Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 11:24:33 -0500 From: GLAADP21@aol.com M E D I A W A T C H for February 3, 1995 by A L K I E L W A S S E R Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter TV GUIDANCE "During the past year, television has demonstrated over and over that a kiss is NOT just a kiss when the audience is watching two people of the same sex lock lips." So begins Dennis McDougal's feature article, "The Static Over 'Silence'," which appears in the February 4th issue of TV Guide. The article examines the controversy surrounding the fact-based NBC movie, Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story. Specifically, McDougal focuses on a scene at the movie's conclusion, in which two lesbian lovers are seen kissing. He reports that, after months of intense lobbying, the Family Defense Council and Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) failed to censor that kiss. According to the TVC's "Rev." Lou Sheldon, broadcasting the kiss will "damage the heterosexual ethic among common folks in middle America." "The values of America are Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve . . . or in this case, Eve and Stephanie," Sheldon told McDougal. Through comments from actress Glenn Close (who plays the film's title role), as well as Cammermeyer herself, McDougal offers sufficient rebuttal to Sheldon's paranoia. In an incidental, yet interesting remark, Sheldon also told McDougal that he first learned about Serving in Silence by reading a cover story in Out magazine, a national lesbian/gay monthly. The revelation suggests an amusing image of "Rev." Sheldon settling down for a typical reading session . . . Bible in one hand, a copy of Playguy in the other. But Sheldon's comment serves as a more serious reminder, as well. To fuel a non-stop (though hardly non-profit) propaganda machine, the "Christian" Right devotes considerable energy to monitoring -- and then distorting -- the content of lesbian/gay media. By contrast, the lesbian/gay community's efforts to monitor Right Wing media are relatively nascent. Unfortunately, McDougal's article glosses over the central role played by the mass media in any struggle for liberation. However, he does explain that Cammermeyer -- a self-described "private person" -- felt a moral obligation to participate in the making of this movie. "Her own career had been cut short," McDougal writes, "but she believed that by presenting her story on TV, she had an opportunity to prevent the same thing from happening to other gay soldiers." He quotes Cammermeyer, who says: "I decided I really didn't have a right not to try to speak out." As a medium that spans the globe, television has provided Cammermeyer with an exceptional opportunity to "speak out." And so has TV Guide, one of America's most popular magazines. Send comments to Anthea Disney, Editor-in-Chief, TV Guide, Radnor, PA 19088, e-mail tvgeditor@delphi.com. HOMOPHOBIA DOES NOT COMPUTE ! One of the world's largest software manufacturers -- Microsoft Corp. -- has pulled a potentially homophobic ad from circulation. The advertisement, which ran once in People magazine, featured an effeminate man being threatened with physical abuse by another, "macho-appearing" male. Intended as humor, the ad provoked concerned responses from readers who reminded Microsoft that gay bashing isn't funny. Following those complaints, the company quickly apologized and reported that the ad would not be used again. A company spokesperson said that the ad "was absolutely not intended to condone or promote any form of antisocial behavior." Perhaps Microsoft would consider taking the company's good intentions a step further. How about an ad campaign that is absolutely intended to promote pro-social behavior . . . featuring out and proud lesbian, gay and bisexual models? Compliments or suggestions can be sent to Microsoft Corp., One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA, 98052-6399, tel. 206- 936-8661, fax 206-93 MS FAX. OVER THE WALL The front page of The Wall Street Journal's February 2nd issue features "Who Needs Oprah? San Francisco Has Board of Supervisors," an article by staff reporter G. Pascal Zachary. In a weak and failed attempt at wit, Zachary pans San Francisco's eclectic city government. Noting several times that The City's 11-member Board of Supervisors includes two lesbians and a gay man, Zachary derides the board as "more oddball than ever" and "a long-running joke." He also trivializes newly-enacted legislation intended to protect the civil rights of San Francisco's transgendered citizens. Zachary dismisses the transgender legislation in the same mocking breath that he uses to describe Supervisor Angela Alioto's eating habits (she gives "speeches with her mouth full of food," Zachary reports). "And then there is the transgender rights law," Zachary quips, "which passed in December after an elaborate and angst-ridden public hearing on the plight of the sexually and sartorially ambiguous." It is extremely unfortunate that -- on the front page of the nation's preeminent newspaper -- a reporter fails to grasp the distinction between landmark civil rights legislation and bad table manners. Zachary's article demonstrates the ignorance of disdain; he offers ridicule in lieu of reporting on a community that is widely oppressed and deeply misunderstood. This "reporter" completely missed an opportunity to raise the nation's dim awareness about transgender/transsexual issues. Send feedback to Paul E. Steiger, Managing Editor, The Wall Street Journal, 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10281, tel. 212-416-2000. SCHOOL'S OUT ? Multicultural education is once again under attack in New York, home of the now-infamous "Rainbow Curriculum," a reading/teaching guide that was gutted by homophobes because it dared to suggest that children should be taught respect for all people, including lesbians and gays. This time around, Carol Gresser, President of the Board of Education (Queens) has introduced two resolutions that would limit the scope of multicultural education to differences based on "race, ethnicity, and linguistic group." If Gresser gets her way, the children of New York -- certainly one of the most diverse locations on the planet -- won't be reading very much about some important categories of diversity. Specifically excluded in the Gresser plan are the categories of religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability. Gresser's resolutions are scheduled to come before the Board of Education on February 15. Organizers are asking that letters denouncing the anti-intellectual effort be sent to the city's mayor, who holds considerable sway. Write to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, City Hall, New York, NY 10007. Instructive comments can also be shared directly with Carol Gresser, Board of Education, 110 Livington Street, Brooklyn, NY 11202, tel. 718-935-2000. TALKING BACK TO "HateTalk" RADIO Responding to KSFO's AIDS-phobic and homophobic broadcasts, over a hundred protesters -- including S. F. Supervisors Tom Ammiano, Carole Migden and Sue Bierman -- picketed the offices of the Bay Area radio station. The February 3rd demonstration was spearheaded by ACT UP/Golden Gate, GLAAD, Mobilization Against AIDS, The AIDS Policy Project, and Project Inform. KSFO is one of several Bay Area broadcasting ventures owned by media giant ABC (the American Broadcasting Company). At the center of the current controversy is J. Paul Emerson, a star attraction in KSFO's conservative "HotTalk" format. Emerson's daily broadcasts consist almost wholly of bigoted epithets. For example, he has referred to gay men as "sick butt humpers" and describes Japanese Americans as "rotten and filthy." Most recently, Emerson used the public airwaves to call for the imprisonment of persons with AIDS, and he has repeatedly made false claims about how HIV is transmitted. Emerson insists that HIV is an airborne contagion, and he warns his listeners that gay people are purposely spreading the virus and endangering non-gays. Remarkably, Emerson's employers continue to support him. KSFO management issued a statement condemning the February 3rd picket as an assault on the First Amendment. The suggestion is ironic, to say the least. Freedom of the press involves much more than the freedom to own a press (or radio station). Broadcasters communicate with audiences far larger than could ever be reached from the proverbial soap box that most individuals are "free" to use. Such extraordinary rights imply extraordinaryresponsibilities, which broadcasters cannot disregard in the name of "freedom." Actually, the Constitutional experts at KSFO have a very narrow view of speech and press freedoms. They seem to have forgotten that the First Amendment does not only protect the rights of homophobic broadcasters. It also guarantees the public's right to talk back. Exercising his own right of response, S. F. Mayor Frank Jordan wrote a letter to KSFO's general manager in which he described Emerson's HIV broadcasts as "absolutely false" and a threat to "the public health and safety of our citizens." "Mr. Emerson does have the right to free speech," Jordan added, "He does not have the right to go unchallenged." Of course, J. Paul Emerson is not really interested in the robust dialogue that free speech encourages. Instead, he prefers the monologues of hate that are the hallmark of homophobic media moguls like Rush Limbaugh and Pat Roberston. Because their lies would crumble in even the most casual of debates, these talk show hosts insist on doing all of the talking. We can't let the bigots of broadcasting have the last -- or only -- word. Continued complaints should be directed to Robert Iger, Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., 77 W. 66th Street, New York, NY 10021, tel. 212-456-7777, fax 212-456-1419. Mickey Luckoff, KSFO's General Manager, can be reached at 415-954- 8181, 415-954-8100 or 415-398-5600; fax 415-391-2795. Compliments should go to Tom Ammiano, Carole Migden and Sue Bierman, Board of Supervisors, Room 235, City Hall, San Francisco, CA 94102, tel. 415-554-5184; Frank Jordan, Room 200, City Hall, San Francisco, CA 94102, tel. 415-554-6141. Samples of J. Paul Emerson's hateful and lunatic broadcasts have been recorded on a special GLAAD hotline. Anyone who has not heard Emerson on the air is encouraged to call 415-905-9222 and judge for yourself. The hotline operates 24 hours a day. BIGOTRY IS BAD BUSINESS KSFO's management continues to ignore complaints about the radio station's homophobic broadcasts. However, KSFO's advertisers seem to be getting the message, loud and clear. Convinced that hatred doesn't sell, major sponsors are rapidly canceling their advertising accounts. According to an ACT UP tally, companies that have pulled out include Safeway Stores, Virgin Atlantic, the California State Lottery Board, and AT&T. A number of businesses, however, still don't know what they're paying for, and need to be reminded that bigotry is bad business. Companies currently advertising on KSFO include Vantage Press, Gold Bond Powder, Tide (Procter & Gamble), and IBM. Concerns can be shared with Vantage Press, tel. 212-736-1767; Gold Bond Powder/Martin Himmel Inc., Hypoluxo, FL 33462, tel. 407-585-0070; Peggy McDonough, Procter & Gamble, Public Affairs Division, P.O. Box 599, Cincinnati, OH 45201-0599; IBM, Old Orchard Road, Armonk, NY 10504, tel. 914-765-1900. Compliments should be sent to California State Lottery Board, tel. 916-322-5156; Steven Burd, Safeway Stores, 201 Fourth Street, Oakland, CA 94660, tel. 510-891-3000; Ross Markwardt, AT&T, 796 Folsom street, San Francisco, CA 94107, tel. 800-222-0900, Andrea Spiegel, Virgin Atlantic Airways, 96 Morton Street, New York, NY 10014, tel. 800- 862-8621. LATHERING THE AIRWAVES Inside/Outside the Beltway is self-described as "the only nationally-viewed gay soap opera and one of very few nationally-distributed gay programs" in the U.S. The Washington, DC-based cable program has just kicked off its third season, and is set to begin airing in 12 major U.S. television markets (New York City, Boston, Buffalo, Miami, Chicago, St. Louis, Denver, Dallas, L.A., San Francisco, Anchorage, and DC). According to producers, the third season of the hard-hitting soap opera "continues to weave together the stories of ten major characters from various walks of life, both gay and straight, and touches on such issues as HIV, AIDS, gay parenting, drug addiction, coming out and rape." Dennis Brooks, executive producer, thinks its fitting that his show's national debut follows in the wake of November's so-called "right-wing voter backlash." "With so much out there on talk radio and cable telling gays and lesbians that they are evil, sinful or deviant, I'm proud that Inside/Outside the Beltway will be a positive force in people's lives," Brooks said. If it's not already doing so, encourage your local cable company to carry this and other lesbian/gay/bisexual programming. For more information about Inside/Outside the Beltway, write to IOB Productions, Inc., P.O. Box 13, Springfield, VA 22150-0013, tel. 703-569-0608. MEDIA BRIEFS * MOMMY QUEEREST . . . Members of the Lesbian and Gay Parents Association have produced a new educational video. Both of My Moms' Names Are Judy: Children of Lesbians and Gays Speak Out examines peer harassment and other issues facing the children of lesbian/gay parents. For complete details, contact Kim Lawton at 415-387-9886. * REBEL YELL . . . The Food Not Bombs Radio Network -- "your voice of rebellion" -- can be heard in over 60 countries. Broadcasts, which are also available on cassette, offer progressive news and analysis of natural & human resource issues. For information, contact the Network at 3145 Geary Blvd., # 12, San Francisco, CA 94118, tel. 415-330-5030. * PRESSING ISSUES . . . "Gay & Lesbian Newspapers: Whose Press?" is among the panel discussions to be presented at Readers & Writers II, a weekend-long conference in San Francisco on Feb. 18 and 19. For tickets or information, call 415-431-0891. * SOUND BITES . . . Commenting on his role as a straight sportscaster on the NBC series Frasier, gay actor Dan Butler told the Los Angeles Times: "I'd like to think that people would not be so narrow-minded as to hold this against me. Besides, some of my best friends are straight! I also want to mention here that I continue to have a very loving and wonderful relationship with my boyfriend." * (SOME) MEN'S STYLE . . . A new "lifestyle" magazine for gay men will premier this March. According to its publisher, Men's Style magazine will "appeal to affluent gay men who wear expensive suits, own a second home, travel and lead the good life." Now wait a minute . . . hasn't GQ been doing that for years? Oh well, whether the idea is new or old, anyone with an interest (intellectual or bank account) can contact Ron/Owen & Partners, 2035 Lincoln Highway, Suite 3001, P.O. Box 993, Edison, NJ 08818-0993, tel. 908-287-4411, fax 908-287-4210. * RADIO ACTIVITY . . . San Francisco radio station WILD 107 (107.7 FM) has launched a new weekly, two-hour show catering to queer listeners. The program, called "Nocturnal Emissions," mixes dance/club music, giveaways, and interviews. Contact WILD 107, 55 Green St., San Francisco, CA 94111, tel. 415-391-1077, fax 415-616-5700. * LOVE STORIES . . . On Valentine's Day (Feb. 14), the San Francisco Examiner will publish a selection of readers' love stories. Of course, every now and then its necessary to remind heterosexuals that they aren't the only one's capable of hopeless romance. So if you've got a story to tell, call or write First Person, San Francisco Examiner, P.O. Box 7260, San Francisco, CA 94120, tel. 415-777-7834, fax 415-957-1013, e-mail sfexaminer@aol.com. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # WE MUST CONFRONT THE MEDIA'S HOMOPHOBIA IN ORDER TO CURE IT! TO NOTIFY GLAAD/SFBA OF ANY DEFAMATORY OR AFFIRMATIVE MEDIA COVERAGE CALL OUR 24-HOUR MEDIA WATCH HOTLINE AT 415-861-4588, OR WRITE TO "MEDIA WATCH," GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION/SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, 1360 MISSION STREET, SUITE 200, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103; tel. 415-861-2244, fax 415-861-4893, e-mail GLAAD SFBA@AOL.COM. FOUNDED IN 1988, THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CHAPTER OF GLAAD IS A MEMBERSHIP-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CULTURAL ADVOCACY AND MEDIA ACTIVISM. GLAAD/SFBA PROMOTES THE FAIR, ACCURATE AND DIVERSE REPRESENTATION OF LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL LIVES IN ALL FORMS OF MASS MEDIA. ------------------------------------------------------ "MEDIA WATCH" is a weekly report that may be reprinted or posted without prior permission, provided that, when appropriate, attribution is made to Al Kielwasser and/or GLAAD-SFBA. We greatly appreciate copies of any publications that use all or part of the "MEDIA WATCH." Thank you for your participation in GLAAD's vital work!