Charles Pugh tackles touchy subject of homophobia

Local newscaster hopes his own experiences as a gay man can serve as inspiration to others

By Jason Michael

Originally printed 1/29/2004 (Issue 1205 - Between The Lines News)

DETROIT - Charles Pugh is not used to being the story. A veteran reporter, he has covered countless stories of his own over the past decade, and as the co-anchor of WJBK's Fox 2 News Weekend, he presents stories fairly and without bias every Saturday and Sunday morning. But today he is the story, as he prepares not only to moderate the discussion at the town hall meeting on homophobia in Detroit this week, but to speak out on his own experiences as a gay man as well.

"I was invited by the organizers to be the moderator of this town hall forum and I felt what better way than this forum to just basically speak directly to young people in the city of Detroit and let them know that they do have a very influential ally on their side who has walked many miles in their shoes," said Pugh. "So many young people never see any normal gay people, they see the extremes because those are the people who are most noticeable. Those are the most obvious among us, but those are the minority. To be honest, most gay people you would walk right on by without noticing. And because of not recognizing folks, it makes a lot of young people feel isolated. What we need to do as professionals who are running this community and who are influential, we need to embrace these young people and let them know that they have role models and mentors and confidants, people who can show them that they be successful and the sky is the limit."

Pugh's career has certainly been soaring in recent years. A Detroit native, Pugh's early years were beset by tragedy. His mother was murdered when he was only three. Just four years later, his father shot and killed himself in the bedroom across the hall from his, leaving a seven-year-old Charles to call 911.

Raised by his grandmother, Pugh flourished despite it all. He graduated with honors from Murray Wright High School and received a scholarship to the University of Missouri, where he studied broadcast journalism. His goal was to be on the air in Detroit - a major media market - before his ten-year high school reunion. After stints with television stations in Topeka, Kan., Fort Wayne, Ind. and Norfolk, Va., Pugh was hired by WJBK Fox 2 and returned to Detroit in June of 1999, making his goal with two months to spare.

Pugh's bosses at Fox 2 have long known of his sexual orientation, and he says it's never been a secret.

"For me, I'm opposed to the word coming out," he said. "It's like a buzz word. You can't come out when you've never been in. I'm not in. I don't hide the fact that I'm gay. I don't hide it at work. I don't hide it with my friends. I don't hide it in public. I'm not ashamed of anything, so I don't have anything to hide."

How Pugh's own sexual orientation will come up at the town hall meeting he's not sure, only that it will.

"I don't have a plan," said Pugh. "It will not be orchestrated. It will be a natural part of the discussion. It will be like a television interviewer who is a parent doing a segment with somebody who is teaching folks how to instruct their children to read. Interviewers share their lives during the course of the interview so that the information exchanged can be more of a conversation. It would be ludicrous for me for host this town hall meeting and not mention that I have a direct connection to the meeting."

Pugh said he's optimistic that the town hall will make an impact and have lasting positive affects. He also sees the issue of disarming homophobia in Detroit as an urgent one.

"We need to come together as a community because there are too many kids who feel that they're alone, who feel like they're the only gay person who has been kicked out of school, who has been kicked out of their home, who has been abandoned by their friends, who still goes to church and feels like they're going to burn in hell because God does not love them anymore," he said. "This town hall meeting is historic and it's important to the mental health and physical health of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people and their supporters, the people who are our friends."

LGBT youth are of particular concern to Pugh.

"As a 32 year old, I realize that I've worked hard to make myself a role model for young men in this city, and young people in general," Pugh said. "A lot of people do look at me as a role model since I'm a Detroit public school graduate, someone who's a college graduate, someone who has been able to secure a solid, forward-moving career, and also someone who has a pretty stable private life. I just want young people, but also other people, younger adults who perhaps are struggling with this issue, to maybe look my way and find a little clarity, to find a little support. So that they know that they are not alone and that one day they can have it pretty much together and not be afraid of their homosexuality."

Pugh said he's proud of the life he's put together for himself today. In addition to his responsibilities at Fox 2, Pugh is also the news director for WJLB, a popular urban radio station broadcasting in Detroit. Equally important to his career success, Pugh is happy to have been in a stable relationship for the past year.

If anyone is thinking about looking at him differently after learning that he's gay, Pugh says they shouldn't.

"Maybe I'm being na•ve, but I don't expect any negative response," he said. "I've lived my life every day being who I am. I go out to clubs. I go to Pride. I go to other kinds of discussions and support groups and there are lots of people who know. Friends and family members tell me all the time, 'Someone ran into me today and asked if you were gay.' I'm sure there might be some hateful bastards who will send me an email to the station, but I'm not worried. You can't live your life in fear.

"That's one thing about being a man, you stand up and you play the hand you're dealt," Pugh continued. "And if somebody has a problem with me being gay, that's their problem, not mine. I'm a Detroiter and I know how to take care of myself. I'm not concerned. There are other gay on-air people in Detroit who are out. Yeah, they're white, so there may be a different reaction. But I think people know Charles Pugh already and this is just one more thing that they're learning about me. There might be some people who have a hard time accepting it, but I have faith in Detroiters that they're not petty, that they're not bigots, that they'll continue to look at me as a professional newscaster who cares about Detroit. I'm the same person."