Glaser’s On-Air Statement That He’s Gay Is Delayed

November was supposed to have been the month that Garrett Glaser, KNBC-TV Channel 4’s media/entertainment reporter, announced to viewers that he was gay in the course of presenting a gay-themed story.

It didn’t happen. And acting news director Kenny Boles says there are “no specific plans” for Glaser to “come out” on a newscast, although Boles considers it “an important thing to do.”

“It’s certainly something we’re going to look at in the February and May sweeps,” Boles said in an interview this week. But because of the interim nature of his position, he noted, he could not commit the station to any course of action.

In an interview last August, then-news director Mark Hoffman had said that Glaser would be allowed to acknowledge his homosexuality during the November ratings sweeps as part of a story relevant to the gay community.

In September, however, Hoffman was fired, and Boles came on as acting news director. Shortly thereafter, Boles said he realized that rival stations had learned of KNBC’s planned mini-documentaries for the November sweeps, forcing Channel 4 to scramble to revamp its proposed story lineup. Glaser’s report was pushed to the back burner.

Boles did give him permission, however, to acknowledge his homosexuality during an October appearance on Marilu Henner’s syndicated talk show, which is broadcast locally on KNBC.

Boles stressed that having Glaser come out on the air “is an important thing to do. . . . It shows that we acknowledge and accept the fact that people, including our own reporters, have the right to make their own choices about living and loving.”

For his part, Glaser said he is unconcerned with the postponement. “I’m grateful to be working in an environment in which I’m supported. A lot of other reporters don’t,” he said.

Glaser said that although he knows of several other local TV reporters who are gay, none has chosen to be as forthcoming about it.

“A lot of people,” he said, “come up to me and ask, ‘Why is it so important for you to say that you’re gay on the air? Heterosexuals don’t say they’re heterosexual.’

“But there’s a presumption of heterosexuality in our society. By declaring myself, I’m taking a position saying, ‘This is who I am, and I’m not ashamed of it.’ ”