Date: Sun, 21 May 1995 09:29:44 -0400 (EDT) Subject: ACTION ALERT: GLAAD MEDIA WATCH, May 19 Submitted by: M E D I A W A T C H for May 19, 1995 by A L K I E L W A S S E R Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter BIGOTRY, BOOBS & BAD SPORTS "Lesbians in the sport hurt women's golf . . . . It's not reticent, it's paraded. There's a defiance in them in the last decade." So said Ben Wright, a twenty-three year veteran of CBS Sports. Or did he? Wright denies that he made these homophobic remarks during a recent interview with Valerie Helmbreck of "The News Journal." Helmbreck, however, is sticking by her story, and insists that the quote is an accurate one. According to Helmbreck, Wright also claimed that "boobs" are a handicap for women golfers. After investigating the incident, CBS management concluded that Helmbreck is a liar. The senior vice president of CBS Sports, Rick Gentile, claimed that Wright called him "in tears . . . saying he didn't say what was attributed to him." David Kenin, president of CBS Sports, said: "I am convinced that the offensive statements attributed to Mr. Wright were not made." Unfortunately, no tape was made of the Wright-Helmbreck interview. However, a tape does exist of a 1991 incident in which Wright referred to golfer Jumbo Ozaki as a "Jap." On that recording, Wright refers to "the Jap Ozaki who is striking a blow for the foreigners." Despite his pleas of professionalism, it seems that Wright's record leaves something to be desired. By contrast, no one has yet unearthed any slurs in past stories written by Helmbreck. Still, we might never know -- for certain -- which of these journalists is telling the truth. But denials can be telling, too. Significantly, the recent denials issued by Wright and his bosses at CBS make NO effort to affirm lesbian athletes. They are content to state, for the record: "We never said ANYTHING about lesbian golfers." Yet, for much too long, that's been the real problem. Unless it's forced upon them, broadcasters prefer to ignore the subject . . . keeping lesbians athletes and athletics "unspoken" and "invisible." If nothing else, the current controversy should serve as a wake up call to the sports and media industries. It's time to play fair. ** Contact David Kenin, President, CBS Sports, 524 W. 57th Street, New York, NY 10019, tel. 212-975-5230 or 212-975-6788, fax 212-975-4074; Valerie Helmbreck, "The News Journal," Box 15505, Wilmington, DE 19720, fax 513-382-4392; David Fay, President, United States Golfing Association, tel. 908-234-2300. JEER ABBY Among advice columnists, the ubiquitous Abigail Van Buren has a record of (relative) sensitivity to lesbian and gay issues. "Dear Abby's" May 5th column, however, seems an unfortunate exception. In that column, Van Buren reprinted a letter from a man who complained: "I am a bachelor in my early 30's. . . . When I used to share an apartment with another bachelor, people assumed that we were gay. I now have a very nice place of my own. However, if I have bachelor friends over, I am still perceived as being gay. And if I entertain a female friend, people say I am bisexual. . . . I am straight, and I am sick of all this ugly talk. What can I do to stop this vicious gossip?" "Dear Abby" advised the man that there was little he could do unless he knew who was behind the "ugly accusations." Van Buren closed her response by reprinting some doggerel she had published years ago. The poem went on (and on) about the horrors of "gossip," which "breaks hearts," "ruins lives," "topples governments," and "wrecks marriages." Not once did Van Buren question the premise that being "perceived as gay" is something "ugly." Not once did she suggest that it is homophobia -- and not gossip -- that "ruins lives." Everyday, and in every conceivable context, people are automatically assumed to be heterosexual. Such assumptions -- however baseless or inaccurate they might be -- are never labeled "vicious gossip." ** Advice on avoiding heterosexist bias can be sent to Abigail Van Buren, "Dear Abby," P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. RUNNING RINGS AROUND HOMOPHOBIA A two-page advertisement for Saturn automobiles appears in the May issue of "Out" magazine, a national lesbian/gay monthly. According to business reporter Joann Muller, "It marks the first time that an American carmaker has advertised in the gay media." Saturn cars are manufactured by General Motors, which also purchased advertising time during the February broadcast of "Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story." "With this public success comes greater attack from the radical right," cautions "Out" editor Michael Goff. "The radical right crew is responding with massive letter-writing campaigns to our advertisers. The very existence of our institutions such as 'Out' magazine are at stake if companies are bullied out of making simple good business decisions." Currently, the American Family Association is calling for a boycott of all products manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb, because the company has advertised its Clairol Men's Choice hair products in "The Advocate," a national lesbian/gay news magazine. Reportedly, letters from homophobes are "are pouring into corporate headquarters." ** Encourage General Motors and Bristol-Myers to continue supporting "Out" as well as other vital and diverse lesbian/gay media. Contact John Smale, Chair of the Board, General Motors Corporation, General motors Building, 3044 W. Grand Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48202, tel. 313-556-5000; Donald B. Bryant, Saturn Assistance Center, Saturn Corporation, 100 Saturn Parkway, P.O. Box 1500, Spring Hill, TN 37174-1500, tel. 800-553-6000; Richard L. Gelb, Chair, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10154, tel. 212-546-4000 or 800-468-7746, fax 212-546-4020. FRIENDLIER TELEVISION Though not part of the main cast, a lesbian couple has made a notable contribution to the mix of characters on the NBC series "Friends." In the May 11th episode, Carol (one half of the couple) is in labor. The plot twists around the interactions between Susan (Carol's lover) and Ross (Carol's ex, and the father of the baby). At the hospital, Ross and Susan fight over helping Carol. Carol eventually kicks them both out of the delivery room, but the fight continues. Each seems jealous of the other's impending relationship with the new baby. Ross complains that Susan will be with the baby every night, while Susan bemoans Ross' biological ties to the child. The conflict is resolved on a particularly affirming note. An observant friend reminds both Ross and Susan that this baby is especially lucky, to have so many people to care for it -- an experience many children lack. ** Send encouraging feedback to Warren Littlefield, Vice President of Entertainment, c/o NBC Viewer Services, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, tel. 212-664-2333. CUSTOMARY CENSORSHIP Safe-sex videos are not safe from censorship at the British Customs office. A compilation of winning entries in the San Francisco Gay Safer Sex Video Awards has been declared "obscene" by British Custom's officials, who have prohibited importation of the seized tape. The tape was being sent from the U.S. to Gay Men Fighting AIDS (GMFA), an organization in England. Peter Scott, GMFA's Chair, denounced the seizure: "This demonstrates how organizations like Gay Men Fighting AIDS are fighting more than just the virus. Everyday we're faced by a new example of ignorance, discrimination and homophobia." M. J. Forster, a spokesperson for British Customs, explained: "The production and distribution of obscene material is prohibited in this country, as is its importation." According to Forster, England has no statutory definition of obscenity, though the term usually refers to "material where sexual acts are clearly and explicitly shown." "For example," Forster said, "if in depictions of acts such as fellatio, contact between the mouth and genitals can be clearly seen, then the material is likely to be considered obscene." Forster also made this claim: "In enforcing the prohibition, Customs do take a sympathetic approach to 'safer sex' educational material. In the past, we have released educational films or videos because of their educational value even though they contained scenes which the Courts would in all probability have considered obscene had Customs decided to act against the material." Forster would not discuss the GMFA seizure in particular, however, "as it is subject to judicial procedure." ** Send complaints to M. J. Forster, HM Customs & Excise - PRD2, 1st Floor West, New King's Beam House, 22 Upper ground, London SE1 9PJ, tel. 0171-865-5680, fax 0171-865-4808; copy your correspondence to the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission, 1360 Mission Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94103, e-mail iglhrc@igc.apc.org. MEDIA BRIEFS * Shelf Help . . . New on the book shelves, and of particular interest to media watchers, is "A Queer Romance: Lesbians, Gay Men and Popular Culture" (London: Routledge, 1985). Edited by Paul Burston and Colin Richardson, the book's 11 chapters cover the fanzine medium, black lesbian film audiences, homoeroticism in "Top Gun," and more. * Parental Guidance . . . "Queer Son," a new video by PFLAG mom Vicki Seitchik, is described as "a powerful 40+ minute documentary that reveals the challenges, sorrows and joys of several parents of gay and lesbian children." Contact Vicki Seitchik, 9 Jackson Street, Cape May, NJ 08204, tel. 212-929-4199, fax 609-884-0264. * Beyond Biased Books . . . "Integrating the Curriculum: Teaching About Lesbians and Homophobia" offers guidelines for fair, factual and inclusive teaching (Publications Department, Center for Research on Women, Wellesley College, 106 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02181-8259); "Breaking the Classroom Silence" is a gay/lesbian resource guide and curriculum outline for teachers of high school students and adults (Amnesty International, 53 West Jackson, Rm. 1162, Chicago, IL 60604, tel. 312-427-2060). * Small Press News . . . "Gerbil" -- a "quarterly self-published Queer Culture magazine" -- is planing special issues on youth (Summer '95) and film/media (Fall '95). Send submissions and inquires to Brad Pease, "Gerbil," P.O. Box 10692, Rochester, NY 14610, tel. 716-473-3718, e-mail GerbilZine@aol.com. * Check It Out . . . The San Francisco Public Library has launched "Friends for Life," a new program providing books and other library resources to persons homebound with AIDS. The only program of its kind in California, "Friends for Life" aims to be a model throughout the state and the nation. Contact the Karen Strauss, Coordinator, "Friends for Life," San Francisco Public Library, Civic Center, San Francisco, CA 94102, tel. 415-557-4352. * Sound Bites . . . "Do we have to call a gentleman a gentleman when he's not one?" (Rep. Pat Schroeder, on taking the House floor to respond to Rep. Randy Cunningham after his comments about "homos in the military"). * More Sound Bites . . . "I think it's interesting that when you play a lesbian, people ask you if you're lesbian. But if you play a serial killer, nobody asks you if you're a serial killer" (Actress Nora Dunn, speaking to the "Lesbian News"). # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 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!