Just a few short weeks ago when Len Downie was running the Washington Post, the paper had been carrying a reputation among some in the gay community for being less than friendly to the fagalas. Stories, like the one about the death of gay soldier Maj. Alan Rogers, were scrubbed of all gay references, seemingly as a matter of policy. (Downie personally edited the Rogers article, and removed any mention of his sexuality.)

To some onlookers, the Post had an unwritten clause in its style guide to remove any mention of someone begin gay; in fact, the official style guide says one's sexual orientation isn't worth mentioning unless its relevant, citing privacy issues.

But to a different set of eyes, the Post is making progress. A few years back, the paper began including same-sex couple in its marriage announcements.

So, with Marcus Brauchli now being named to the top spot, can we expect even more progress? Or will the word "homosexual" always be used in place of "gay"?

Besides the Rogers story, the Post has been criticized for other coverage of gay subject matter, although it’s unknown how much of a role Downie played in the editing of those stories.

When filmmaker Ismail Merchant died in 2005, the Post, and other mainstream media outlets, failed to mention that fellow filmmaker James Ivory was his partner. Similarly, the Post and other outlets did not mention that writer Susan Sontag had a female partner in coverage of her death in 2004.

In another case, when openly gay Sgt. Robert Schoonover of the D.C. Police Department committed suicide, his death merited a one-sentence mention in a 2006 Post story about another officer who committed suicide. The Blade reported allegations of homophobia in the police department that some speculated played a role in Schoonover’s death.

The paper has also been accused of inadequate coverage of the debate over the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and of Capital Pride in the past, though it did feature the event more prominently this year.

It’s unclear how Brauchli would handle coverage of gay issues when he takes the reins at the Post.

He held the managing editor’s job at the Journal for less than one year. Brauchli has never lived in Washington and has not had to coordinate and edit local news coverage during his 24-year career at the Journal, which has no metro section.

[Washington Blade]