Date: Thu, 3 Dec 1998 17:22:14 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADAlert December 3, 1998 GLAADALERT December 3, 1998 The GLAADAlert is the weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation =09 Philadelphia Inquirer: Doubly Good =09 Two recent stories in the Philadelphia Inquirer highlighted issued confronting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community: the recent spate of "sweeps month" stories focusing on public sex in mens restrooms, and the "closet" of gay and/or HIV-positive clergy.=20 =09 o On November 18, Michael L. Rozansky wrote "Shocking expos=E9s that make the rounds" for the Arts & Entertainment Section. Taking on the recent controversy surrounding local Pennsylvania television station WCAUs story on "restroom sex" (See GLAADAlert, 11.19.98), Rozansky quotes the news anchor as saying "We were shockedby what we uncovered working on this story." The report retorts "Really? Channel 10 shouldnt have been so shocked. This was no astonishing local discovery, but a story that has been covered by TV stations across America. Rozansky then relates that up to 50 local news broadcasts have aired similar stories, all using the same single source for their information. Discussing the phenomenon of "sweeps month," the story is seen in the context of luring viewers to a broadcast in pursuit of lucrative advertising dollars. A professor at the Annenberg School of Communications observes, "If this is such an important problem, then why does it only get raised in February, May and November?" Rozansky then traces the migration of the story through newsrooms via professional organizations, trade magazines and the Internet. He closes by observing, ironically, that while WCAUs report came in second for its time slot that night, it won its slot the next night with the lead-in audience from NBCs ER. =09 o On November 29, William R. Macklin wrote a feature for the Lifestyle section about Rabbi Marc Blumenthal, the spiritual leader of Temple Ami Shalom in Los Angeles. Blumenthal, who is gay and HIV-positive, came out publicly about his HIV status two years ago, and has been lecturing actively on AIDS awareness ever since. (His appearance at a local panel on the Jewish response to HIV/AIDS prompted the interview.) Macklin discusses the criticism the rabbi has faced from those who oppose lesbians, gay men and people with HIV in the rabbinate, and talks about the teaching of tikkun olam the need for people to participate in the "healing of the world." For Rabbi Blumenthal, this means helping care for the sick, and promoting education for young people, including around issues of safe sex. Macklin closes by reflecting on Blumenthals growing up and coming out, his ordination, and as a final thought, Blumenthals own words reflecting his belief in the goodness in all that is created, including members of the lesbian, gay and HIV/AIDS communities. =09 Please thank the Philadelphia Inquirer for their insightful and diverse coverage of these issues and of an invaluable member of our community. =09 =09 Contact: William Ward, Managing Editor, Philadelphia Inquirer, 400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130-4015, fax: 215.854.5884, e-mail: inquirer.letters@phillynews.com =09 =09 =09 Nat Hentoff Takes on "The War Against Gays and Lesbians" =09 In two recent issues of The Village Voice, sometimes controversial civil libertarian and columnist Nat Hentoff wrote two columns regarding the murder of Matthew Shepard, homophobia and hate crimes legislation=20 columns that succinctly and persuasively lay out the state of homophobia in America, and why it must be faced head on in its earliest manifestations. Hentoffs style is reportorial in the best sense of the word, building a case by laying facts upon facts. Among the examples cited are a recent poll regarding bias against lesbians and gay men in juries; the significantly more brutal nature of hate crimes, and anti-gay hate crimes in particular; how a fourth grade teacher hears his students using homophobic slurs, even though they dont know what they mean. Hentoff uses his growing up experiences of anti-Semitism to=20 make the point that both forms of prejudice begin when young. In the following column (December 8 issue), Hentoff discusses the recent election results defeating the freedom to marry and grant equal rights across the country, and relating the recent finding of a rise in anti-gay prejudice among high school "achievers." (see GLAADLines 11/16/98 ) He uses this finding to back up his contention that schools must become places where bias, bigotry and prejudices are aired, explored, and discussed fully so as to eradicate them. Finally, Hentoff makes his case for hate crimes legislation, arguing that the pending federal legislation would give victims more opportunities to prosecute their assailants, as well as send the message that, as he writes, "violent bigotry is not just a crime against a single person, because it effects members of the same group."=20 =09 Please thank Nat Hentoff and the Village Voice for a substantive journalistic commentary on the nature and problems of hate directed towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. =09 =09 Contact: Doug Simmons, Managing Editor, and Nat Hentoff, Village Voice, 36 Cooper Square, New York, NY 10003, fax: 212.475.8944, e-mail: editor@villagevoice.com =09 =09 Boston Globe Blames The Victim =09 In its November 30 coverage of a transgender woman who was murdered in her Boston apartment, the Boston Globe managed to not only insult the woman, but subtly imply that she participated in her own murder. As we have seen with recent cases involving transgender coverage, (see GLAADAlert 11/19/98) the problems around language and gender identity have become more pronounced as the transgender community has become more visible. =09 Headlined "Stabbing victim a mystery to many," reporter Daniel Vasquez paints a lurid picture of Rita Hesters life, calling her "a nightclub singer and a party-thrower, a man [sic] who sported long braids and preferred womens clothing. Hester was a mystery to those around him so much so that, until his body was found many in the buildingbelieved Hester was a woman." Vasquezs description is problematic on a number of levels: are people who sing in nightclubs perhaps somehow "looser" or more prone to violent attack than others? Why does Vasquez insist on using male pronouns throughout, when it is obvious that she was living as a woman. While the "problematic pronoun" issue appears throughout the story, also troubling is the picture which the reporter creates of Hester "angering his upper-floor neighbors with late-night loud music", an "apparent double life" and a set of neighbors seemingly more concerned about the "mystery" of Hesters gender than the fact that one of the residents was brutally stabbed multiple times within their earshot (neighbors reported hearing noise, but not thinking much of it.) =09 The lack of dignity and respect shown to Rita Hester by the Boston Globe needs to be addressed, not only by transgender activists specifically, but by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as a whole. Please tell the Boston Globe that their discrimination in how murder victims are treated in their pages cannot go unchallenged.=20 =09 Contact: Gregory L. Moore, Managing Editor, Boston Globe, 135 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester, MA 02125-3338, fax: 617.929.2098, e-mail: letters@globe.com =09 =09 Are These the "Gays of Our Lives"? =09 The December 1 issue of Soap Opera Digest took a serious look at the problems soap operas have had dealing with the subject of homosexuality. "Gays of Our Lives," by William Keck, examines the spotty record of daytime inclusion of lesbian and gay characters since 1983, when the first character to openly declare herself a lesbian appeared on All My Children. Investigating the lack of gay characters on daytime television, Keck notes that "monsters and aliens" have sprung up more frequently than lesbians and gays. "A disturbing fact," he writes, "considering that homosexuals are not creatures of science fiction. They are living, breathing members of society, and several are the creative forces behind your favorite serials." Scott Seomin, GLAADs Entertainment Media Director, tells Keck he believes that "producers or writers feel that a gay storyline would alienate viewers because they cant relate to it. Well, how can a suburban housewife relate to Erica Kane? shes a manipulative bitch whos been married a million times but shes fun. We watch television to escape and learn about other ways people live." =09 It seems that while many major network primetime television shows are embracing diverse and inclusive characters on television, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters are almost nowhere to be found on daytime television. Soap Opera Digests extensive story deserves kudos for examining an important part of television. Daytimes largest demographic are women between the ages of 18-49 women sometimes at home raising lesbian and gay kids. =20 =09 Please thank Soap Opera Digest for examining this important issue, and encourage them to examine bisexual and transgender representation and invisibility on daytime, two things not included in this article =09 Contact: Ms. Stephanie Sloane, Managing Editor, Soap Opera Digest, 45 West 25th St., NY, NY 10010-2003, e-mail: feedback@soapdigest.com =09 =09 Short Takes =09 The following newspaper stories appeared since the last GLAADAlert, and while not warranting a full-length GLAADAlert , merit recognition for their coverage of issues and concerns of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community: =09 o The New York Times covered the passage of lesbian and gay rights legislation in Miami/Dade County 20 years after Anita Bryants campaign to repeal the first law the Florida city passed. Reporter Mireya Navarro covered the story, discussing the original circumstances surrounding Bryants campaign, how the bill was passed this time around, and why it took 21 years for it to resurface in a city with a significant lesbian & gay population. =09 o The Deseret News (Utah) used the appearance of author Caitlin Ryan, co-author of "Lesbian and Gay Youth: Care and Counseling" to talk about lesbian and gay youths risk for suicide, HIV and depression, reprinting Ryans advice for adults dealing with lesbian and gay young people. =09 o The Bergen Record interviewed Brad Gooch, openly gay writer, professor of creative writing at William Patterson College and currently featured in Levis advertising campaign highlighting lesbian and gay "heroes."=20 =09 o In Addicted to Noise, a Web-based music and culture magazine, veteran music writer Dave Marsh talks about the murder of Matthew Shepard in the context of a new album by singer/songwriter Patty Griffin, whose song "Tony" tells the tale of a "fat gay kid" who commits suicide, contrasting him to Shepard, and using her eloquent music to discuss our collective loss. =09 =09 Contact:=20 Bill Keller, Managing Editor, New York Times, 229 West 43rd St., New York, NY 10036-3959, fax: 212.556.3690, e-mail: letters@nytimes.com (include phone number when sending e-mails)=20 =09 John Hughes, Editor, Deseret News, 30 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1902, fax: 801.237.2530=20 =09 Vivian Waixel, Editor, The Record, 150 River St., Hackensack, NJ 07601-7156, fax: 201.646.4135, e-mail: newsroom@bergen.com =09 Addicted to Noise: via the Web, http://www.addict.com =09 =09 =09 ABCNEWS.com Looks Comprehensively at the 20th Century=20 As part of the networks look back at the 20th Century, ABCs online news source, ABCNEWS.com has launched a new section of its site entitled "TheCentury.com". At the core of the sites multiple features is its "Time Capsule," which is described as "a memory vault where people post their personal experiences and read what others have written." Among the varied topics listed for discussion is a "Gay Rights" section. ABCNEWS introduces the topic, "When New Yorks finest stormed a Manhattan gay bar in 1969, the modern gay rights movement was born. Despite advances, gay rights continues to be a flashpoint issue in the United States as the century draws to a close. The example of the recent death of Matthew Shepard, and the controversy surrounding his brutal murder in Wyoming, attests to the controversy that still surrounds gay rights as an issue." has already received numerous postings. Respondents currently featured on the site include a closeted gay man from a rural area speaking about his physical and emotional isolation, a former Marine who speaks to military issues, an openly gay man living in San Francisco, a proud lesbian who speaks about marriage and her coming out process, and many, many more diverse voices. ABCNEWS also prompts viewers with directed questions, facilitating discussions of more specific issues. =09 In addition to the Time Capsule, TheCentury.com also spotlights selected "Stories of the Century." In honor of World AIDS Day, the site posted a special piece on Monday afternoon, which ran through Tuesday as well. Under the heading of "Science & Technology," the 6-screen slideshow highlighted major events and developments relating to the AIDS pandemic. Entitled "AIDS Rages On," it began "World AIDS Day offers us the opportunity to remember those who have been affected by the devastating AIDS epidemic. After raging for almost 20 years, a clear cure is still not in sight." It continues by focusing on the impact of increases in homophobia owing to fear of AIDS, treatment issues, political backlash against the lesbian and gay community from religious political extremists, and the global impact of the disease. Each screen featured both a slide and an audio clip from leaders in the fields of treatment, prevention and activism such as Dr. David Ho. =09 ABCNEWS.com deserves high praise for its TheCentury.com project. Please thank them by visiting the site and posting your memories to the time capsule, located at http://www.abcnews.com/century/timecapsule.. The World AIDS Day Story of the Century feature is slated to be rebroadcast this weekend beginning Friday evening and continuing until Monday, so when you visit, watch for it on the homepage, located at http://www.TheCentury.com . =09 =09 9021-"O"pens Samantha Sanders Closet =09 On the Wednesday, December 2 episode of Beverly Hills 90210, Samantha Sanders [Christina Belford], mother of 90210 principal character Steve Sanders [Ian Ziering] comes out to her son. A popular actress, Samantha becomes the center of a tabloid report, which claims that shes dating one of her co-stars: a man much younger than she. Upset by the age difference in their alleged romance, Steve approaches his mother after confronting the co-star at a club, where Steve saw him dancing with another girl. Samantha tells him that she "can date whomever [she] choose[s]," adding, "Besides, were not even dating." Steve then asks, "Are you dating someone else? Someone older?" Samanthas reply: "Yes. 48," and, after a long pause, "Her name is Linda. Ive been trying to tell you for a long time Im gay." Previews for next weeks episode showed Steve talking with his friend David [Brian Austin Green]. David says, "You cant tell me that the thought of two women together doesnt turn you on," and Steve responds, "Not when one of them is my mom." =09 This is not the first time Beverly Hills 90210 has featured a lesbian or gay character [see GLAADAlert 12.19.97]. But Samantha is a regular on the show and adds to the growing number of recurring and regular lesbian, gay and bisexual characters on primetime television [for more information, check out GLAADs "TV Scoreboard" by visiting GLAAD Online at http://www.glaad.org].=20 =09 Please write Spelling Television and thank them for bringing Samantha out of the closet. In addition, encourage them to let audiences get to know Linda and to show Samantha exploring her newfound awareness of her sexual orientation.=20 =09 Contact: Aaron Spelling, Executive Producer, Beverly Hills 90210, Spelling Television, Inc., 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Building #575, Los Angeles, CA 90036, fax: 213.965.5895 =09 =09 The GLAADAlert is the weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.=20 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. TimesContact GLAAD by e-mail at glaad@glaad.org or by phone at 213.658.6775 (LA), 212.807.1700 (NY), 415.861.2244 (SF), 202.986.1360 (DC), 404.876.1398 (Atlanta) and 816.756.5991 (Kansas City) =46eel 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)=20 Visit GLAAD Online at http://www.glaad.org00FF,00FF,00FF "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 IMAGES 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" TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send e-mail to majordomo@vector.casti.com with the message "Unsubscribe GLAAD-Net" The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in the media as a means of combatting homophobia and challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~= ~~ "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.