Date: Sat, 3 Jun 1995 08:53:58 -0400 (EDT) Subject: ACTION ALERT: GLAAD June 2 Submitted by: GLAADSFBA@aol.com M E D I A W A T C H for June 2, 1995 by A l K i e l w a s s e r Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter TELEVISION ON SEX On June 1, the ABC television network broadcast "In A New Light: Sex Unplugged." Through fast-paced edits and celebrity sound bites, the prime-time special targeted young viewers with information about safer-sex. In a breakthrough for network television, "Sex Unplugged" examined teenage sexuality with a tone that was more positive than pedantic. The program went beyond the usual rhetoric of abstinence, which has consistently failed to educate or empower youth. The program's hosts -- Rosie Perez and Ed Love -- were supported by a large celebrity cast that included brief appearances by Greg Louganis and Melissa Etheridge. One segment of "Sex Unplugged" was devoted exclusively to gay concerns. The gay youth segment opened with an apt lament from C. Everett Koop. The former U. S. Surgeon General noted: "Nobody is paying much attention to homosexual teenagers." From there, the youth took over the dialogue and explained some of the (literally) lethal consequences of homophobia. Uniquely, "Sex Unplugged" addressed the often-overlooked role that self-esteem plays in HIV prevention. This issue is particularly pertinent for lesbian, gay and bisexual youth, who are relentlessly deprived of affirmation at all levels of society. As one youth asked: "If no one wants to talk to me about what it means to be gay, how are we ever going to get to a place where it's OK to talk about safer sex for young gay men?" Unfortunately, the diversity that characterized other segments of "Sex Unplugged" evaporated when it came to the gay segment. No lesbians or bisexuals were included, and not one of the young gay men was a person of color. Despite that serious drawback, "Sex Unplugged" managed to provide a few precious minutes of sex-positive education in an otherwise barren media landscape. Of course, even those few minutes are certain to raise the hackles of right-wing censors. The postcard campaigns -- demanding that ABC stop "promoting homosexuality" and "corrupting family values" -- probably began even before the show aired. ** Counter the critics and encourage ABC to move even farther ahead, producing more diverse and (long overdue) prime-time programming that is focused entirely on lesbian, gay and bisexual youth. Send encouraging feedback to Ted Harbert, President, ABC Entertainment, 2040 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067, tel. 310-557-7777, fax 310-557-7170, comment line tel. 212-456-7477, e-mail abcaudr@ccabc.com; Copy your correspondence to Joseph F. Lovett, Executive Producer, "Sex Unplugged," Lovett Productions, 19 Van Dam Street, New York, NY 10013, tel. 212-242-8999, fax 212-242-7347, e-mail 74757.721@compuserve.com. HARPER'S: A GOOD BI A significant contribution to bisexual visibility has been made by one of the nation's oldest fashion magazines. The June 1995 issue of "Harper's Bazaar" (which has been published since 1867) features two articles on bisexuality. In the first article, Lynn Darling explores bisexuality as it is focused through the lens of popular culture. Examining the relationship between media images and social values, Darling argues for the recognition of bisexuality as an orientation that is both valid and worthy of validation. The second article was written by Rachel Cohen, a young bisexual woman. Cohen offers a personal perspective on the myths, fears and ignorance that bisexuals confront -- in BOTH the heterosexual AND lesbian/gay communities. In the midst of yet another conservative backlash -- and a presidential campaign marked by the MOST sex-negative rhetoric -- articles such as these are particularly important. These public discussions challenge sexual orthodoxy and provide a forum for the affirmation of sexual freedom and diversity. ** Send supportive feedback to Elizabeth Tilberis, Editor-In-Chief, "Harper's Bazaar," 1700 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. ARRESTING LANGUAGE Mike Royko, a long-time "Chicago Tribune" columnist, was arrested for drunk driving (and a related traffic accident) in December of last year. Recently, a copy of the police report of that incident was made public. In this report, a litany of homophobic and racist slurs are attributed to Royko. Among other things, Royko is quoted as saying "jag off queer" and "fuck you fag" to the arresting officer. To the ambulance crew, he reportedly said: "What are you, fags? Why are you wearing those fag gloves . . .?" And while being processed, Royko is said to have asked: "You fucking loser, what's your ethnicity, you fag?" Meanwhile, in his newspaper columns, Royko stands up for "traditional family values" and "Christian ethics." He regularly attacks homosexuality as that "lifestyle" which is crude and degraded. Of course, police reports are hardly exemplars of truth or accuracy. But the comments attributed to Royko are consistent with his own writings. Actually, those comments are the logical extensions of the more "refined" homophobia found in Royko's columns. But it should come as no surprise that the "articulate" columnists and "well-mannered" politicians who publicly say they are "simply opposed" to "special rights for gays" or "quotas for lesbians" are, in fact, THE SAME people who say "fuck you fag" behind closed doors. Homophobia IS hate. ** Questions and comments regarding journalistic hypocrisy, heterosexual excesses, or other issues can be sent to Mike Royko, Columnist, and Howard Tyner, Editor, "Chicago Tribune," 435 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, tel. 312-222-3232, fax 312-222-3143. SHRINKING ACCESS Thanks to a recent move by Viacom Cable, viewers in San Francisco will be getting LESS public access and MORE shopping excess. Viacom intends to eliminate approximately 10 hours per day of public access and public service programming. The air time will be filled, instead, with additional hours of "home shopping" from the Quality Value Channel (QVC). In exchange for the monopoly franchises they receive from local governments, cable operators are routinely required to provide the community with a free public access channel. That's a small price to pay for such a lucrative franchise (which is, in effect, "a license to print money"). Yet even that small price is too big for some cable companies. According to Zane Blaney, Executive Director of the nonprofit Community Television Corporation (CTC), what's happening in San Francisco is part of a larger, national trend. "Viacom Cable and the cable industry have tried for years to destroy public, education and government access programming," Blaney points out. "And at the rate they're going," he warns, "they may succeed." If they do succeed, the lesbian, gay and bisexual audience will lose. Public access channels have become an important venue for affordable, alternative, and uncensored programming. Individuals who lack the economic resources of broadcast and cable companies have at least some opportunity, through public access, to create their own television. These channels help ensure that freedom of expression is not limited to those who own the media of expression. The CTC is encouraging everyone to call or write the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and demand an end to Viacom's encroachment on public access. If necessary, the Board of Supervisors can change existing Cable Franchise agreements to mandate that public access be managed by a nonprofit corporation and that public access programming be provided 24 hours per day. The CTC is also urging individuals throughout the country to contact their Congressional representatives and ask them to lend their support to local Public, Educational and Governmental ("PEG") access centers in their district/state. ** Comments should be directed to Kevin Shelley, President, San Francisco Board of Supervisors, 401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 308, tel. 415-554-5184; Doug Schulz, General Manager, Viacom Cable, 2055 Folsom, San Francisco, CA 94110-1330, tel. 415-863-8500; U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510, tel. 202-224-3121; U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515, tel. 202-225-3121. MEDIA BRIEFS * Look Who's Talking! . . . HBO Sports has hired tennis superstar Martina Navratilova as a Wimbledon commentator. Unless they are closeted, lesbian and gay athletes aren't offered very many high-profile positions in sports journalism. Support for HBO's hiring decision can be directed to Ross Greenburg, Executive Producer, HBO Sports, Home Box Office, 1100 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, tel. 212-512-1000. * Cheers & Queers . . . The "Cheers & Jeers" section of "TV Guide" magazine has consistently supported affirmative, high-quality lesbian, gay and bisexual television. The June 3 issue is no exception. This time, a "cheer" is given to gay actor Scott Thompson. Thompson is formerly of "Kids In The Hall" and is now joining the cast of HBO's "Larry Sanders Show," where he will play a gay character. To compliment "TV Guide" for yet another "cheer," contact Anthea Disney, Editor-in-Chief, "TV Guide," Radnor, PA 19088 (if you want your comments considered for publication, send them to the "Letters Department" or e-mail tvgeditor@delphi.com). * Check It Out . . . "This Way Out," the international lesbian/gay radio magazine, is carried by over 85 public/community radio stations around the world, and is also aired on the global short-wave station "Radio For Peace International" (RFPI). For a complete carrier list or more information, contact "This Way Out," P.O. Box 38327, Los Angeles, CA 90038-0327, e-mail TWOradio@aol.com. * Submit! . . . Cine Accion is seeking entries for a festival of film and video works that reflect the dignity and diversity of Latino/a, Latin American and Caribbean communities. They are particularly interested in productions that treat such subjects as migration/immigration, youth issues, and the Latin American response to oppression and injustice. Deadline for entries is June 12, 1995. For details, contact Cine Accion, 346 9th St., 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-553-8135, fax 415-863-7428. * Widening The Web . . . "The Pride Network" is a new site on the World Wide Web, providing e-media watchers with a directory of all lesbian/gay/bisexual pride events around the globe. E-mail inquiries to GLTravlWeb@aol.com. * Rewarding Experience . . . The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) is seeking nominations for its Electronic Media Awards, "rewarding excellence in electronic journalism on issues concerning the lesbian and gay community." All works submitted must have been broadcast between July 1, 1994 and June 30, 1995. Deadline for submissions is August 15, 1995. For details, contact contest coordinator Darrel Adams (tel. 612-825-9932 or tel. 612-642-4284), or write to NLGJA National Office, 874 Gravenstein Highway South, Suite 4, Sebastopol, CA 95472. * A Big Kiss . . . Jill Sobule, whose song (and music video) "I Kissed A Girl" has made an affirmative contribution to bisexual visibility, will be appearing at the San Jose Gay Pride Festival on June 11. For more information, contact the Gay Pride Celebration Committee of San Jose, 45 N. First St., Box 89, San Jose, CA 95113-1202, tel. 408-235-1034, e-mail SJPride@Vval.com. * Newsletter News . . . The May 1995 issue of "NEA Today," the newsletter of the National Education Association, contains "A Case Study in Gay-Bashing." This article examines attempts by homophobic parents to block implementation of a Virginia sex education curriculum. Contact: NEA, 1201 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-3290. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # WE MUST CONFRONT 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 struggle to combat homophobia in and through the mass media . . . the most awesome forces in contemporary society.