Michael Rogers (activist)
Encyclopedia
Michael Rogers is the Managing Director and partner of Raw Story Media, Inc. publishers of The Raw Story
, an American
fundraiser, blog
ger and gay rights activist in the Washington, D.C.
-area best known for his activity in outing
closeted
gay politicians who actively oppose gay rights. He has worked as a fundraiser for a number of non-governmental organizations, He is a leading subject of the 2009 film Outrage
, on the subject of outing closeted politicians. In 2008, Rogers founded the National Blogger and Citizen Journalist Initiative, now known as the Netroots Connect program of Netroots Nation. Rogers is director of the program.
Prior to his notoriety as a blogger
and citizen journalist Rogers was a fundraiser in Buffalo
and New York City
. His career as a fundraiser began at the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association, operators of National Public Radio Affiliates WNED-FM
, and WNED (AM)
, and Public Broadcasting System affiliate WNED-TV
, where he was part of the team that raised funds for the construction of a new broadcasting facility. In 1989 became the Development Coordinator/Program Manager of the Hetrick Martin Institute in New York City
, operators of the Harvey Milk High School
. He has served in senior fundraising positions including Director of Donor Programs at the Funding Exchange, Director of Development of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
, and Senior Manager of Major Gifts at Greenpeace
. Rogers is the former owner publisher of PageOneQ, an on-line news aggregator focused on LGBT
news and information.
Rogers' web site blogactive.com has been a focal point for outing
closet
ed gay politicians who actively oppose gay rights. His blog has been discussed in the Washington Post and he has been a focal point in the debate over the ethics of outing
public figures. Stories reported by Rogers have included Representatives
Ed Schrock
and David Dreier
, U.S. Senator
Larry Craig
and South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer
.
AOL News reported on May 13, 2009 that Doug McKelway
, co-host of Washington, DC's Lets Talk Live on local cable television
outlet News Channel 8, said to Rogers in a televised interview that he would like to "take you (Rogers) outside and punch you across the face..... I think you're hurting innocent people."
The Raw Story
The Raw Story is a progressive news, politics and weblog publication founded in 2004. Updated continuously, it is known primarily for its investigative reporting...
, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fundraiser, blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger and gay rights activist in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
-area best known for his activity in outing
Outing
Outing is the act of disclosing a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person's true sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's consent. Outing gives rise to issues of privacy, choice, hypocrisy, and harm in addition to sparking debate on what constitutes common good in efforts...
closeted
Closeted
Closeted and in the closet are metaphors used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and intersex people who have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity and aspects thereof, including sexual identity and sexual behavior.-Background:In late 20th...
gay politicians who actively oppose gay rights. He has worked as a fundraiser for a number of non-governmental organizations, He is a leading subject of the 2009 film Outrage
Outrage (2009 film)
Outrage is a 2009 Emmy Award-nominated American documentary film written and directed by Kirby Dick. The film presents a narrative discussing the hypocrisy of individuals purported in the documentary to be closeted politicians who promote anti-gay legislation...
, on the subject of outing closeted politicians. In 2008, Rogers founded the National Blogger and Citizen Journalist Initiative, now known as the Netroots Connect program of Netroots Nation. Rogers is director of the program.
Prior to his notoriety as a blogger
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
and citizen journalist Rogers was a fundraiser in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. His career as a fundraiser began at the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association, operators of National Public Radio Affiliates WNED-FM
WNED-FM
WNED-FM is an American radio station broadcasting in Buffalo, New York at a frequency of 94.5 MHz. It offers a classical music format.WNED-FM simulcasts its classical format on WNJA 89.7 FM in Jamestown, New York.-History:...
, and WNED (AM)
WNED (AM)
WNED is an American radio station broadcasting in Buffalo, New York at a frequency of 970 kHz. It offers an all-news format.WNED is one of two National Public Radio affiliates in Buffalo. The other is WBFO, operated by the University of Buffalo...
, and Public Broadcasting System affiliate WNED-TV
WNED-TV
WNED-TV is a Public Broadcasting Service member Public televisionstation in Buffalo, New York. Owned by the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association, it broadcasts on digital channel 43 from studios in downtown Buffalo and a transmitter located in Grand Island, New York...
, where he was part of the team that raised funds for the construction of a new broadcasting facility. In 1989 became the Development Coordinator/Program Manager of the Hetrick Martin Institute in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, operators of the Harvey Milk High School
Harvey Milk High School
Harvey Milk High School is a public high school in the East Village of New York City designed for, though not limited to, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender young people, as well as those questioning their sexuality...
. He has served in senior fundraising positions including Director of Donor Programs at the Funding Exchange, Director of Development of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force builds the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community from the ground up. The Task Force is the country’s premier social justice organization fighting to improve the lives of LGBT people, and working to create positive, lasting...
, and Senior Manager of Major Gifts at Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
. Rogers is the former owner publisher of PageOneQ, an on-line news aggregator focused on LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
news and information.
Rogers' web site blogactive.com has been a focal point for outing
Outing
Outing is the act of disclosing a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person's true sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's consent. Outing gives rise to issues of privacy, choice, hypocrisy, and harm in addition to sparking debate on what constitutes common good in efforts...
closet
Closet
A closet is a small and enclosed space, a cabinet, or a cupboard in a house or building used for general storage or hanging clothes. A closet for food storage is usually referred to as a pantry...
ed gay politicians who actively oppose gay rights. His blog has been discussed in the Washington Post and he has been a focal point in the debate over the ethics of outing
Outing
Outing is the act of disclosing a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person's true sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's consent. Outing gives rise to issues of privacy, choice, hypocrisy, and harm in addition to sparking debate on what constitutes common good in efforts...
public figures. Stories reported by Rogers have included Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Ed Schrock
Ed Schrock
Edward Lee "Ed" Schrock is a retired career Naval officer and former Republican politician who served as a member of the U.S...
and David Dreier
David Dreier
David Timothy Dreier is the U.S. Representative for , serving in Congress since 1981. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and business career:...
, U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Larry Craig
Larry Craig
Larry Edwin Craig is a former Republican politician from the U.S. state of Idaho. He served 18 years in the U.S. Senate , preceded by 10 years in the U.S. House, representing Idaho's first district . His 28 years in the Congress rank as the second-longest in Idaho history, trailing only William...
and South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer
André Bauer
Rudolph Andreas "André" Bauer was the 87th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 2003 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party...
.
AOL News reported on May 13, 2009 that Doug McKelway
Doug McKelway
Douglas B. McKelway is a television journalist who serves as a general assignment reporter for the Washington, D.C. bureau of the Fox News Channel. He joined the network in November 2010. McKelway previously worked at the Washington D.C. ABC affiliate WJLA-TV.He was born and raised in Washington...
, co-host of Washington, DC's Lets Talk Live on local cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
outlet News Channel 8, said to Rogers in a televised interview that he would like to "take you (Rogers) outside and punch you across the face..... I think you're hurting innocent people."