Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 14:55:22 -0700 From: glaad@glaad.org (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Subject: GLAADAlert 07.01.96 GLAADALERT July 1, 1996 The GLAADAlert is the weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation MTV "SINGLES OUT" GAYS FOR UNEQUAL TREATMENT A special gay edition of MTV's Singled Out, a 90s version of the Dating Game, was pulled from prime-time by the Music Television network and moved to 11 p.m. (ET/PT). According to MTV spokeswoman Tina Exarhos, "There was some content we felt should air at a later time. It has absolutely nothing to do with outside pressure from any group." The special episode, which aired on June 28, was ironically intended as MTV's tribute to Gay Pride Week, and featured a gay man and a lesbian as contestants. MTV had received a special GLAAD Media Award for its handling of gay and lesbian issues and its documentary series The Real World also received an award for its representation of a gay couple. So, to see MTV fall away from its commitment to diversity, the rescheduling to late-night of a fairly tame, fully-clothed game show featuring gay contestants is shocking. "MTV's backpedaling on this and their defensive posture is almost as distressing as their moving it," says GLAAD's News Media Director Alan Klein, "It shows a profound lack of trust with their audience and their viewership, particularly their gay and lesbian viewership.'' Please write MTV and let them know how you feel. Contact: Judy McGrath, President, MTV Networks, 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, phone: 212.258.8712, e-mail: Feedback@mtv.com. LIVE-IN LESBIANS ON SEX IN THE 90's Getting back to an MTV we know, a lesbian couple is among four relationships featured on the eighth installment of MTV's popular Sex In The 90's series, which will explore the complications that arise when couples live together. The show will debut July 1 at 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT), the same late-night time slot that the network assigned a special, gay episode of the Singled Out, MTV's usually straight dating game show. Sex In The 90's VIII: Living Together will feature Amy and Therese, a young lesbian couple enjoying a "chaos-free life in San Francisco," and will repeat at earlier time slots, including July 2 at 7:30 p.m., July 4 at 5 p.m., and July 6 at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). Please write MTV and let them know that this is the kind of commitment to diversity you want to see. Contact: Judy McGrath, President, MTV Networks, 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, phone: 212.258.8712, e-mail: Feedback@mtv.com. A DAY OF COMPASSION June 21st marked the Fourth Annual Day of Compassion, a media event that encourages television programming to "highlight compassion and support for people affected by HIV and AIDS." Shows that participated included talk shows, primetime programming and nine daytime dramas. Three of these programs featured gay content. Leeza featured couples who had one partner that was either HIV positive or who was living with AIDS. One of the couples was a gay couple. Following the recent trend of diverse characters on ABC's daytime programming, One Life To Live recognized the Day of Compassion by having a gay friend of show regular Antonio Vega (played by Kamar De Los Reyes) talk about his lover who is HIV positive. Finally, Rolonda featured openly gay Olympic gold diver Greg Louganis discussing living with HIV. Please thank the producers of Leeza and Rolonda and the headwriter of One Life To Live for their inclusiveness of the gay and lesbian community. Contact: Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson, Executive Producer, Leeza, Paramount Pictures, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038, phone: 213.956.5516, fax: 213.862.1052, e-mail: pde@paramount.com; Ann Marie Williams, Producer, Rolonda, King World Productions, 411 East 75th Street, New York, NY 10021, phone: 212.650.2010, fax: 212.650.2050; Michael Malone, Headwriter, One Life To Live, 56 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023, e-mail: daytime@ccabc.com from Hollywood Supports GAY IN AMERICA The San Francisco Examiner has once again spotlighted the gay and lesbian community through a seven day series entitled "Gay In America." The series coincides with San Francisco's gay and lesbian pride events and focuses on topics such gay and lesbian parenting, life in the Castro (San Francisco's famous gay and lesbian neighborhood), coming out in the heartland, living with HIV or AIDS, the fear of gay-bashing and the radical right and gay and lesbian youth. The profiles represent the community as it is, rich with its racial, gender, social and geographical diversity. The entire series is available on the Web at http://www.sfgate.com/examiner/special/gia. Reprints are also available through The San Francisco Examiner by sending a check for $3.00 made out to San Francisco Examiner and sent to Gay In America:1996, 1405 12th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122. San Francisco may be well known for its rich gay and lesbian culture and history, but the series is a great tribute to gay men and lesbians everywhere. Please thank the creative force behind this series for presenting such a wonderfully diverse and inclusive piece on the gay and lesbian community. Contact: Carol Ness, Writer, Pat Yollin, Assistant City Editor, and Steve Cook, Assistant Managing Editor, Gay In America:1996, c/o The San Francisco Examiner, P.O. Box 7260, San Francisco, CA 94120, fax: 415.957.1013, e-mail: gia@examiner.com from GLAAD/San Francisco EQUAL TIME FOR BIGOTS AND GAYS? Several weeks ago, ultraconservative talk show host Sean Hannity turned over his three-hour morning radio program on Atlanta radio station WGST to three anti-gay, right-wing politicians: Bob Barr (R-Ga.), Bob Dornan (R-Calif.) and Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). After notification from GLAAD/Atlanta and Georgia's Democratic Party that FCC rules require "equal time" on the air be offered to election opponents of the three, WGST spokesperson Cara Chatiner has claimed that FCC rules require only that the station allow equal time to other Republicans challenging Barr, Dornan and Gingrich in the primaries. Please let WGST know that it should comply with the spirit of federal law and allow gays to be defended. contact: Eric Fidel, Station Manager, WGST, 1819 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, phone: 404.367.0640 from GLAAD/Atlanta TOLERANCE TAUGHT IN THE HEARTLAND As Radical Right group Concerned Women for America (CWA) continues its attack on the National Education Association (NEA) for its resolution about gay men and lesbians, a voice from the heartland speaks out. Myrne Roe, Editorial Writer for The Wichita Eagle, proclaims "Tolerance Should Be Educators' Job" (June 20, 1996 editorial column). Offering some background on the resolution, Roe compares the NEA's decision to include the promotion of tolerance and respect toward lesbians and gay men and the recognition of the community's contributions and history with its decision to observe and endorse Black History Month and Women's History Month. She writes, "In the 1960s and 1970s, staff training to enhance classroom tolerance was called sensitivity training and was directed toward improving race relations. Teachers and staff explored ways in which to be more sensitive to and understanding of black students. Some schools also had employee training to eliminate sexism in classroom activities by learning to be more aware of the needs of girls in schools. The gay and lesbian resolution follows that same training concept, if not the same process." Roe chides the CWA for insulting the intelligence of the pubic when she says, "People in the mainstream are willing to pursue, if not acceptance, then understanding about homosexuality." Please thank Myrne Roe for her intelligent commentary. Contact: Myrne Roe, Editorial Writer, The Wichita Eagle, P.O. Box 820, Wichita, KS 67201, phone: 316.268.6000, e-mail: eaglenws@aol.com SAME-GENDER MARRIAGE DEBATED IN DALLAS The June 23 edition of the Dallas Morning News featured pro/con guest columns on same-gender marriage in its Sunday Reader editorial section. The pro-marriage column, written by Evan Wolfson of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, was countered by Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition. Sheldon's idea of a logical syllogism? 1. Homosexuality is a choice. 2. Because homosexuality is a choice, "confused" adolescents must be protected. 3. Gay people don't want to get married anyway. To support this last, and most unusual argument, Sheldon cited statistics showing that only 3 percent of San Francisco gays had applied for domestic partnerships since 1990, and that just 0.18 percent of them has applied for the newer, non-binding marriage agreements. Apparently Sheldon believes those wanting to marry should accept such "separate but equal" arrangements. Please write the Dallas Morning News and let them know how you feel. Contact: Stuart Wilks, Managing Editor, Dallas Morning News, Box 655237, Dallas, TX, 75265, phone: 214.977.8222, fax: 214. 263.0456, e-mail: DMNeditor@aol.com, or 74774.2236@compuserve.com, or jerg21a@prodigy.com. from GLAAD/Dallas PRODIGAL OMISSION In the last GLAADAlert, we ran an item on an Associated Press story that highlighted the gay and lesbian forums on America Online, CompuServe and Microsoft Network. Gay and lesbian members of PRODIGY contacted GLAAD shortly thereafter and reminded us of the up-hill climb they faced in starting a gay and lesbian forum on PRODIGY. Under the old management, PRODIGY members met with homophobia and great resistance. Now, the online service provider boasts three unique areas designated for the community - The Gay and Lesbian Bulletin Board (GLBB), Gay Chat, and The G/L/B/T&Y Home Page. So large is the gay and lesbian market that PRODIGY will be announcing a new area to premiere today. GLAAD acknowledges the strides gay and lesbian PRODIGY members have made and apologizes for the omission. Please thank Edward Bennett, President and CEO of PRODIGY, for acknowledging the importance of the gay and lesbian community on the Internet. Contact: Edward A. Bennett, President and CEO, PRODIGY Services Company, Inc., 445 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601, phone: 914.962.0310, fax: 914.448.2434, e-mail: prez@prodigy.com. from Gay & Lesbian Members of Prodigy 'GOT MILK'? SAN FRAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DOES The San Francisco school board voted last week to rename the 105-year-old Douglass Elementary School for Harvey Milk, despite threats from some parents to remove their children from the school if it honored the openly gay city supervisor who was slain in office 18 years ago. The soon to be Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy is located in the heart of the mostly gay and lesbian Castro district, and is the seventh that the board has renamed in recent years for a champion of civil rights. "Harvey Milk was a real leader in the struggle for civil rights in this city,'' said Board President Steve Phillips. "He served as a role model and inspiration to gays and lesbians -- but he was involved in building other multicultural coalitions, too. My real hope is that the civil rights dimension can be a point of unity.'' Early signs are not hopeful. Opponents of the name change continue to complain that a school named for Milk would unnecessarily confuse the children who would make up its student body and would force parents to discuss differing sexual orientations with children too small to understand the subject. Please thank Steve Phillips for his support of the gay and lesbian community and the acknowledgment of a true civil rights leader. Contact: Board of Education President Steve Phillips, 135 Van Ness Avenue, Board Office, San Francisco, CA 94102, phone: 415.241.6000, e-mail: sphilli@sfusd.k12.ca.us from GLAAD/San Francisco COVERAGE OF GREENVILLE TORCH A NO-GLOW In two stories appearing in its June 25 editions, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution mishandled coverage of the decision by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) to re-route the torch relay from Greenville County because of an anti-gay resolution. In a front page story, staff writer Melissa Turner opined that "ACOG's excruciating gyrations as it attempts to come to grips with this recurring political entanglement have been the only smudge on an otherwise glorious cross-country relay." Both stories included far more coverage of those supporting the anti-gay agenda, and neither made any effort to explain the reasons behind ACOG's decision. Please write Melissa Turner and let her know how you feel about her opinion of the fight for equal rights. Contact: Melissa Turner, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 72 Marietta St., NW, Atlanta, GA 30303, phone: 404.526.5342, e-mail: journal@ajc.com or constitution@ajc.com from GLAAD/Atlanta SOMETHING TO BE PROUD ABOUT : THE LA TIMES As Gay and Lesbian Pride events are being celebrated around the country, the coverage of these events are often nothing to be proud about. The Los Angeles Times, however, offered short but sweet coverage of Christopher Street West (CSW), Los Angeles' Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration held the weekend of June 22-23. In a June 24 article entitled "Pride and Politics," staff writer Jeff Leeds explored the reason Gay and Lesbian Pride exists - to celebrate the community's struggle for equal rights. Leeds writes, "In many ways, the parade and festival appeared as flamboyant as ever...But some observers said the always-festive event seemed to carry a more political edge this year." He observed that the fight for the freedom to marry was the biggest political event of the festival as well as of the year for the gay and lesbian community. But others viewed the event as always political. One observer noted, "If you solved AIDS and let gays get married, we wouldn't have this. As long as we have to struggle for rights, we have to do this." Please thank the Los Angeles Times for their coverage of CSW. Contact: Shelby Coffey, Editor-In-Chief, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, phone: 213.237.7000, fax: 213.237.4712, e-mail: letters@latimes.com 99X MORNING SHOW PANDERS FOR PRIDE Sometimes gay-friendly Atlanta radio station 99X, which has been a regular sponsor of Atlanta's Gay and Lesbian Pride, has once again allowed its morning show to feature programming that stereotypes gays. Famous for weekly stereotyping "queens" in reviews of Melrose Place by "Bob," the Morning X is now staging a mock same-gender marriage ceremony between local drag queen Kitty Litter and his partner Frank. The programmers at 99X apparently believe that the only thing the huge Atlanta gay and lesbian community has to offer radio listeners are stereotypes and caricature. Please thank WNNX for their support of the community, but encourage them to go beyond the stereotype and allow a diverse representation of gay men and lesbians. Contact: WNNX, 3405 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305, phone: 404.266.0997, e-mail: barnes@99x.com, leslie@99x.com, jimmy@99x.com. from GLAAD/Atlanta The GLAADAlert is the weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. GLAAD is the Lesbian and Gay News Bureau and the only national Lesbian and Gay multimedia watchdog organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. Copies of articles referred to in the GLAADAlert are available to our members by contacting GLAAD. Contact GLAAD by e-mail at glaad@glaad.org or by phone at 213.658.6775 (Los Angeles), 212.807.1700 (New York), 413.586.8928 (Northampton), 503.224.5285 (Portland, Oregon), 202.986.1360 (Washington, DC) or 415.861.2244(San Francisco). Visit GLAAD's Web Site at http://www.glaad.org "GLAADAlert," "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org VISIT THE GLAAD WEB SITE AT http://www.glaad.org! GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.