Date: Wed, Apr 12, 1995 5:50 PM From: "Charles Zweig" Subject: GLAAD Reports-May '95 Action Articles from the GLAAD Reports - May 1995 Index 1) "Priest" - Disney under attack 2) Hawaii - Marriage 3) The Uniqueness of GLAAD - Dean Hansell 4) MTV- "The Real World III" - "Sex in the 90's IV" - "News in Rock" - "My So-Called Life" 5) "Exotica" 6) "Party of Five" 7) Media coverage of the Amedure Murder 8) Black Entertainment Network 9) "Jeffrey" 10) Tammy Bruce, KFI, a Lesbian? 11) "This Way Out" 12) Entertainment Weekly - Melissa Etheridge 13) LA Times - Liz Smith: Harry Stein - Bettina Boxall: Mel White - Mary Susan Herczog: Gay Authors - Cal Thomas & Susan Carpenter McMillan - Robert Hilburn: Elton John & Bernie Taupin 14) NY Times - Bill Carter: Armedure Murder - David Dunlop: Armedure Murder - Korb & Dixon: Editorial on the Ban - "Toenails of Steel and Ruby Red" 15) Pizza Hut and Rush Limbaugh 16) San Diego The Reader and t he Union-Tribune 17) WAVE-TV and the AFA of Kentucky 18) Gay Java 19) Tracking the Ads 20) Montana and Registration 21) "Conduct Unbecoming" the CD 22) AOL Transgender Community Forum 23) GLAAD Sixth Annual Media Awards 24) Speedo - Greg Louganis 25) More Pizza Hut 26) Al Kielwasser: Newt Gigrich 27) National Field Office Donna Red Wing 28) Chicago Randy Snyder 29) Kansas City Jeanie Keeny 30) National Capitol Area Cathy Rena 31) San Diego Dennis Lucarelli & Mark Gabrish Conlan 32) San Franciso Al Kielwasser: The Textbook Fight 33) "Diablo" High School Activists 34) Lesbian SF Supervisor Carole Migden 35) Home Video "Frameline" 36) Theresa Lamm 37) Letters - Durcell 38) GLAAD HQ Activities 39) "Progressive" magazine PBS 40) James Dobson 41) "The Evergreen Chronicle" Queer Youth 42) AFA Videos 43) Pat Buchanan 44) Matching Gift Programs 45) Seminars: Workplace Sexual Orientation GLAAD Reports - May '95 Carl Matthes, Editor (213) 254- 2726; fax (213) 257-5878 1) Immoral Mouse - Disney under attack over "Priest" The Walt Disney Company is under attack by Morality in Media and the 200,000-member Catholic League. At the center of this controversy is "Priest," a new film from Disney-owned, Miramax. "Priest" tells the tale of five fictional clergy men, two of whom are sexually active. One of the "actives" is also gay (a character described by "Variety's" Greg Evans as "a young priest coming to grips with his homosexuality"). New York Cardinal John J. O'Conner has joined the critics of the movie, calling it "viciously anti-Catholic," although he has not seen the film. "Your movie is little more than the kind of things kids used to take delight in scrawling on the walls in men's rooms...What you have done is cheap and onerous," the Cardinal wrote to Miramax. Cardinal O'Conner's observations aside, the made for British TV movie "Priest" has certainly taken on many issues confronting the Church in the '90s: non-celibate heterosexaul and homosexual priests, incest, and the inviolate seal of the confessional. Critical reviews have been mixed. William Donohue, president of the Catholic League, wants Disney to pull the film from distribution entirely, and he has threatened a nationwide boycott and stockholder protest. "We can take their 'Snow White' imagery, which is already tarnished, and blacken them up a little bit,'' Donohue said at a recent press conference. "If Disney gets no resistance from the Catholic League and from Catholics around the country (over) this film, God knows what we can expect in the future.'' According to Morality in Media's president, Robert Peters, "this movie attacks the Catholic Church's teachings as the cause of the (characters') failings and attempts to undermine the Church's moral authority at a time when the world needs all the moral help it can possibly get." "It is not surprising that this movie came from Miramax," Peters added. "That c ompany has produced films featuring cannibalism, animal worship, explicit sex, occultism -- you name it." Miramax spokesperson Mark Gill has publicly defended the film. According to Gill, the characters in "Priest" are "not satanic figures, but real people in a real world.'' You can voice your opinion by contacting: Michael Eisner, CEO, The Walt Disney Co., 500 S. Buena Vista, Burbank, CA 91521. 2) Hawaii Update Judge Herbert K. Shimabukuro, motions judge for Honolulu's Circuit Court, has denied the request of the Mormon Church to be co-defendant with the state in the BAEHR V. LEWIN case. In Baehr v. Lewin, the state is scheduled on September 25 to present compelling state interests for continuing to deny marriage licenses to same-gender couples. The Mormon Church may not trust the State of Hawaii to fight the case vigorously enough in court and is expected to appeal Judge Shimabukuro's decision. And... Calling All Couples GLAAD has embarked on a plan to educ ate the public about lesbian and gay relationships and the need for equal marriage rights. As part of this plan, GLAAD is assembling a diverse pool of same-sex couples who are in marital-type relationships and who would be available to talk to the press. Please contact the New York office for more information: (212) 807-1700. 3) The Uniqueness of GLAAD by Dean Hansell A question I am often asked is what makes GLAAD unique? What does GLAAD do that no other community organization does? Or, as Li'l Abner once said about Dogpatch, "If it ain't special, why should it exist? What makes GLAAD unique takes on a special poignancy when you consider that GLAAD has never brought a lawsuit, endorsed candidates or organized lobbying trips to various seats of power. What makes GLAAD different is that we are the only organization in the country whose focus is cultural advocacy. The late Craig Davidson, the first Executive Director of GLAAD/NY put it this way, "GLAAD was founde d in 1985 to fight the defamation of lesbians and gays and their enforced invisibility in the popular culture." Popular culture plays a pivotal role in molding and reinforcing images people have about lesbians and gay men. As with other attitudes, popular institutions within our society are key to determining what people think of us. The dominant institutions of popular culture are the media and entertainment industries, but they are not the only ones we need to be concerned about. Schools, corporations, even cultural centers such as museums, also help to shape our attitudes. For ten years, GLAAD's primary focus has been on fighting for fair and accurate portrayals in the media and entertainment industries. It is beyond the scope of this column to detail all GLAAD has done to deal with defamation and invisibility in these industries. What may be less well known are those other activities in which GLAAD members have been engaged as cultural advocates. Over the years GLAAD has had such victories as convincing NYNEX to include a listing for lesbian and gay organizations in the Yellow Pages, having the Empire State Building light lavender for pride week, developing a gay history curriculum used the Los Angeles Unified School District and getting Hallmark Cards to remove the word "lesbian" from its list of offensive words. And GLAAD has always worked on the media aspects of events that shape our lives. We had major roles in the media surrounding the boycott against Colorado after voters adopted an initiative outlawing anti-discrimination laws protecting us, after Governor Wilson vetoed AB 101 and most recently in Oregon handling post election press activity around the anti-gay Measure 13. Currently, GLAAD is working to have the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles include the story of discrimination against lesbians and gay men within its exhibits. GLAAD, in its ten year existence, has developed significant expertise in dealing with the media and entertainment industries. Moreover, by trying to do our research first, we have acquired a great deal of credibility in the positions that we take. There are many possible approaches to fighting defamation. In focusing upon cultural advocacy, we have attempted to take an approach that is different from other organizations. As media portrayals of our community become more accurate and inclusive, and as other cultural institutions become less bigoted, it is inevitable that many of the other barriers to equality will also fall. 4) Film & Television Outstanding MTV MTV won a GLAAD Media Award as Outstanding Documentary Series for their consistent and appreciated effort to show gay people as we really are. The program, The Real World III, is based on the premise that half a dozen young people are thrown together to live in the same house, while a video crew tapes their day to day lives. Rather than skirting the issue and going the safe path, they have inclu ded at least one gay person in the 90's menage video. But, they haven't stopped there. In another ongoing series named "Sex in the 90's IV," they were again inclusive. The opening segments included Playgirl hunks flexing nude in the sun on Miami beach, while some older, retired people, who were looking on and quite hetero, were interviewed. A fabulous segment on gay people, young and old, single and in relationships was also included. They also effectively portrayed many well known homophobes - Falwell, Bryant, Helms - for just what they are, reactionary bigots. On "News in Rock," a news format program that talks about rock music, they reported on "Queer Punk" bands and the growing movement in Queer music. And this is not even mentioning "House of Style," a program on the fashion world, hosted by Cindy Crawford. While it isn't about gay people, per se (please Louise we are all over the place in the fashion industry), this program treats our presence not as just incid ental but critical to the existence of fashion and style. SNAP! Take a moment and write MTV. Tell them how much you appreciate including our lives in their coverage of the world in music. Contact: MTV, Judy McGrath, President, 1515 Broadway, New York 10036. On April 10, the 19 original episodes of "My So-Called Life" started in re-run on MTV. If the program achieves a good following, there is a chance that ABC-TV may notice and then be interested in renewing "Life" next season. If you recall, this is the program that features Rickie, an openly gay high school student portrayed by Wilson Cruz, an openly gay young actor. "Life" received a 1995 GLAAD Media Award. Please watch and support this program on MTV and, while you're at it, use one of the enclosed, self-addressed postcards to encourage ABC-TV to consider renewing "My So-Called Life" for next year. Send your "Life" saving comments and postcards to: Randi Cohen, ABC Productions, 2020 Avenue of the Stars, 5th Floor, Century City, CA 90067, fax 310-557-6147; Marshall Herskovitz & Ed Zwick, Executive Producers, "My So-Called Life," Bedford Fall Company, 409 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401; MTV automated program service: (212) 258-8700. Finally, efforts to keep "Life" alive and on ABC-TV are on-going; to join in the grassroots campaign, contact: Operation Life Support, P.O. Box 641200, San Francisco, CA 94164-1200; fax (415) 292-4111, e-mail savemscl@aol.com. 5) "Exotica" "Exotica," not to be confused with "Erotique," is the work of Canadian writer-producer-director Atom Egoyan and is one of his first films to make a successful crossover from art house to mainstream theater. And Egoyan has not sacrificed his quirky, inclusive and sexually-charged style to achieve this. Playing one of the main characters is Don McKellar, as a gay pet shop owner who has come to the government's attention because he is smuggling exotic birds and animals into Canada. The movie ope ns with his being watched through a two-way mirror by custom agents, one of whom later becomes one of his tricks, as he is smuggling in the eggs of a rare bird. His sexual encounters are portrayed openly and routinely. Another interesting character is the pregnant lesbian strip club owner portrayed by Arsinee Khanjian. She sets just the right tone and breathes full life into this important supportive role. Egoyan achieves a hypnotic inclusiveness, and tells a truer, fuller story by doing so. Your comments to: Atom Egoyan, Ego Film Arts, c/o Miramax Releasing, 7920 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90069. 6) "Party of Five" One of network television's more inviting programs is the new Fox series "Party of Five." This drama includes the recurring character of Roth, a gay teacher (played by actor Mitchell Anderson). "Five's" March 15 episode examined Roth's efforts to adopt a child. Though he encounters the expected resistance, Roth is ultimately successful and brings ho me a new baby daughter, Tess. A highlight of the episode is an impassioned speech given by Bailey, a teenage boy and one of the show's leading characters. Bailey eloquently stands up for Roth in an encounter with the skeptical social worker who is handling the adoption. "Five" occupies an important time slot, following Fox's popular youth drama "Beverly Hills, 90210." The character of Roth - as a teacher and now a parent - can significantly challenge long-standing stereotypes, targeting an important segment of the viewing audience with affirming messages about lesbians and gays. Unfortunately, however, the party may soon be over. The series is at-risk for cancellation, and supportive letters are crucial. Use one of the enclosed pre-addressed postcards and lend your supportive voice. Or contact: Amy Lippman and Christopher Keyser, Executive Producers, "Party of Five," c/o Fox Broadcasting, P.O. Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213; e-mail foxnet@delphi.com; copy your l etters to: Chase Carey, President, Fox Broadcasting, at the same address. 7) TV's Hate Murder The mainstream media reporting of the murder of Scott Amedure, after a taping of a "Jenny Jones" talk show, was as wide as it was predictable. Unfortunately, virtually none of the coverage called it a hate crime. As part of a "Secret Admirers" segment, Scott Amedure "a gay guest" revealed his attraction for another guest (John Schmitz, reported to be heterosexual); three days later, Amedure was shot and killed by the "embarrassed" Schmitz. The press focus became whether or not TV talks shows have become "too trashy." The major TV networks (NBC, CBS and ABC) emphasized the talk-show "sleaze" factor, failing to address homophobia, which should have been this story's lead. In the print media, Reuters news syndicate began its story with this sentence: "Prosecutors alleged Friday that a nationally syndicated talk show is partly to blame for a murder." Reuters then described how the murderer "Schmitz kept his composure" during the taping, but was ultimately "shocked" and "unable to control his anger." Quoted extensively is Michigan prosecutor Richard Thompson, who not only "partly, but fully blames" the murder "on the 'Jenny Jones Show' (which) ambushed this defendant with humiliation." Not one expert on lesbian/gay hate violence, or even one openly lesbian or gay person, was quoted. The Associated Press report on the murder (March 11), written by Frazier Moore, also sidestepped homophobia. For Moore, the central issue was the morality of the talk show's producers. The article implied that "contrary to logic" the murder resulted from the mere fact of the talk-show "deception." The likelihood of the crime, AP suggested, would have been the same if Amedure had been a straight woman. The full-page story in Newsweek, which ran under the banner, "Is Jenny to blame for a guest's death?," suffered from the same blindness. Newsweek quoted, unchall enged, the prosecutor's statement blaming "Jenny Jones" producers for leaving "one person dead, and Mr. Schmitz now facing life in prison," as if Schmitz were as much a victim as the man he killed. The New York Times first ran a small article on March 12, which never mentioned the words "gay" or "homophobia." On March 14, The Times ran a front page article that made brief reference to the murder, and then went on to question of the integrity of talk shows. (For additional New York Times coverage see TimesWatch.) The Los Angeles Times covered the story from several angles including a March 17 piece by Michele Willens. Ms. Willens' front page Calendar section article stated that the "official reaction to the killing...is that it was a fluke." "Official" in this context referred to the take along Talk-Show Row in New York City (an area in and around West 57th Street) where talk shows hosted by Charles Perez, Geraldo, Sally, Montel, Ricki Lake, Gordon Elliott, Maury Povic h and Roland Watts are taped. "Insiders" are said to be discussing ways of setting up guidelines to "delineate what should or shouldn't be done." Contact: Associated Press, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 10020; Newsweek, 444 Madison Avenue, New York 10022-6969; Joseph Lelyveld, Executive Editor, The New York Times, 229 West 43rd Street, New York 10036; Reuters America, 1700 Broadway, New York 10019; The Los Angeles Times, Mr. Shelby Coffey III, Editor-in-Chief, Times-Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053. 8) Not a Good B.E.T. The Black Entertainment Network (B.E.T.) recently re-broadcast an episode of its "Comic View" series, in which Sheryl Underwood rails against equal rights for lesbians and gays and shouts that homosexuality must never be included in any civil rights movement. Underwood concludes her stand-up routine with a "humorous" comparison between gay sex and a well-known deodorant commercial. "I've got one thing to say to the homosexual," she yells, "the peni s may be strong enough for a man, but it's made for a woman!" At this bigoted slur, the audience burst into a standing ovation. Moreover, a panel of judges gave her the program's award for "best comedian" ("Comic View" is a "talent" contest for stand-up comedians). Lynne Harris Taylor, "Comic View's" Supervising Producer, sees nothing wrong with the whole affair. In response to complaints, Taylor has told viewers: "It is unfortunate that you are offended by the remarks pertaining to homosexuals. Comedy does not discriminate. Our comics often make fun of different types of people; black, white, asian, hispanic, handicapped, homosexual, deaf, blind, etc., and it is all done in fun. During a time when stress plays a major part in all our lives, laughter and the ability to laugh at ourselves is a priceless commodity." However, nothing in Underwood's routine could be construed as an attempt to "laugh at ourselves." Send feedback to: Lynne Harris Taylor, Supervising Pro ducer, "Comic View," Black Entertainment Television, 2801 West Olive Ave., Burbank, CA 91505; fax (818) 566-1655; Copy to: Curtis Gadson, Vice-President, West Coast Operations, B.E.T., at the same address. 9) "Jeffrey" on Film Orion Pictures Corp. has acquired U.S. rights in all media to Paul Rudnick's "Jeffrey," a gay, romantic comedy, starring Steven Weber, Patrick Stewart, Michael T.Weiss and Bryan Batt, to be put out under the Orion Classics banner, it was announced on March 20 by Jay Peckos, senior vice president, distribution. "Jeffrey," which is a screen adaptation of Rudnick's hit play of the same name, is slated for an August release. The film features an all-star supporting cast including Robert Klein, Olympia Dukakis, Kathy Najimy and Nathan Lane, with a special cameo by Sigourney Weaver. 10) Radio & Print She Is, She's Not, She Is Los Angeles radio commentator Tammy Bruce, who was recently portrayed in Time magazine as the "only feminist lesbian on ma instream radio," shocked her listeners on April 1, 1995, by announcing live on the air that she is not a lesbian, but is in fact heterosexual! She then nervously explained why she feigned being a lesbian. She needed a "hook" for her show and had decided to conduct a "social experiment" and "become" a minority by pretending to be a lesbian. Reaction to the announcement was swift and ranged from a lesbian caller observing that is was "...a cheap experiment...made her feel like a lab animal..." to a good, Christian woman who said, "I've been praying for you to repent." At the end of the hour, Bruce reminded her listeners that the date was April 1st. April Fool's! Tammy Bruce is a lesbian and her "social experiment" was to demonstrate the irrational fears against lesbians and gay men. Your comments to: Tammy Bruce, KFI 640 AM, 610 S. Ardmore, Los Angeles 90005. 11) On The Way Out? "This Way Out" - "the world's only internationally syndicated weekly lesbian and gay radio program" - is close to signing off the airwaves, for lack of funds. "This Way Out" has been on the air since 1988, and is currently heard on more than 85 stations in seven countries. For information write: "This Way Out," P.O. Box 38327, Los Angeles 90038; e-mail tworadio@aol.com. 12) Entertainment Weekly In its March 17 issue, popular media magazine Entertainment Weekly, which received the prestigious Donahue/Thomas Award during the 1995 GLAAD Media Awards, ran a multi-page feature on singer Melissa Etheridge, in which her lesbian relationship was presented as naturally as any celebrity romance. Through quotes and snatches of personal history, the story demonstrates how the 33-year-old singer and songwriter used her music to relate to her own emerging sexuality. For example, Etheridge remarks on her early fondness for Bruce Springsteen songs about loving girls. Writer Dana Kennedy coos and clucks about the attraction between Etheridge and her girlfriend, film director Julie Cypher, who is quoted as saying, "I believe it's the person you fall in love with, not the equipment they come with." Openly queer celebrities such as Melissa Etheridge serve as positive, healthy role models to young fans who may be facing confusion about their own alternative sexualities. Send your comments and feedback to: Entertainment Weekly, c/o Time Inc., 1675 Broadway, New York 10019. 13) TimesWatch Los Angeles Times Liz Smith in her March 3 syndicated column reported on the "tragic suicide of decorator Harry Stein. Feeling that AIDS was beginning to affect his brain, Stein took his life after throwing a farewell bash..." Ms. Smith reports that Randall Kleiser has written a screenplay and will direct a movie based on Mr. Stein and this real life event. Eric Roberts has been cast as Stein and others signing on the project include Gregory Harrison, Marlee Matlin, Lee Grant, George Segal, Bronson Pinchot, A. Martinez, Sally Kellerman and Rodd y McDowall. United Artists will release. Bettina Boxall reported on the release of Mel White in her March 10 article, buried on page 25 of the first section. Ms. Boxall covered fully and clearly the reasons for Pastor White's incarceration (trespassing on Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network headquarters property) and his release. Included were quotes from White's 82-year old father, who said of Robertson, "It seems that you are either afraid of him (Mel)...or your pride and arrogance refuses to let you be Christian...My family is dishonored by your actions." "Going for the Laughs," by Mary Susan Herczog with photo illustrations by Vince Compagnone, occupied almost the full front page of the March 13 Life & Style Section. "Laughs" chronicled the progression of subjects covered by gay authors which, according to Herczog, "...has been dominated by somber topics - coming out, AIDS. Now, both writers and readers are turning to humor." Her excellent compilation of new gay best sellers and authors included titles by Joe Keenan, Robert Rodi, Paul Rudnick, Robert Plunkett, David Sedaris, Christian McLaughlin and others. The Op-Ed pages were pretty much of a breeding ground of hate, misconception and misinformation, thanks to the contributions of syndicated columnist Cal Thomas, and local hate-monger Susan Carpenter McMillan. McMillan in her April 2 column, entitled "Neither Gays Nor Singles Should Adopt," espoused such twisted logic and dispensed such misinformation that it is a wonder the usually astute Times editors allowed it into print. She personifies those in straight society who refuse to allow any vestige of societal norms to accrue to gay men and lesbians, yet who turn right around and blame gay men and lesbians for the breakdown of society, particularly the family. Ms. McMillan is an extreme case of entrenched ignorance connected to a very glib psyche. Preceding her on March 21 was a column by Cal Thomas entitled "Rel igious Wing Has Too Much Faith in Caesar." Those familiar with Mr. Thomas will not be surprised by his most recent writings. However, he does quote from "The Screwtape Letters" of C.S. Lewis. Says Mr. Lewis of the strategy of the devil for corrupting a Christian, "Let him begin by treating patriotism...as part of his religion. Then let him, under the influence of partisan spirit, come to regard it as the most important part. Then quietly and gradually nurse him on to the stage at which the religion merely becomes a part of the 'cause' in which Christianity is valued chiefly because of the excellent arguments it can produce...Once you have the world an end, and faith a means, you have almost won your man..." And finally, the Times deserves credit for well-written and inclusive articles on Elton John and Bernie Taupin (by Robert Hilburn) in its April 2 Calendar as well as the March 19 Calendar when it featured an article by Patricia Pacheco on Joe Mantello. Your commen ts to: The Los Angeles Times, Mr. Shelby Coffey III, Editor-in-Chief, Times-Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053. 14) New York Times When it comes to tabloid stories like the so-called Jenny Jones murder, The New York Times prides itself on holding its nose above the fray. However, while Times coverage was more substantial than its competitors, it was not necessarily more enlightened. Like most other outlets, the Times accepted the premise that Jonathan Schmitz simply killed fellow Jenny Jones guest Scott Amedure because he felt "humiliated" by Amedure's on-camera revelation that he had a crush on Schmitz. As a result, the bulk of the Times coverage focused on talk show ethics rather than homophobia and anti-gay violence. Bill Carter's March 14 extensive cover story about the murder tried to take the high road by focusing on the undeniably high ratings of more sensational talk shows like "Jenny Jones," which have attracted otherwise staid advertisers like Procter and Gam ble. However, in the process Carter manages not to mention the word "homophobia" even once. Privately, Times staffers have defended this omission by saying that Schmitz is obviously a troubled individual and that talk shows provoke this kind of violence by placing unstable guests in psychologically distressing situations. Mr. Schmitz is undeniably disturbed, but as the escalating number of anti-gay murders reveals, his is a pathology that is wide-spread throughout our society. Openly gay writer David Dunlop finally set the record straight in a March 19 piece in the "Week in Review." In his piece Dunlop lamented the fact that the murder itself had been taken for granted, "as if there was nothing at all that mysterious or confounding about so violent a response to an expression of unrequited affection." Metropolitan Community Churches minister Mel White followed up on this thought by observing that "Jenny Jones didn't create that environment - she stumbled into it." Un fortunately, the Times stumbles too, by burying this brief but eloquent piece on page 16 a full five days after Carter's front page story. More prescient is the Times March 19 editorial by Lawrence Korb and C. Dixon Osburn on the military's "compromise" policy on the ban on lesbians, bisexuals, and gay men, entitled "Asked, Told, Pursued." The title of the editorial reveals that the policy has been a failure, but the body of the piece reveals to what extent. "Overall," the authors note, "the services are discharging homosexuals at the same rate as under the old policy." The piece sets the stage for the current, renewed debate over the ban, which has been successfully challenged by a group of servicemen and women represented by the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. Finally, the Times took a great step towards inclusive coverage by prominently reviewing a set of theatrical works about Black gays. "Toenails of Steel and Ruby Red" was a unique collaboration between choreographers and poets and dancers and writers, but as reviewer Jack Anderson points out, it was much more. Ranging in subject matter from AIDS to trendy nightclubs, "Toenails" reflected a rich diversity of Black gay experiences in which "words and movement were skillfully united." Kudos to the Times for refusing to tokenize Black gay choreographer Bill T. Jones, by acknowledging a new generation of dancers and choreographers who have been inspired by his work. Your comments to: Joseph Lelyveld, Executive Editor, The New York Times, 229 West 43rd Street, New York 10036. Radio Activity The National Lesbian & Gay Radio Town Meeting will be broadcast live, via satellite, on May 7 (8 PM to 10 PM EST). The call-in format will feature activists discussing strategies for countering hate initiatives. Contact your local radio stations (particularly public/non-commercial stations) and urge them to air this groundbreaking broadcast. Refer radio stations to Bert Wylen, prod ucer of the town meeting, (215) 772-9010. 15) Advertising He's Back - Pushing Pizza One of the nation's leading fast food chains has hired one of the nation's leading homophobes to serve as a company spokesbigot. Pizza Hut's new television campaign features none other than Rush Limbaugh. In the Pizza Hut commercial, Limbaugh praises both the pizza and his ego. Shown stuffing a pizza slice in his mouth, Limbaugh chats about his knack for "always being right." In a somewhat odd twist, Limbaugh has already used his own national TV show to promote the Pizza Hut commercial. He recently described, at length, the ad's content and told his viewers to be on the look-out for it. Needless to say, Limbaugh has also offered glowing praise for Pizza Hut, urging his fans to praise the company for having the "good sense" to hire him. When he's not busy pushing pizza, of course, Limbaugh is busy bashing lesbians and gays, women, and people of color. His radio and televisio n broadcasts are filled with homophobic misinformation and downright ridicule. During one broadcast of his TV show, for example, Limbaugh derided a meeting of rural lesbians, which took place on a farm. These women, Limbaugh said, were "mating with pigs" in order to "perpetuate the species." Fortunately, "operators are standing by" at Pizza Hut's corporate offices, monitoring public response to the Limbaugh commercial. Reports are being filed on the basis of each telephone call. Register your toll-free complaint by calling (800) 358-2222. You can also use one of our pre-addressed postcards found in this issue and send it or write to: Pizza Hut, Consumer Affairs, 2100 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30339-5014. Also, check out "GLAAD in the News" for the latest information on our victory over discrimination involving Pizza Hut 16) Print Kissophobia Two San Diego newspapers - The Reader and The Union-Tribune - have banned an advertisement that features two lesbians almost kissing. The ad promotes the newly released feature film, "Erotique." "Erotique's" producer, Chris Wood, said the actions of both newspapers left him "shocked," particularly since the display ad has already appeared in many other newspapers and is the same image used to promote the film in theater lobbies. The publisher of The Reader said the ad was "moralistically" unacceptable. "I don't want to encourage gay relationships," Jim Holman explained, "It was my decision not to be an agent for immoral behavior." Hollman's conservative newspaper also refuses to run lesbian or gay relationships ("personals") advertising. A spokesperson for The Union-Tribune - the leading San Diego daily - was a bit more evasive. Display Advertising Director Dexter LaPierre claimed that the ad was "a little bit too explicit" for his newspaper, but he insisted that homophobia "had nothing to do with it." The Union-Tribune did agree to accept the ad, once significant alterat ions were made. Protest letters (sealed with a kiss?) should be directed to: Jim Holman, Editor-Owner, The Reader, P.O. Box 85803, San Diego, CA 92186-5803; Helen K. Copley, Publisher, The Union-Tribune, 350 Camino de La reina, San Diego, CA 92108. Copy your comments to: Chris Wood, Co-Producer, "Erotique," Group 1 Film Company, 9230 Robin Drive, Los Angeles 90069. 17) Buying Time Last week, a homophobic political advertisement made its debut during a broadcast of WAVE-TV News in Louisville, Kentucky. Created by the American Family Association (AFA) of Kentucky, the 30-second spot urged viewers to vote against a proposed ordinance that would "give homosexuals special minority rights in the workplace, including our schools." The ad argued that lesbians and gays earn an annual income that is $23,000 more than the "average American." Following such "statistics," the narrator rhetorically asked: "Does this indicate discrimination?" The myth of a "wealthy gay elite " has become one of the more popular invectives in an arsenal of Right Wing lies. In fact, there is no reliable evidence to support the notion that lesbians and gays are wealthier than the "average person." Actually, recent studies suggest that lesbians and gays, along with other oppressed minorities, are subject to economic privation. For example, the 1992 exit polls conducted for the four major television networks strongly indicate that self-identified homosexuals earn less than heterosexuals. Significantly, the Kentucky AFA advertisement urged viewers to request a free packet of "information." "If enough people call to get the free packet of information," a local activist has suggested, "maybe it will deplete their...resources...and we won't have to put up with them for awhile, at least, here in Louisville." Send your requests to: Dr. Frank Simon, Director, American Family Association of Kentucky, P.O. Box 6689, Louisville, KY 40206. Also, encourage WAVE-TV (an NBC affiliate) to investigate and report upon the real story behind the myth of lesbian/gay "wealth." Write to: Ed Godfrey, News Director, WAVE-TV, 725 S. Floyd St., Louisville, KY 40203. Copy your correspondence to Letters to the Editor, " Louisville Courier-Journal," 525 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202, fax 502-582-4290. 18) GAY JAVA: A Special Brew for GLAAD GLAAD has become a beneficiary organization of Gay Java. $2.00 of every sale of a special GLAAD sampler will be donated to GLAAD. The $29.00 package contains Colombian Supremo, Viennese Blend, VSR Caffe Italia and Almond Biscotti. To order, or for more information, call: 1 (800) GAY JAVA. 19) Tracking the Ads The Media Outreach Committee wants to inform the gay and lesbian community of advertisers who either support programs about our community or contribute to censorship of those programs, and you can help. The next time you watch television, keep a pencil and paper handy. If there is such content, jot do wn the name of the show and its sponsors. Then, call the information into the GLAAD Hotlines: In Los Angeles: (213) U R GLAAD; fax (213) 658-6776; in New York (212) 802-1700; fax (212) 807-1806. If you are an advertising industry "insider" who might have access to information about advertisers who have been under boycott or hate-campaign pressure to cease advertising on programs that are lesbian and gay positive, please call us. Any information will be treated in confidence. 20) Online Gays Won't Have to Register The Montana State Legislature "changed its mind" on a bill requiring the registration of "convicted homosexuals." In a quick about-face, a proposal requiring people convicted of homosexual acts to register with police was dumped, and one of its supporters apologized. The vote was unanimous when the Senate bowed to overwhelming public criticism and deleted the reference to homosexuals from a bill requiring lifetime police registration of people convicted of violent crimes or sex offenses. Republican Gov. Marc Racicot's office said it fielded many phone calls from people critical of the gay-registration section. And the state's toll-free tourist information line also had many calls from "angry, outraged people threatening to boycott travel," to Montana, said Racicot's press secretary, Rorie Hanrahan. Following is the text of a letter sent by Governor Marc Racicot to Uunicorn@aol.com on the subject, which included the request to "please contact your internet network": Office of the Governor, State of Montana March 23, 1995 Statement of Governor Marc Racicot I want to make something very clear to the people of Montana and beyond. House Bill 214 was intended to protect law-abiding citizens by requiring registration of violent and predatory offenders after their release from prison. The bill was never intended even to suggest that homosexuals should be registered. We hope that as the legislative process continues, this distortion of the bill's original intent will be removed. If that is not done and the bill comes to me, I will amendatorily veto the bill to accomplish our original purpose. I repeat, we remain totally committed to the bill's original purpose. And any additions that fly in the face of that original purpose will be rejected. Your comments to: Gov. Marc Racicot, Office of the Governor, State Capitol, Helena, MT 59620-0801; fax: 406/444-4151. 21) Multimedia Activism "Conduct Unbecoming," Randy Shilts' book about gays in the U.S. military, has been released as a new CD-ROM. The interactive disc extends Shilts' text with filmed segments and an "e-Post" program, which will print, fax or e-mail "automatic" letters to the reader's local Congresspersons. The CD version also includes photographs (from childhood through adult life) of the gays and lesbians chronicled in Shilts' book, prompting reviewer Patricia Holt to observe: "It's hard to look at a person's baby pictures an d think of him or her as the enemy within." 22) Transgender America "America On-Line" (AOL), a leading national computer BBS service, has added a new Transgender Community Forum (TCF), to offer "a support group dedicated to helping everyone in the transgender community and to provide education and outreach about transgender issues." AOL subscribers can access the TCF via the keyword "Gender." 23) GLAAD News 1995 Media Awards 6th Media Awards - First as National Organization; Nearly One Million Dollars Raised by Laurie Rhodes and Michael B. Keegan The Sixth Annual Media Awards, with ceremonies in both Los Angeles and New York, were the largest ever held by GLAAD in either city. Over 2,300 people attended the awards show and just under $1 million dollars was raised for the work of GLAAD. The Media Awards honor and congratulate those individuals and programs in the media and entertainment industries for their inclusive and accurate representations of lesbians, bise xuals and gay men and the issues which affect our lives. (A complete list of award winners follows.) Over 1,000 people attended the ceremonies in New York at the Waldorf Astoria hosted by Nora Dunn. In Los Angeles over 1,300 people attended the ceremony at the Century Plaza Hotel. Among the celebrities attending were Mitchell Anderson, Sandra Bernhard, Margaret Cho, Wilson Cruz, Phil Donahue, Nora Dunn, Melissa Etheridge, Brendan Fraser, Cast of "Friends," Candace Gingrich (sister of Newt Gingrich), Judy Gold, Linda Hamilton, Judith Light, John Lithgow, Garry Marshall, Robert MacNeil, Armistead Maupin, Epatha Merkerson, Rosanne, RuPaul, Marlo Thomas, Steve Tisch, Marisa Tomei, Lily Tomlin, Rose Troche, Gwen Turner, Barbara Walters, Steven Weber, Suzanne Westenhoffer, Paul Winfield and B.D. Wong. Commenting on the growth of GLAAD during the awards, Phil Donahue said, "I have been watching the considerable growth of GLAAD, you have literally touched millions and millio ns of people. You have made it easier for the millions and millions of people who support the notion that the U.S. Constitution and its rights should extend to all people. Out TV screens will never be the same. All of this is directly the result of this organization." Making an appearance on both coasts was Wilson Cruz, openly gay teen star of "My So-Called Life." In New York, his words silenced the ballroom when, in his acceptance speech, he urged the audience to stand with him and make a promise to fight for the thousands of gay, lesbian and bisexual teens who take their own lives each year because of the blatant discrimination and the lack of love and compassion that exists in our society today. A record number of corporations and foundations supported the Media Awards and many of the companies were supporting GLAAD for the first time. For a list of corporate and foundation sponsors, see page___. The 6th Annual Media Awards' success was the product of thousands of hours of work by hundreds of volunteers, staff and the generousity of the table hosts and sponsors. We look forward to seeing you next year at the 7th Annual Awards; mark your calendars for Thursday, March 7 for New York City and Sunday, March 10 in Los Angeles. The Recipients of the 1995 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Advertising IKEA Outstanding Television Comedy Series "Friends" "Roseanne" Outstanding Televison Comedy Episode "Frasier: The Matchmaker" Outstanding Television News Program "NBC Nightly News: Gay in America" Outstanding Television Miniseries "Tales of the City" Outstanding Television Drama Series "My So-Called Life" Outstanding Television Documentary Series "The Real World III - San Francisco" Outstanding Television Program for Young Adults "More Than Friends: The Coming Out of Heidi Leiter" Outstanding Film "GO FISH" Outstanding Film Documentary "Coming Out Under Fire" Outstanding Print Media "Doonesury: Same-Sex Unions" by Garry Trudeau Outstanding Music V ideo "I'm the Only One" by Melissa Etheridge Outstanding Song "This Train Revised" by The Indigo Girls Outstanding Album "disappear fear" by disappear fear Los Angeles Awards: Vanguard Award Steve Tisch Stephen F. Kolzak Award Pedro Zamora Outstanding Film with Gay Content: "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" Outstanding Gay Theatre Production: "The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me..." Outstanding Lesbian Theatre Production: "Last Summer at Blue Fish Cove" Outstanding Print Media: "Whose Values Are These Anyway?" Robin Abcarian, The Los Angeles Times New York Awards: Donahue/Thomas Award Entertainment Weekly Outstanding Theatre Production: "Love! Valour! Compassion!" Outstanding Journalist: Gabriel Rotello, New York Newsday Washington, D.C. Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Photography: "Family - A Portrait of Gay and Lesbian America," Nancy Andrews Outstanding Achievement in Advertising: Deutsch Advertising Outstanding Achievement for a Gay and Lesbian Pub lication: "Lambda Book Report," Deacon Maccubbin, Publisher Visibility Award: Bruce Lehman, assistant Secretary of Commerce, and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks Public Service Awards: "National Coming Out Day" featuring Amanda Bearse Special thanks to... Harcourt Brace for copies of Paul Monette's "Last Watch of the Night," for the Los Angeles Table Sponsors...thank: Dori Weintraub, Harcourt Brace, 15 E. 26th St., 15th Floor, New York 10010...Island Records for the "Priscilla" CDs, thanks to: Matt Stringer Vice President, Marketing, Island Records, Inc., Worldwide Plaza, 825 8th Avenue, 24th Floor, New York 10019. GLAAD's 1995 Media Awards was covered in outlets that ranged from "Entertainment Tonight" (ET) to the New York Post. "ET" focused on both the star power and the substance of the Los Angeles GLAAD Media Awards ceremony in a long segment about the event. The Los Angeles Times mentioned the GLAAD Media Awards, reporting on the presence of Newt Gingrich's lesbian sister Candace at the ceremony in a profile of her life and activism. The Times also included tireless GLAAD activist and lesbian mother Jehan Agrama in a piece on California Governor Pete Wilson's repeal of a rule that had made it easier for lesbian and gay parents to adopt their non-biological children. Post-Media Awards Musings: None other than the New York Post reported on the GLAAD Media Awards, in New York focusing on a quip by "Love! Valor! Compassion!" playwright Terence McNally. It seems that Barbra Streisand stopped backstage after a performance and asked the actors if they were straight or gay. According to McNally, veteran Nathan Lane asked Barbra "Are you asking that because you want to know, or because Jason does?" --- Jason being Barbra's openly gay son. 24) Speedy Speedo The morning after the February 24 interview with Greg Louganis on ABC-TV's "20/20," GLAAD faxed Linda Wachner, Chairman and CEO of Speedo - the woman Greg mentioned as being r esponsible for extending his licensing contract - despite his HIV status. The fax was a long-shot request to see if Speedo might be in a position to donate merchandise for the gift bags at the upcoming Media Awards at the Century Plaza Hotel. Ten days later, with four days left to the night of the awards, Los Angeles volunteer Jim Talbot, gift bag coordinator, had heard nothing - assuming the long shot was shot down. That day, GLAAD received a fax from Speedo, saying they wanted very much to participate - that the reaction to the "20/20" interview had been inspiring - cutting across all barriers: straight and gay. Faxes, letters, etc., stating overwhelming support for the company's stand with Greg had poured into the offices of Authentic Fitness, Speedo's parent company. Jim called the Speedo office in New York immediately. With four days left, he would have been thrilled to get logoed pencils. Instead, Speedo suggested T-shirts - doing a special run specifically fo r the Media Awards and listing their three local outlets - sent on overnight truck from their manufacturing facility in Northern California. We commend Speedo on their tremendous stand and contribution to our community. 25) More Pizza GLAAD scored a victory against Pizza Hut after a customer in Nashville, Tennessee, alerted us that a Pizza Hut employee had been using the company's computer files to store derogatory remarks about his sexual orientation. The customer contacted GLAAD after going to a Pizza Hut branch to pick up his pizza and finding the words, "What a fairy!!" printed across his computer receipt. Pizza Hut, which is one of the nation's top ten employers, responded to GLAAD's outrage by conducting an investigation and firing the employee responsible. Pizza Hut also pledged to stress that such acts are a terminable offense in its nation-wide employee diversity trainings. GLAAD was quoted in The Village Voice about the recent death of prominent rap sing er Easy-E, who died from complications from AIDS. Easy-E's death-bed revelation that he had AIDS has been widely called a wake-up call to the rap community, which has done little to educate its young audience about AIDS and HIV transmission. GLAAD Associate Director Donald Suggs called Easy-E's death a great loss for the rap community, but expressed his concern that Easy-E's announcement was preceded by such adamant statements about his heterosexuality. 26) Eye on Newt by Al Kielwasser Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House of Representatives - and the reported "second most powerful man in the United States" - continues his heterosexist and homophobic rants to the press. Speaking before the cameras and microphones on March 7, Gingrich denounced counseling programs for lesbian and gay high school students. These programs, Gingrich maintains, serve to "recruit" children into homosexuality. Gingrich also joined in the now-perennial attack on "Heather Has Two Mommies, " a children's storybook that depicts a warm and loving lesbian family. According to the Speaker, such a book is bad for young minds. On this point, Gingrich is as hypocritical as he is heterosexist. Would the story of his own family life would be a better allegory for young readers? Newt served his first wife with divorce papers while she lay seriously ill in a hospital bed. And while Newt has been expounding his narrow-minded bigotry, his sister Candace, an out lesbian, has been lobbying on Capitol Hill to protect AIDS funding and gay and lesbian rights. Unfortunately, Newt Gingrich is not swayed by facts, logic or his own family. So much for "traditional values." At his press conference, Gingrich also announced that homosexuality is not a "reasonable lifestyle." Therefore, the pedantic Speaker concluded, the subject simply has no place in the classroom. What is TRULY unreasonable here is the continued censorship of lesbian and gay history and culture. The fa cts of our lives are, after all, just that - facts. To insist that these truths be hidden is intellectually dishonest. Such censorship is morally reprehensible as well. Silence in our schools not only fails to prevent homophobic discrimination, but actively encourages the violent oppression of lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Newt Gingrich couldn't be more wrong. Our schools are recruiting grounds for homophobes, not homosexuals. In fact, Gingrich is a victim of the very ignorance he now intends to perpetuate. He is a homophobe precisely because he never read anything fair or factual (if anything at all) about homosexuality in his high school textbooks. There's a particularly vicious circle at work here. And for the sake of all youth - and, really, for the sake of the nation - it must be broken. The climate of hatred in which we live is sustained by the textbooks our children read. The classroom is where so much bigotry begins, and that is where it must finally be stopped. Contact: Newt Gingrich, Office of the Speaker of the House, H-204 Capitol Building, Washington, DC 20515; fax (202) 225-4656; e-mail georgia6@hr.house.gov. Also contact the editors of your local newspapers and magazines, asking them to denounce this latest round of Gingrich gay-baiting; remind your elected representatives to do the same, preferably on the floor of the House and Senate. Addresses and phone/fax numbers for your Congresspersons are available by calling (202) 224-3121; a list of Congressional e-mail addresses is available from: CONGRESS@HR.HOUSE.GOV. 27) Portland Field Office Donna Red Wing National Field Director From The Field... March was a month of extraordinary activity for the Field Office. A National GLAAD Team made up of National Board members Jeanie K. Keeny/Kansas City and Philip Dietch/St. Louis, and staff members, Donald Suggs, Associate Director and Donna Red Wing, National Field Director spent seven days in March, organizing in Missouri. We are still looking for people in Vermont, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Nebraska and New Hampshire to help us create a GLAAD presence in those areas. Please pass on the GLAAD National Field Office phone and fax numbers, address and e-mail address to friends and allies across the country. The National Field Kits are almost ready to distribute. You can call Thom Kincheloe at (503) 224-5285, for an application to organize a GLAAD outlet in your locale and a Field Kit to help you. 28) Chicago... by Randy Snyder Suzy Schultz reports in the March 24 edition of the Chicago Sun-Times ("AIDS Exhibit Brings Killer Disease into Focus"), that "AIDS: The War Within," is believed to be the first permanent exhibit on AIDS and "shows the effects of HIV on a grand scale. Five hundred three-dimensional blue balls are the first thing you notice as you walk into the museum's 4,000 square foot exhibit. They represent an invasion of HIV." The museum a lso offers the exhibit as an educational program for the Chicago Public School system, the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago and the American Red Cross. Comments to: Museum of Science and Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60637; (800) 468-6674. Representatives of the Chicago area chapters of Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), the Chicago Chapter of Queer Nation and an ad hoc group called "Irish Queers" marched without incident at the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 18. Of the 170 contingents, the three gay groups experienced very little trouble from the spectators. Larry McKeon, Mayor Daley's Liaison to the Gay & Lesbian Community and Bill Kelley, a member of Mayor Daley's Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues (ACGLI), were present as official monitors for the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. Your supportive comments to: Mr. Mel Loftus, St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, 1340 W. Washington, Chicago, IL 60607 . The Daily Herald, a major suburban newspaper in Arlington Heights, Il., is currently under attack by readers for publishing a story entitled "They've only just begun...," in its Feb. 15, Suburban Living section. The article, by Gordon Walek, presented a fair and balanced account of the second annual gay and lesbian bridal fair held at Ann Sather's restaurant. The day after the article appeared, the Daily Herald received forty-five phone calls objecting to the article. The Herald responded by printing a coupon that readers could fill out and return to the paper. This would create a dialogue, contends the paper. The over 400 responses were split almost evenly between negative and positive. Send your own supportive comments to: John Lampinen, Managing Editor, the Daily Herald, 217 W. Campbell Ave., Arlington Heights, Il 60005; fax (708) 870-1718. Finally, GLAAD/Chicago is pleased to announce the addition of two highly qualified board members, Les Everett and Dung Ta . Les is currently serving a two-year term as national co-chair of Black & White Men Together, while Dung currently works as a computer programmer with Date Management Group in Oak Brook, Il. Molly Melick, Chapter President, welcomed both new members and said that GLAAD/Chicago continues to seek board representation from our racially and ethnically diverse community. Anyone wishing to be considered for board membership may send their resume to: Molly Melick, GLAAD/ Chicago, P.O. Box 146343, Chicago, Il 60614. 29) Kansas City... by Jeanie Keeny GLAAD/KC helped Kansas City celebrated March as "Women's History Month" this year. Lillian Faderman, historian and author of "Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers," and was nominated in 1991 for the Pulitizer Prize and the National Book Award, came to Kansas City explicitly to help decompartmentalize lesbians and their contributions to women's history and history in general. Sponsored by GLAAD and the University of Missouri's Wo men's Studies Program, Faderman spoke to over 500 people in a campus lecture on March 28. "People need to know the homosexual community is as diverse as the heterosexual community, that it's absurd to fault someone just for his or her sexuality. I think the homosexual community needs to talk more. And that's simply what I'm trying to do," explained Faderman. In what may be a first in the history of the Kansas City Star, the headline use of the "l" word, Faderman's visit was covered in a front page story and photo in the Style Section as, "Recovering a hidden history: censorship often covers contributions of lesbians, scholar says." Faderman was also a featured guest on Kansas City public radio's (KCUR) popular "Walt Bodine Show." Another GLAAD-produced first for Women's History Month was the airing of a two-minute radio PSA - biographies of Martina Navratilova, Gertrude Stein and others - on KKFI FM radio during March. (Create space for three pix with next article.) 30) NCA... by Cathy Rena NCA host a very successful Second Annual Media Awards attended by well over 200 people. Opening remarks were delivered by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C. Representative) and closing remarks by Keith Boynkin. GLAAD/NCA Co-Chair Cathy Rena appeared on "Making A Difference," a local Paramount station program, as part of a panel which discussed "Media Portrayals of Minorities." Cathy also appeared on "Reliable Source" on CNN to discuss coverage of Jen Wennar. NCA was a co-sponsor for an open forum/town meeting on media coverage of anti-gay crime with GLOV (Gays & Lesbians Opposing Violence) after articles in the Washington Post caused controversy. 31) San Diego... by Dennis Lucarelli and Mark Gabrish Conlan "Personal responsibility" is a favorite theme of San Diego Union Tribune editorial writer Joseph Perkins, who espouses the conservative party line on crime, welfare, affirmative action and most other issues. But according to his March 17 column entitled "A Talk Show Pulled the Trigger," the homophobia-driven killer of Scott Amedure isn't the one to blame; instead, Perkins blames talk show host Jenny Jones for "humiliating" Jeffrey Schmitz on national television by exposing him to his secret gay admirer. Perkins' language reveals an underlying approval of homophobia. Talk shows, which regularly feature "the sexual deviant...and the socially unredeemable" while pandering to the "basest instincts of the viewing public" are to blame for Amedure's murder. Perkins earlier claim that legalizing same-sex marriage will "set in motion a national trend that will hasten America's social collapse," led to a meeting between members of GLAAD and the Union Tribune's Editorial Page Editor Bob Kittle. As an advocate of "personal responsibility," Perkins should openly recognize the killing power of prejudice, rather than making thinly-veiled attacks upon groups of people whose presence in society he finds perso nally distasteful. The Union Tribune's sponsorship of such hateful expressions is a disappointment, given the paper's wide circulation and influence. Send comments to: Bob Kittle, Editorial Page Editor with a copy to Herb Klein, Editor-in-Chief, c/o SDUT, P.O. Box 191, San Diego, CA 92112. (Editors note: GLAAD Reports apologizes to Karin E. Winner, Editor of the San Diego Union Tribune for spelling her first name "Karen" in last month's GLAAD Reports. Also, we regret stating that GLAAD/San Diego and the San Diego Democractic Club would be meeting to "adopt" the Marriage Resolution, when in fact the meeting was to propose adoption of the Resolution.) 32) San Francsico... by Al Kielwasser In 1994 the California State Board of Education published the "Health Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve." This framework is the first in California history to include specific references to sexual orientation. Significantly, the framework calls for health education to include information that applies to all students, regardless of sexual orientation. The framework allows for a "factual, substantiated discussion of homosexuality" and specifically states: "Name-calling or other hurtful actions must not be tolerated" and "should affirm the dignity of all individuals." Homophobic organizations (such as the "Traditional Values Coalition") vigorously opposed even these marginal references in the "Health Framework." Now, the State Board of Education is beginning the process of adopting health textbooks based on this framework, and the battle over sexual orientation will begin anew. At this point in the process, the Curriculum Commission is training the members of a panel that will offer the first review of the State's new health textbooks. They should be advised that, for the safety and well-being of all students, California's new health textbooks must contain fair and factual information about sexual orienta tion. Your comments to: Nancy Sullivan, Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Office, California Department of Education, 721 Capitol Mall, 6th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814; ask that your opinions be shared with all members of the Instructional Resources Evaluation Panel of the Health Subject Matter Committee of the Curriculum Commission. And remember, even if you don't live in California, let your voice be heard! As a leading textbook purchaser, California helps determine the books that will be used in public schools throughout the nation. As a quick and easy way to promote awareness of this issue, you can also fax or e-mail letters to the editors of these major California newspapers: San Diego Union-Tribune, fax (619) 293-1440; e-mail computerlink@sduniontrib.com; San Francisco Examiner, fax (415) 777-2525; e-mail sfexaminer@aol.com;Sacramento Bee, fax (916) 321-1109; e-mail sacbedit@netcom.com), San Jose Mercury News, fax (408) 288-8060; e-mail sjmercury@a ol.com or letters@aol.com; Los Angeles Times, fax (213) 237-7679. 33) ÿ Uncovering Queer Youth The March '95 issue of "Diablo" features an outstanding cover story on lesbian/gay youth. Under a full-color photo of three smiling teens, the banner headline announces: "The Kids Next Door - The Newest High School Activists, Gay and Lesbian Students, Are So Out They're In." Inside the cover, Eric Pfeiffer's ten-page feature article - "Out In School"- chronicles the problems and prospects that confront young queers. His feature story serves as an eloquent vehicle for the stories told by several out teens, whom he quotes extensively throughout the piece. Pfeiffer's article is further bolstered by two informational boxes (or side-bars). "Where To Turn?" provides extensive resources for lesbian and gay youth. "Prayers for Bobby" reviews a new non-fiction book about the suicide of a young gay man, Bobby Griffith, and his mother's subsequent transformation into activism. Con gratulations to: Colleen Paretty, Executive Editor, "Diablo," 2520 Camino Diablo, #200, Walnut Creek, CA 94596-3939; fax (510) 943-1045; e-mail diablopubs@aol.com. 34) Modem Watch Lesbian supervisor Carole Migden is the first member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to take advantage of new communications media by establishing an e-mail address directly to her City Hall office. She can be reached at: cmigden@aol.com. A Good Parent The April '95 issue of "San Francisco-Peninsula Parent" magazine includes an article on "Teaching Children to Appreciate Diversity." Despite some unfortunate references to "alternative lifestyles," the author does include ample references to homophobia and the resources available for combating it. Significantly, the magazine focuses on young children (pre-school through grade 8). Contact: Lisa Rosenthal, Editor, "S.F.-Peninsula Parent," P.O. Box 1280, Millbrae, CA 94030; fax (415) 342-9276. 35) Homo Video Frameline, a distributor of lesbian and gay films and presenter of the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, has announced a "Lesbian and Gay Cinema Collection;" these "home videos" are available directly to the public. For information, call (800) 439-1433. 36) Volunteer Profile Theresa Lamm... Theresa Lamm is a woman on the go. Whenever there is a GLAAD event, you can be sure Theresa is there. She is a big time supporter of our organization and the lesbian, gay, bisexual community at large. Theresa's first involvement with GLAAD was in 1991 when she joined the Monitor/Response committee of the Los Angeles chapter. To date, Theresa remains an active member of the committee which is now called MediaWatch. That was only the beginning of what has become a long term relationship with GLAAD. During that same year Theresa became a member of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles chapter and held that post for one year. It doesn't end there. Since 1991 Theresa has bee n active with the Media Awards Nominations committee. She has been an instrumental component of the film and television sub-committees and has since renewed her commitment each year. When she isn't working with GLAAD in some capacity, Theresa works as a Pricing Director for "The Little Folk Shop." She loves running and going to the movies and we love Theresa! 37) Letters... Mr. Greg Davidson West Hollywood, CA Dear Mr. Davidson: Thank you for your recent letter and for your support of Duracell. Consumers don't always take the time share their views with us (Duracell advertising on the Cammermeyer "Serving in Silence" TV telecast) and we are grateful to you for doing so...Copies of your letter are being circulated throughout our management staff. We are enclosing complimentary coupons as a token of our appreciation. Thank you for sharing your views with us, and most of all for being such a loyal Duracell fan. Very truly yours, Sharon O'Farrell Co nsumer Relations Manager Duracell USA Berkshire Corpoarate Park Bethel, CT 06801 GLAAD Wants Your Letter Keep contacting those individuals and companies that are helping to shape the attitudes and form the ideas in our country. There is a need for continual gay and lesbian reaction to the events that are shaping our lives and our future. Communication is one of our most effective tools. When you send a letter responding to an issue, send a copy to us for our files. We would also like to have a copy of any response you receive. Send to: Letters to the Editor, c/o 8455 Beverly Blvd., #305, Los Angeles 90048; New York Headquarters, 150 W. 26th St., Suite 503, New York 10001; (212) 807-1700; fax (212) 807-1806; or Los Angeles Headquarters, 8455 Beverly Blvd, #305, Los Angeles 90048; (213) 658-6775; fax (213) 658-6776. 38) GLAAD Headquarters New York... The GLAAD Psychic Singles Event sponsored by The Advocate and Seagrams will take place on May 7th at The Flamingo East. The event, hosted by drag diva Hedda Lettuce will include free psychic advice, tarot readings, music by DJ Gant Johnson, a scavenger hunt and raffle prizes donated by Epic Records, Raymond Dragon and local restaurants. Tickets are available at the door for $10, RSVP to GLAAD at 212.807.1700. A GLAAD benefit screening of the award-winning film Ballot Measure 9, featuring GLAAD's own National Field Office director, Donna Red Wing, will be held on the evening of June 21st at The New York Film Forum. Tickets are $15, RSVP to GLAAD at 212.807.1700. GLAAD will debut the new edition of our ground-breaking IMAGES campaign focusing on gay, lesbian and bisexual families for Pride celebrations nationwide this June. This pro-active advertising campaign will provide the media and the American public with much-needed images of gay, lesbian and bisexual couples, parents and families. The campaign is being produced pro-bono by IN-SYNC, a design company owned and operated by GL AAD supporter Michael Heitner, in cooperation with original IMAGES team which includes Nancy Webster from Burson Marsteller and Ron Gabriel from Seventeen magazine. GLAAD's first event to celebrate and outreach to the transgendered and drag communities, "The Night of 1000 Legends," was held on Thursday, April 13th at New York's Club 58. Performers and hosts included Quentin Crisp, Coco LaChine, Kim Ono, Shelly Mars, Diane Torr, Dominque Dibbell, Bazooka Jane, Ebony Jet, Lady Catiria, Leslie Feinberg, Buster Hymen, Queen Allyson from The Imperial Queens, Darna & Kim from Club 58 and the Empress of The Imperial Court of New York, Philomena. Los Angeles... All across the country, GLAAD is working for fair and inclusive representations of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. We would like you to join us in our mission by getting involved! Come to our GLAAD Update and learn how GLAAD through it's grassroots activism is accomplishing its goal. Then, find out how you can be a part of it. The Updates will be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the GLAAD office located at 8455 Beverly Blvd., Suite 305 (one block east of La Cienega Blvd.). Our next meeting is Thursday, May 18 at 7:00pm. The Community Outreach Committee (COC) wants you to get involved and participate in their activities. And to get a taste of that involvement, the COC is hosting an open house. It will be held at the GLAAD offices in Los Angeles - 8455 Beverly Boulevard, Suite 305 - on May 3rd at 7:00 pm. (The meeting will begin at 8:00pm.) L.A. Plans Pride Activities It's almost summer and that means Gay Pride Events!! GLAAD is beginning to focus on the same-sex marriage issue in Hawaii, which goes before the Hawaiian State Supreme Court this fall. As you know, GLAAD is supporting each person's right to choose to marry their loved one and have the same legal rights and protections enjoyed by heterosexual couples. This case will be a landmark in gay/lesbian civil ri ghts and is already provoking strong reaction around the country. The Los Angeles headquarters is currently planning its float for the CSW Parade and is also designing a booth for other Pride Festivals this summer. Help is needed staffing the booth during the Festivals in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County and Sunset Junction. We will be selling raffle tickets for a trip for two to Hawaii, taking polaroid snapshots of couples, friends and families and distributing info on joining GLAAD. GLAAD's presence in the Southern California Festivals is going to be stronger than ever and we need your help. To volunteer working a shift in the booth, or to join the Festival planning Committee, call Nancy Perez at the L.A. headquarters, (213) 658-6775. 39) Progressive Peek The March 1995 issue of The Progressive magazine includes "Contract on Culture," two features examining conservative assaults on public broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts. The issue also contains an interview with former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, and a critique of "NewtSpeak" by lesbian comedian Kate Clinton. Contact: The Progressive, 409 East Main St., Madison, WI 53703; e-mail progmag@igc.apc.org. 40) It's Your Call Arch-homophobe James Dobson has been using his national radio show to encourage listeners to call AT&T and protest the telecommunications company's "homosexual agenda" (AT&T has sponsored the Gay Games and has offered employees a gay/lesbian workshop). Throughout Dobson's campaign, calls from homophobes reportedly outnumbered the calls from homosexuals. To reverse that trend, you can call (800) 336-6939 (messages only, any time) or (908) 221-4191 (during business hours). You may also write to: Robert Allen, CEO, AT&T, 295 N. Maple Avenue, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920; e-mail attmail!csc@att.com. "Dr." James Dobson has published a "Corporate America and the Homosexual Agenda Information Sheet." This Fact-Less Sheet includes the phone numbers for ten AT&T executives and Dobson's listeners are urged to call and demand that the company stop supporting "the homosexual agenda" (i.e., ban lesbian/gay employee groups, cease corporate contributions to AIDS/HIV support groups, etc.). A copy of the sheet can be had, at "Dr." Dobson's expense, by calling (800) 232-6459. 41) Special Writes "The Evergreen Chronicles" (a journal of gay and lesbian arts and cultures) plans to publish special issues on and for queer youth, featuring "the words of queer youth along with the words of adults who work with queer youth." Inquiries may be sent by e-mail to: raff0003@gold.tc.umn.edu. The deadline for submissions is July 1, 1995. 42) Fundie Videos Right Wing groups continue to pump out hate, lies and video tape. The latest video from the Family Research Council (a homophobic "think" tank) is "The Children of Table 34," which "debunks Kinsey studies on sexuality" and "reveals that Kinsey used children as young as two m onths of age in sex experiments conducted by pedophiles." Contact the FRC at (800) 225-4008. A new video series entitled "Certain Failure" is being touted by the American Family Association as a "powerful expose" that "shows how the federal government is using education reform in the public schools to promote the new world order." Contact Prime Time Design/Opportunity Productions at (800) 954-1122, ext. 1. Finally, American Portrait Films, Inc., has released "Rock-n-Roll Sorcerers of the New Age Revolution;" this film for young audiences argues that rock music is "a vehicle for propaganda of Satanism and New Age philosophies." For more lurid details, contact APF at (216) 531-8600. 43) No, Pat, No! Homophobic talk show host Pat Buchanan has announced his bid to be the Republican nominee for President of the United States. He has also established a toll-free number (800) GO-PAT-GO. Intended as a fundraising effort, the phone number also offers an opportunity for regi stering opposition to Buchanan's bigotry - literally, at his expense. 44) Make it Twice as Much Many GLAAD members are able to include GLAAD as recipients in their employee sponsored matching gift programs. Some of the businesses that are currently named for matching gifts to GLAAD are: Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc., Chemical Bank, Microsoft Corporation, Chase Manhattan Corp., Citibank, Pfizer, Inc., J.P. Morgan & Co. Inc., American Express and New York Telephone. If your employer has a matching gift program please consider including them in your support of GLAAD. If you would like to speak to someone at GLAAD about matching gifts please call Morgan Gwenwald at the New York Office: (212) 807-1700. 45) "Workplace Sexual Orientation" GLAAD and Hollywood Supports report that over two dozen, highly trained, volunteer facilitators are available to present the 90-minute seminar "Workplace Sexual Orientation" at your workplace. For more information, to make suggestions on whom to contact at your workplace regarding the seminar, or to schedule a seminar, contact: GLAAD at (213) 658-6775 or Hollywood Supports Assistant Director Tamra King at (213) 655-7705.