Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 18:47:42 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADAlert 02.20.98 GLAADALERT February 20, 1998 The GLAADAlert is the weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation GLAADAlert Follow-Up: Arkansas Paper Covers Up Suicide Despite the suicide of a man whose name the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published on Janaury 30 for being arrested in a public sex raid (see GLAADAlert 2.6.98) , the newspaper has ignored a request from five major organizations to have a meeting, failed to report on the suicide, and defended the selective publication of the names of men arrested in same-sex misdemeanors. The suicide note left by the man to his (male) partner of 31 years, which was printed in a February 20 report in the weekly newspaper Arkansas Times, made abundantly clear his motivation: "My name and everything is in the paper this morning....Goodbye. I love you." The man's lawyer, Gary Sullivan, said that prior to the newspaper's printing of his identity his client gave no indication he might consider suicide. "'I have to believe that the Democrat-Gazette is responsible for [his] death,'" Sullivan told the Times. A February 12 letter from GLAAD, ACLU of Arkansas, the Women's Project, PFLAG and the local Metropolitan Community Church to the Democrat-Gazette requested a meeting, noting that "this is not the first time someone has killed himself under these circumstances. A number of years ago your paper published the names of men arrested on the same types of charges, and then also a man killed himself. Surely, the time has come to evaluate this policy." In a terse February 16 response, Democrat-Gazette Executive Editor Griffin Smith, Jr. said, "We have a duty to report the news. We would be remiss if we withheld from our readers public information of this nature...Publication of such items is governed by our established news policy....We believe our policy is logical, consistent, proper, and in the interest of our readers. We do not contemplate any change." The policy states: "Once a misdemeanor sex offense arrest has been deemed newsworthy, editors should then apply this three-pronged test in deciding whether to publish a charge of deviant sexual activity, loitering for the purpose of sex, indecent exposure and other related charges. The alleged crime: Must occur in a public place; Must be sexual in nature; Must be overt (i.e. indecent exposure; actual sexual contact, as opposed to just signaling intent, such as asking for 'some action,' winking, hand gestures, etc.)." The third prong, by providing the "signaling intent" caveat, essentially lets heterosexual men soliciting prostitutes off the hook while targeting men who have anonymous consensual public sex with other. The Democrat-Gazette does not print the identities of others arrested in misdemeanor consensual sex-related offenses. In 1993, when the paper ran an article on a heterosexual prostitution sting, it did not identify any of the arrested men. When asked by the Times about the discrepancy, the Democrat-Gazette spokesman said "he didn't know why the newspaper didn't publish the names of those arrested in [that] prostitution sting." The Democrat-Gazette has made no indication that they understand that societal forces of homophobia lead deeply closeted men to seek out such furtive sexual encounters. Printing the names will not stop men from seeking out anonymous sex with other men. Smith has failed to acknowledge either the request for a meeting or the death of a citizen because of their "policy." Smith has also failed to address why the suicide and controversy has not been considered "newsworthy" enough to make it into the newspaper. Tell the Democrat-Gazette that the policy of singling out and humiliating men who have public sex with other men--frequently married men who are the most fragile and closeted members of our community--must go. Insist that the newspaper acknowledge the suicide and the ensuing controversy as legitimate news, and that the newspaper's leaders have a meeting with concerned organizations immediately. Contact: Walter Hussman, Publisher, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203, phone: 501.378.3485, fax: 501.372.3908 "Fag Forest" The February 16 edition of The Citizens' Voice, a newspaper in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, featured the shocking repetitive use of anti-gay slurs in an editorial encouraging a police sweep of same-sex public sex acts in a local park. "'Fag Forest' a sordid place; clean it up," reads the headline. It begins, "'Fag Forest,' a section of Nesbitt park...is an area in need of a cleanup, in more ways than one." Referencing a February 15 news article in the paper entitled, "The City's Dangerous Red Light Riverbank," by Carol Crane, the editors say, "exposed yesterday in a special in-depth report were: homosexual activity and probably homosexual prostitution among the ruins of old park buildings; sex between young boys and adult males in the same vicinity; discarded sex-related paraphernalia ranging from a freebie entertainment newspaper listing phone sex and escort services to used condoms; shocking undesired encounters when people using the park for legitimate activities such as jogging come upon men engaging in sex; fears that the illicit activity in this 'Fag Forest' may be linked to the suspicious death of one local young boy--and perhaps numerous others." It calls for action, including police patrols, saying, "Since the way is known how to clear out 'Fag Forest' and make the area the nature preserve it should be, what has been the delay? A lack of concerted determination, it seems." It then quotes an "anonymous source" who serves as the primary voice in the original article, saying "'This is not a gay issue. It is an issue of public safety.'" It ends, "Replace the 'Fag Forest' with a park for the people." According to local PFLAG Chapter President Emily Brooks Novakowski, the original article makes no distinction between homosexuality and pedophilia, nor between the issue of consensual public sex and prostitution. Instead, both the Citizens' Voice editors and journalist Carol Crane blur the obvious distinction between them, implying that somehow consensual sex acts between men leads to child molestation, and even murder. In a letter she wrote to the newspaper, she states, "The man you quoted as saying, 'this is not a gay issue. It is an issue of public safety' is absolutely right. So please do not turn this into a 'gay issue.' Your paper needs to shed some light on the real issues. Men, be they homosexual or heterosexual, who are having sex with young boys are pedophiles....[but] FBI statistics show that 95 percent of child molesters are heterosexual. There is also the problem of prostitution involving...often homeless...teenage boys. Where are the parents of these boys who allow their children to engage is such activities?" The crimes in this park were only made a "gay issue" when a local sensationalist reporter and her newspaper's editorial board connected the alleged murder of a teenage boy, still not confirmed by police, and the consensual acts between consenting adults. Like Novakowski, GLAAD agrees with the anonymous witness. It is an issue of public safety. By repeatedly using the slur "fag" in both reporting and editorializing on the story, the Citizens' Voice obfuscates this reality. By failing to make the distinction between pedophilia and homosexuality, or even between being gay as an orientation and the same-sex activities in the park, the newspaper stirs up anti-gay hostility, which could lead to increased violence against gay people in the community. Through their sensationalist, gay-baiting tactics, the newspaper creates a real public safety issue for all who might be perceived as gay. Tell the Citizens' Voice that their derogatory language and gay-baiting put gay people in jeopardy and serve no legitimate public interest. Contact: James Gittens, Editorial Page Editor & Paul Golias, Managing Editor, Citizens' Voice, 75 N. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711-0501, fax: 717.821.2247. FOX Sports Scores with Gridiron Gay A recent story by Washington, DC FOX affiliate WTTG looked at the impact of homophobia on closeted sports professionals, highlighting former National Football League (NFL) running back David Kopay. In the story, sports reporter Brett Haber takes viewers into Kopay's home, detailing the personal saga of a private life frequently at odds with his professional career. Kopay talks about his sexual orientation being "shrouded in secrecy" for years, and later an atmosphere where many knew he was gay but it was "never officially discussed." Now 55, Kopay is eligible for NFL Players Association pension benefits and is petitioning for domestic partnership benefits. Haber interviews NFLPA Benefits Director Miki Yaras-Davis, who states that they "haven't had any requests [for DP benefits]....but it is the right thing to do." Congratulate WTTG-FOX for well-done, poignant coverage of this issue and encourage your local FOX affiliate to pick up the segment and air it in your community. Also, let the NFLPA know that offering domestic partner benefits is the right thing to do. Contact: Brett Haber, Producer, and Linda Sullivan, WTTG News Director, at 5151 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, fax: 202.895.3008. … Gene Upshaw, President, NFLPA, 2021 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Skating Out of Speculation In a front-page story from February 15, San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Gwen Knapp reports on the refreshing openness about sexual orientation the Canadian's Olympic Women's Hockey Team has. Coach Shannon Miller "is the only female head coach among the six hockey teams in the Winter Olympics," Knapp writes, adding she's been the target of gay-baiting attacks. "Rumors that she was having an affair with one of her players, and cutting other women in favor of her alleged lover, have persisted for almost three years," Knapp says, noting that she's since been cleared of all allegations. "It's not unusual for people to make enormous leaps of judgment and connect women's team sports, lesbianism and unethical behavior. What is unusual is for a team to acknowledge candidly, and without apology, that there are lesbians on its roster. Most teams dodge the issue or dismiss it as irrelevant. Ultimately, they are implying that heterosexuality prevails and, by extension, that sexual diversity threatens a team or a sport," she writes. Miller is quoted as saying, "'Are there some gay women on our hockey team? Yes, there are. Do the straight women care? No, they don't. Is it an issue on our team? No, it is not.'" Especially in the world of sports reporting, an open, sensitive and sophisticated discussion of sexual orientation and homophobia is rare. Gwen Knapp breaks ground with this engaging and honest article. Please commend the San Francisco Chronicle for its gay-sensitive (and sensible) sports coverage. Contact: Jerry Roberts, Managing Editor, San Francisco Chronicle, 901 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103-2988, fax: 415.543.7708, e-mail: chronletters@sfgate.com DeGeneres, Indigo Girls Among Ms. Women of the Year The January/February issue of Ms. Magazine features their Women of the Year, and among the thirteen honorees are openly lesbian singers Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls and actress Ellen DeGeneres. Of DeGeneres, Ms. writes, "For the thousands of lesbian and gay fans of the show, from teenagers to closeted adults and out activists, watching the familiar trials and tribulations of Ellen Morgan on prime time television is profoundly affirming. The first out gay person to portray a lead gay character on television, DeGeneres shattered conventional wisdom with her personal and artistic courage. Her one small step for herself became a giant leap for lesbian and gay visibility." The environmental activism of the Indigo Girls is the focus of their commendation, revealing that many lesbians and gay men do good work not solely for lesbian and gay equal rights and cultural change, but for many other issues as well. Please thank Ms. for recognizing the vital work of these three strong lesbians. Contact: Marcia Ann Gillespie, Editor In Chief, Ms. Magazine, 135 West 50th St., 16th Floor, New York, NY, fax: 212.586.7441, e-mail: ms@echonyc.com The GLAADAlert is the weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation in the media as a means of challenging homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. Contact GLAAD by e-mail at glaad@glaad.org or by phone at 213.658.6775 (Los Angeles), 212.807.1700 (New York), 415.861.2244 (San Francisco), 202.986.1360 (Washington, DC), 404.607.1204 (Atlanta) and 816.756.5991 (Kansas City) Feel free to pass GLAADAlert on to friends, family and associates! Report defamation in the media 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. 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