation and coverage of LGBTQ issues in Spanish-language online news sources across nine Southern states.
This report examines how news outlets cover topics related to the LGBTQ community, including the scope, tone, and framing of their coverage. Our analysis focused on identifying patterns, gaps, and potential biases in reporting, providing insights into how Spanish-speaking audiences in the South are informed about LGBTQ matters. Based on our findings, recommendations are provided for news outlets and staff to enhance the depth and balance of their coverage and contextualize reporting within the community and political landscape.