Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 16:22:12 -0800 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADAlert - February 3, 2000 GLAADAlert February 3, 2000 The GLAADAlert is the bi-weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation 1. Wisconsin State Journal focuses on youth 2. No Golden Globe for City of Angels episode 3. NYPD Blue goes to a 'fairy bar' 4. Exploring gender identity on Chicago Hope 5. Kansas City Star delves into priests and AIDS 6. Alert to GLAADAlert readers Wisconsin State Journal focuses on youth In a large package piece of several articles and sidebars, the Jan. 25 Wisconsin State Journal examined the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in schools. The introduction asks, "What's going on in schools? Is school staff trained to deal with harassment complaints? Is enforcement of nonharassment policy a problem? Who can students and families turn to for help?" The newspaper then goes on to comprehensively answer these questions. Included in the articles are first-person reports from youth questioning their sexuality and how school environment affected them. Described are examples of in-school harassment, school policies, support groups and equal protection laws. The Journal includes a resource listing of books, videos, organizations and Internet sites where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth and their families can go for help. The Journal printing this piece is to be commended for two reasons. One, the presentation of this important issue is not diminished by the inclusion of dissident voices opposed to recognizing the existence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth and their needs. Two, the audience of middle America does not often get such supportive images to see and read. The Journal provides this much-needed exposure. Contact: Christopher Juzwik, Features Editor, Wisconsin State Journal, 1901 Fish Hatchery Road, Madison, WI., 53713; fax: 608-252-6119; e-mail: cjuzwik@madison.com No Golden Globe for City of Angels episode The Jan. 19 episode of City of Angels, a new hospital drama on CBS, contained a story line about a man who comes to the emergency room with a Golden Globe Award lodged in his rectum. He and his male partner are played for humor as the hospital staff makes puns and jokes about the situation. Later, a senior physician rightly reprimands staff members on their poor attitude and lack of compassion. While GLAAD appreciates Producer Steven Bochco's effort to show the valid problem of discrimination experienced by gay and lesbian patients in health care settings, the manner of the portrayal was less than admirable. Besides the questionable choice of story line, included was the graphic image of an x-ray showing the award in the man's rectum. Such images can only reinforce the audience's perception of gay men as perverts. Many other story lines could have been used to get the message across of discrimination and callus treatment of gay men and lesbians in the health care system. Please let Bochco and CBS hear of your dismay over this episode. They need to know we do want to see more images of our community, but that more care needs to be taken when choosing what those images will be. Contact: Steven Bochco, Steven Bochco Productions, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Bldg. 1, Los Angeles, CA 90035; fax: 310-369-3236. Nancy Tellem, President, CBS Entertainment, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036; phone: viewer feedback at 323-575-2345. NYPD Blue goes to a 'fairy bar' NYPD Blue's Jan. 25 episode included a story line about the detectives' investigation into the killing of a man by a male prostitute. The story rolls out in the usual NYPD Blue's street genre, the visuals and language raw-natured and pushing the envelope. While the topic is one of reality - a messed up hustler killing his trick - the presentation, particularly in the character of Detective Sipowicz, crosses the line to being offensive. In the series, Sipowicz is played as a tough, longtime New York cop who has seen and done it all, yet in this story he is shocked and disgusted by simply being in a gay bar and later, its bathroom. Looking at some bland framed nude drawings on the bathroom wall prompts him to say in distaste, "How can you urinate in this type of environment?" Sipowicz also uses such derogatory terms as "fairy bars," "queer moron" and "fruits" without ever being challenged by anyone. While we can applaud NYPD Blue for including the recurring character of John Irvin, an openly gay police administrative aide, work still needs to be done to avoid gratuitous language and inconsistencies in characterizations when depicting gay themes. Contact: Steven Bochco, Steven Bochco Productions, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Bldg. 1, Los Angeles, CA 90035; fax: 310-369-3236. Stuart Bloomberg, Co-chairman, ABC Entertainment, 2040 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067-4785; fax: 310-557-6883; phone: 310-557-7777, ask for the viewer comment line. Exploring gender identity on Chicago Hope On Feb. 3, two time GLAAD Media Award winner Chicago Hope presented a complex, compelling episode about gender identity called "Boys Will Be Girls." In the episode's lead story, Dr. Jack McNeil (Mark Harmon) is surprised to discover that his female teenage patient was actually born a boy. An error during the infant's circumcision resulted in the loss of the boy's penis; and while doctors advised the parents to raise the child as a girl, the adolescent Deborah now desires to live as a boy. When Chicago Hope's doctors offer Deborah a procedure that will undo the mutilation suffered during the circumcision, Deborah's parents and the hospital staff face off in court to determine the best interests of the child. "Boys Will Be Girls" is an uncommonly sophisticated and nuanced look at gender identity and sexual orientation. The doctors support Deborah's insistence of being really a boy and treat their patient with respect and dignity. The episode perhaps overstates the ease with which Deborah's male physiology is restored, but it is still a ground-breaking look at gender reassignment surgeries performed on intersexed and injured infants. Please thank CBS and David Kelley Productions for this timely and sensitive look at an important medical and social issue. Contact: Nancy Tellem, President, CBS Entertainment, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036; viewer feedback: 323-575-2345. David Kelley, Kelley Productions, C/O FOX, 1600 Rosecrans Ave., Bldg. 4B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Kansas City Star delves into priests and AIDS In an 11-article series running Jan. 30-Feb. 1, the Kansas City Star examined the high incidence of AIDS among the priesthood. In an extensive report, the newspaper unflinchingly reveals its findings without equating AIDS with being gay nor denying its impact upon the Roman Catholic priesthood and the lesbian and gay community. GLAAD commends the Kansas City Star for taking on such a controversial topic and giving it a high profile placement. By doing so, the newspaper has encouraged public debate, evidenced by several other media outlets having taken up the story. The exposure questions the Catholic Church to examine its intolerance of homosexuality, something attributed for the secrecy surrounding this issue. Please let the Kansas City Star know this thoughtful and well-researched effort is appreciated. Contact: Mark Zieman, Editor, Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64108-1413; fax: 816-234-4940; e-mail: letters@kcstar.com Alert to GLAADAlert readers February is television ratings sweeps month, which means television stations all over the country run programming to garner higher ratings, which in turn sets advertising rates. A frequent means of attracting viewers is to run sensational stories on local news shows and a favorite topic has often been stories on public sex. Stations have sent undercover reporters with hidden cameras into public restrooms or parks in an attempt to sensationalize programming and boost ratings. GLAAD asks that you watch your local area news for such segments. If you know of one in advance, please attempt to tape it, so that we can review it. You can call toll-free at 1-800-GAY-MEDIA, e-mail to glaad@glaad.org or access http://www.glaad.org The GLAADAlert is the bi-weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. GLAAD is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Contact GLAAD by e-mail at glaad@glaad.org or by phone at 323.658.6775 (LA), 212.807.1700 (NY), 415.861.2244 (SF), 202.986.1360 (DC), 404.876.1398 (Atlanta) and 816.756.5991 (Kansas City) Feel free to pass GLAADAlert on to friends, family and associates! Report defamation in the media and breaking news of interest to the LGBT community by calling GLAAD's Toll-Free AlertLine! 1-800-GAY-MEDIA (1-800-429-6334) Visit GLAAD Online at http://www.glaad.org "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. GLAADAlert may be freely distributed and reprinted in all forms of media under the condition that any text used carry the full attribution of "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org TO REPORT DEFAMATION IN THE MEDIA - Call GLAAD's Alertline at 1.800.GAY.MEDIA or go to the GLAAD Web Site at www.glaad.org and report through our Alertline Online. TO JOIN GLAAD AND RECEIVE GLAAD's QUARTERLY GLAADNOTES MAGAZINE, call 1.800.GAY.MEDIA or join on the Web today at www.glaad.org/glaad/join/join-about.html TO SUBSCRIBE TO GLAAD-Net, GLAAD's electronic mailing list, send e-mail to majordomo@vector.casti.com with the message "Subscribe GLAAD-Net" (without the quotation marks). Make sure that you turn off all signatures and extraneous text. 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