GLAAD/LA Media Watch Column for the Lesbian News, March, 1992 GLAAD column -- Lesbian News -- We have been MAD and are getting MADDER at the upcoming film,"Basic Instinct." Someone called the GLAAD hotline who read the early drafts of the script and has just seen a rough version of the film. He says the movie is almost identical to the origi nal homophobic and misogynistic script. He said this is THE most ANTI-WOMAN film he has every seen. He said women are portrayed as horrible, villainous, and despicable. Yes, the women are `bi-sexual.' Lesbian and gay activists in San Francisco are planning to distribute flyers which disclose the ending of the film and which character committed the crime as a technique to discourage audiences from buying tickets to the movie. While there is a risk of inadvertently publicizing the film by protesting it, many feel this is the movie that symbolizes exactly what is wrong with the way Hollywood treats lesbian, bisexual, and gay characters and deserves action against it. Let Carolco Productions hear what you think about these kinds of ! movies: Carolco, 8800 W. Sunset Bl ., Los Angeles; 213-850-8800. We're GLAD that KCET, Ch. 28, has included lesbian and gay issues on its new show, "Live and Times." On Jan. 22, the show profiled Torie Osborn and Morris Kight in a very positive and accurate way. They also recently did a show on anti-gay hate crimes. Write Martin Burns and Saul Gonzalez, producers, and encourage more shows on lesbian and gay topics: KCET, 4401 Sunset Bl. Los An geles 90027, 213-667-9340. We may have a film to be GLAD about. An insider reports to GLAAD that the new Nora Ephron movie, "This is My Life," starring Julie Kavner and Carrie Fisher, has a subtle portrayal of two babysitters who are lesbian. We haven't seen it yet, but let us know what you think. You might also write Executive Producers, Patricia Meyer and Carole Isenberg, Producer Lynda Obst, and Writer/Director Nora Ephron c/o 20th Century Fox, P.O. Box 900, Beverly Hills 90213; 310-277-2211. We're MAD at the Hollywood Reporter, the Utne Reader, LA Weekly, LA Reader, and the Westwood Village View for taking an ad from a quack who claims to help gays become straight. The man has no li cense or evidence that his "cure" works. Give him a call and tell him what you think about his "therapy:" 310-202-0670. We're somewhat GLAD to hear that Parker Brothers' board game, "Real People," (as reported to us on the GLAAD hotline), may have some positive hidden lesbian and gay references. The object of the game is to connect a face with a series of descriptive items about a person, such as their occupation, childhood nickname, and reputation in high school. In one case there was a woman in a baseball cap who always wanted to meet Sharon Gless and a man whose high school nickname was "Princess Charina" and whose high school reputation was "theater queen." Somewhat stereotypical perhaps, but is this a new direction for board games. Has anyone else seen this? Several recent movies included gay images, most of which were stereotypically exaggerated, of course. We are GLAD that the George Carlin character in "Prince of Tides" -- despite some overdone flamboyance -- is supported and accepted by all the characters in the film. However, we're MAD at Oliver Stone's malevolent homophobia in "JFK" with its depiction of a gratuitous and overwrought drag/bondage scene and a sense of a gay community made up of twisted, pathetic, and dangerous people. We're also MAD at the remake of "Father of the Bride" for portraying every possible stereotype of effeminate gay men in the characters played by Martin Short and B.D. Wong. While there is nothing wrong in depicting gay men as effeminate, we are upset when this style is used as the source of humor. We are GLAD, however, that they are shown to be competent and dedicated wedding coordinators and are treated with respect by the other characters in the film. We're just tired of the same old images, ! even when we are shown as the good old best friend whom everyone likes. Let the film industry hear how we need to have more diverse and accurate images, especially in lead roles. Contact Barwood Productions ("Prince"), Warner Bros., Burbank 91523; Oliver Stone ("JFK"), Ixtlan, 3110 Main St, Santa Monica 90405; Touchstone Pictures ("Father"), 500 S. Buena Vista, Burbank 91521, David Hoberman, President. This column, written by members of the LA chapter of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, appears each month in Lesbi an News and Frontiers. Call out hotline at (213) 931-9429 (931-GAY) for information about our next general meeting, the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Temple Beth Chayim Chadashim (6000 W. Pico), and to report media coverage about lesbians and gays. Please send us copies of your letters to the media. Write GLAAD/LA, P.O. Box 931763, Los Angeles 90093-1763 and receive our monthly newsletter. Donations and membership dues to GLAAD/LA are tax-deductible. ======================================== Bryan J. Blumberg, The MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation 815 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90041-1777 (213) 259-4914, B_BLUMBERG@MACSCH.COM