From: GLAADSFBA@aol.com Date: Sun, 9 Apr 1995 04:07:09 -0400 Subject: GLAAD MEDIA WATCH, April 7 M E D I A W A T C H by A L K I E L W A S S E R Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter MTV'S LIFE LINE After 19 valiant episodes, "My So Called Life" is at serious risk for cancellation by the ABC television network. Included amongst the program's cast of regulars is "Rickie," a gay teenage character (played by the outspoken -- and out -- gay actor, Wilson Cruz). Whatever ABC's final decision might be, the MTV cable network has already opted to re-run all 19 episodes of "My So called Life." That decision continues MTV's tradition of support for progressive and pro-social programming. The music video network will air the series each weekday, throughout the month of April. The MTV action calls to mind another crossover effort, in 1981, which saved "The Paper Chase." Like "My So Called Life," "The Paper Chase" was a critically acclaimed series that failed to pull in the mass audiences demanded by commercial broadcasters. After CBS dropped "The Paper Chase," the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) picked up the series. Following a stint on PBS, "The Paper Chase" eventually found a spot on the Showtime pay-cable system. Showtime purchased the original 22 episodes and funded new installments as well. Of course, PBS is SUPPOSED to provide important, diverse, "quality" TV programs . . . programs that might lack a certain "commercial appeal." But would PBS pick up a series like "My So Called Life?" The prospect seems doubtful today; the renewed vigor of Congressional homophobes has seemingly cut both the budget and the boldness out of the Public Broadcasting System. Compliments should be directed to, Judy McGrath, President, MTV Networks, 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, tel. 212-258-8712, fax 212-258-8718, e-mail mtvmail@aol.com. Programming suggestions can also be sent to Ervin Duggan, President, PBS, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314, tel. 703-739-5000 or 800-356-2626, fax 703-739-5295. Finally, efforts to keep "My So called Life" alive and on ABC are on-going; to join in the grassroots campaign, contact Operation Life Support, P.O. Box 641200, San Francisco, CA 94164-1200, tel. 415-292-5809, fax 415-292-4111, e-mail savemscl@aol.com. PLEASE, RAIN ON THIS PARADE ! "Parade" magazine is a color tabloid supplement included with the Sunday editions of newspapers across the country. Walter Scott's "Personality Parade" is a regular (and regularly homophobic) column, in which the magazine's readers ask questions about various celebrities. In the April 2 issue, a reader wrote: "My cousin says Keanu Reeves is gay. I don't believe it. Who is right?" Walter Scott answered: "Since the days of silent movies, rumors about which stars are gay have circulated in Hollywood -- often begun by jealous second-rate actors. But even in this more enlightened age, when being homosexual in showbiz carries far less stigma than ever before, speculating about someone's sexual orientation serves no purpose." To begin with, Scott could bone up on his Hollywood history. "Rumors about which stars are gay" often arose from the fact that these stars WERE gay; as such, some rumors had more to do with accuracy than jealousy. Also, Scott's view that "speculation serves no purpose" is completely heterosexist. Fans (and gossip columnists!) constantly assume that actors and actresses are heterosexual; so what's wrong with occasionally assuming that they are NOT? It's only reasonable, after all. Keanu Reeves may not be queer (he has, in fact, gone so far as to issue a press release authenticating his heterosexuality). But, many actors are gay or lesbian. And many are still, unfortunately, in the closet. The proportionally few entertainers who have come out do not deny the pervasiveness of Hollywood homophobia. The stigma certainly persists. Routinely, in his columns, Walter Scott refers to "gay rumors" as if they were some sort of plague. He treats the rumor as the essential problem, and completely ignores the real menace -- homophobia. Moreover, Scott regularly dishes up gossip about the heterosexual exploits of celebrities, without ever questioning whether these "straight rumors" are justified. In other words, heterosexuality is a given; homosexuality, however, must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. In Walter Scott's "Personality Parade," being gay is much like being a criminal defendant. Between the lines, his message is clear: homosexuality is a crime. Send feedback to Walter Scott, Box 5001, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-5001. Copy your complaints to Walter Anderson, Editor, "Parade," Parade Publications, 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT . . . The "Don't' Ask, Don't Tell" policy is back in the news again. Media interest has been heightened by a strongly-worded court ruling against the policy, as well a "surprise" announcement from Newt Gingrich. The Speaker of the House has announced his plans for reinstating a total ban on lesbians and gays in the military. In a front-page article on the Gingrich plan ("Gingrich Is Seeking To Restore Gay Ban In Military Services," April 3), "The New York Times" reported that the current policy "requires gay service members to keep their sexual orientations private." Reporter Katharine Seelye's phrasing is imprecise and misleading. It would have been more accurate to report that the current policy requires service members to keep their homosexuality "hidden" or "secret." The ban does not enforce privacy, but silence; the policy does not promote discretion, but encourages unhealthy deception and denial. Furthermore, many lesbian and gay people who are open and out are also "private" when it comes to the particulars of their individual sex lives. But even that "privacy" is illegal under current military regulations. Recently, Federal District Court Judge Eugene Nickerson declared the "Don't' Ask, Don't Tell" policy unconstitutional. In his eloquent ruling, he noted: "Hitler taught the world what could happen when the government began to target people not for what they had done, but because of their status." Nickerson's ruling was the subject of numerous articles, and also prompted a spate of editorials in the national press. The "Philadelphia Daily News" offered exuberant praise for the ruling. In an April 1 editorial ("In Our Opinion"), the newspaper declared: "Too bad for Newt Gingrich, the lover of all things Victorian and shameful. A federal judge has just removed the only genuine piece of Victorian sexual hypocrisy in government. U.S. District Judge Eugene Nickerson . . . deserves a smart salute for dismissing this government-sanctioned perjury." The "Miami Herald" editorial ("Unsteady Step to Equality") generally supported lifting the current restrictions. But, the newspaper took issue with the free speech focus of Judge Nickerson's ruling. According to the "Herald:" "The core principle -- that gays should be permitted to serve and should be left alone about their private lives -- is sound. But the rationale for that conclusion should not be so sweeping or so fueled by emotion that it jeopardizes the military's essential discipline . . . . Surely the military, in pursuit of necessary conformity and cohesion, has more than the usual right to regulate all forms of comportment while on duty -- including speech. Would the judge advocate letting enlisted personnel say whatever they wish?" The newspaper's editors also argued that: "Unfortunately, (Nickerson) compared the policy to Hitler's Final Solution, a bit of melodramatic hyperbole that undermined his argument. Nobody, after all, ever suggested that gays in the military be gassed. Rhetorical comparisons to Hitler and the Holocaust are preposterous." The "Herald" failed to grasp two points that seem to vex many journalists. First, there's an insidious "Catch 22 here, which is seldom considered by those who claim lesbian and gay speech "disrupts military discipline." Lesbians and gays are asked to be silent because our "words" are disturbing. BUT, our words are disturbing PRECISELY because we have been systematically silenced. NOT talking PUBLICLY (and honestly) about homosexuality simply breeds homophobia. Second, the "Herald's" criticism of Nickerson's "hyperbole" confuses bigotry and bigots. Hitler's homophobia is not unique; how he was able to act on his hate is. Though they might express it differently, individual homophobes share the same bigotry, and making that comparison is hardly an act of "melodramatic hyperbole." Whether they like it or not, all homophobes have something in common with Hitler. Send comments to Katharine Q. Seelye, "The New York Times," 229 W. 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036, tel. 212-556-1234, fax 212-556-3690. Letters to the Editor, "Philadelphia Daily News," 400 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19101. Letters to the Editor, "Miami Herald," 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132, e-mail heralded@aol.com. WRONG ON RIGHTS Politically-active homophobes have been remarkably successful with their "special rights" rhetoric. In campaign after campaign, bigots claim that they are opposed only to "special rights for homosexuals" Of course, they are actually opposed to EQUAL rights for lesbian and gay citizens. This point -- however obvious -- is often lost in the press coverage. A recent example of the "special rights" ploy is "Initiative 166," filed March 8 in the state of Washington. This initiative is titled "An Act Relating to Prohibiting Special Rights for Homosexuals." An opening paragraph of the proposed legislation declares that "equal protection of the law, not special rights, is a fundamental principle of constitutional government and is essential to the well-being and perpetuation of a free society." However, further paragraphs reveal that this initiative has little to do with any "special" rights. Initiative 166 would require that "homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality, or transvestism are not presented, promoted, or approved as positive, healthy, or appropriate behavior" in public schools. Furthermore, " a school, through any employee, volunteer, guest, or other means or instrumentality, shall not present, promote, or approve homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality, or transvestism, or any such conduct, act, practice, or relationship, as a positive, healthy, or appropriate behavior or lifestyle." In other words, only heterosexuality is positive or healthy. What "special" right is being prohibited here? This legislation would grant schools the very special right to teach hatred toward queers. Under this initiative, textbooks would be outlawed if they provided accurate biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt or Galilleo. Counselors could never affirm the dignity of lesbian or gay youth. For showing a video tape that featured FACTUAL information about sexual orientation, teachers would become criminals. Initiative 166 would also deny queer citizens any "public benefit," "marital, spousal, parental, familial, or domestic . . . status," or "claim of discrimination." Clearly, there is nothing special about the right to keep a job, raise children, have housing, form a family, or simply be served food in a restaurant. Like other hate initiatives, the Washington effort takes dead aim at lesbian and gay civil rights. It is yet another attempt to legislate INEQUALITY under the law. Hopefully, the press will dutifully expose this and other "special rights" deceptions. Contact local and national news media and ask that they competently cover this story. Send letters to the editor of "The Seattle Times," P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111, tel. 206-464-3730, e-mail opinion@seatimes.com. Also, you can request a guide to "Countering Right-Wing Rhetoric" from the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, 1734 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, tel. 202-332-6483, fax 202-332-0207, TTY 202-332-6219, e-mail ngltf@aol.com; you might send a copy to your favorite editor or reporter. Internet users can access the full text of Initiative 166 at gopher://leginfo.leg.wa.gov. MEDIA BRIEFS * Air Pollution Alert . . . There seems to be no shortage of homophobic radio announcers stinking up the nation's airwaves. The latest report comes from Seattle, where KZOK's Robin Erickson used her morning shift to explain why lesbians are disgusting. Remarking that a national magazine planed to feature a cover photo of Melissa Etheridge (showing the singer embracing her lover), Erickson said she would be repulsed by such an image. Send feedback to Steve Slayton, Program Manager, KZOK-FM, 200 W. Mercer Street, Suite 304, 98119, tel. 206-281-5600 or 800-252-1025, fax 206-281-5605. * On A Personal Note . . . Journalist Rex Wockner reports that the San Diego "Union-Tribune" newspaper is (at last) re-evaluating its policy regarding "personals" advertising. Currently, people seeking same-sex romance must advertise under the heading "Seeking Just A Friend," and they cannot use the words "lesbian" or "gay.' Meanwhile, opposite-sex seekers can place their ads under the headings "Men Seeking Women" and "Women Seeking Men." The newspaper is reportedly on the verge of dropping this homophobic double standard. Contact Doug Hope, Managing Editor, and Erin Coates, Classifieds Director, "Union-Tribune," P.O. Box 191, San Diego, CA 92112-4106, tel. 619-299-3131, fax 619-293-1440, e-mail computerlink@sduniontrib.com. * Homo Video . . . Frameline, a distributor of lesbian and gay films and presenter of the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, has announced a "Lesbian and Gay Cinema Collection;" these "home videos" are available directly to the public. For information, call 800-439-1433. * School Book . . . Stories from high school and college students are being sought for a new book "about the impact and influence of gay/lesbian/bisexual teachers and professors on their students and on the educational system in general." Contact Dann Hazel, P.O. Box 781, Summerville, SC 29484, tel. 803-871-7123, e-mail glit95@aol.com. * On The Wilde Side . . . "Wilde" is a new, national magazine for gay men that -- according to the publisher -- bucks the trend of splitting apart "sexual" and "cultural" content. The magazine promises to offer "challenging journalism" without sacrificing "sexual desire." The premiere issue includes a discussion of gay images in Hollywood films. Contact PDA Press, Inc., P.O. Box 460292, San Francisco, CA 94146. * Radio Activity . . . The National Lesbian & Gay Radio Town Meeting will be broadcast live, via satellite, on May 7 (8 PM to 10 PM EST). The call-in format will feature activists discussing strategies for countering hate initiatives. Contact your local radio stations (particularly public/non-commercial stations) and urge them to air this groundbreaking broadcast. Refer radio stations to Bert Wylen, producer of the town meeting, tel. 215-772-9010. * Telling Visions . . . The Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance has produced "In Our Own Words: Dispelling The Stereotypes." The 8 minute video features 28 gay and lesbian individuals who touch upon a range of issues, from teen suicide to family values. Contact Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance, P.O. Box 190712, Dallas, TX 75219, e-mail dgla@aol.com. * Modem Watch . . . Lesbian supervisor Carole Migden is the first member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to take advantage of new communications media by establishing an e-mail address directly to her City Hall office. She can be reached at cmigden@aol.com. * A Good Parent . . . The April '95 issue of "San Francisco-Peninsula Parent" magazine includes an article on "Teaching Children to Appreciate Diversity." Despite some unfortunate references to "alternative lifestyles," the author does include ample references to homophobia and the resources available for combating it. Significantly, the magazine focuses on young children (pre-school through grade 8). Contact Lisa Rosenthal, Editor, "S.F.-Peninsula Parent," P.O. Box 1280, Millbrae, CA 94030. tel. 415-342-9203, fax 415-342-9276. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # WE MUST CONFRONT THE MEDIA'S HOMOPHOBIA IN ORDER TO CURE IT! TO NOTIFY GLAAD-SFBA OF ANY DEFAMATORY OR AFFIRMATIVE MEDIA COVERAGE CALL OUR 24-HOUR MEDIA WATCH HOTLINE AT 415-861-4588, OR WRITE TO "MEDIA WATCH," GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION-SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, 1360 MISSION STREET, SUITE 200, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103; tel. 415-861-2244, fax 415-861-4893, e-mail GLAADSFBA@AOL.COM. FOUNDED IN 1988, THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CHAPTER OF GLAAD IS A MEMBERSHIP-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CULTURAL ADVOCACY AND MEDIA ACTIVISM. GLAAD-SFBA PROMOTES THE FAIR, ACCURATE AND DIVERSE REPRESENTATION OF LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL LIVES IN ALL FORMS OF MASS MEDIA. -------------------------------------------------------------------- "MEDIA WATCH" is a weekly report that may be reprinted or posted without prior permission, provided that, when appropriate, attribution is made to Al Kielwasser and/or GLAAD-SFBA. We greatly appreciate copies of any publications that use all or part of the "MEDIA WATCH." Thank you for your participation in GLAAD's vital work!