From: GLAADSFBA@aol.com Date: Fri, 11 Aug 1995 23:41:51 -0400 Subject: GLAAD MEDIA WATCH, Aug. 11 M e d i a W a t c h for August 11, 1995 by Al Kielwasser Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area A C H R O N I C C A S E O F H O M O P H O B I A The notorious Doctors Frankenstein and Jekyl are downright conventional when compared to Spokane's coroner, Dexter Amend. On August 9, Dr. Amend held a press conference at which he was to offer his autopsy report on the murder of Rachel Carver, a 9-year-old Washington girl. The girls' body had been found near the Spokane River on June 15. On the day that her body was found, Carver's uncle -- Jason Wickenhagen -- was arrested; he confessed to police that he had beaten his niece to death. Social workers further reported that the young girl had been sexually molested for much of her life by her father, uncle and mother's boyfriend. At his August 9 press conference, Dr. Amend reported that he had indeed found evidence of sexual abuse, including sodomy. However, Amend actually BLAMED GAYS for the abuse, NOT Carver's uncle (the ADMITTED killer!) or the other HETEROSEXUAL men who had molested the girl. When pressed for some explanation of his lunatic "autopsy report," Amend said that -- despite extraordinary evidence to the contrary -- homosexuals must have "destroyed (Rachel Carver's) life." "All they think about is sex and lust all the time," he told reporters. Amend explained that the young girl had "been sodomized over and over and sodomy is a homosexual act. It is. To have everybody thinking homosexuality is OK is a bunch of baloney." "I don't care what the political ramifications are on this," he added flippantly. Amend also used the occasion of the autopsy report to "inform" the press that gays are not only to blame for Rachel Carver's murder, but are also generally responsible for the spread of AIDS. Dr. Amend theorized: "I think it (homosexuality) is an aberrant activity that is promoted by the thoughts and sensations that are associated with the sex acts that drive people to do . . . abnormal things and animalistic things and as a result bring about cancers and death on the part of the recipients and the active individuals." "It's a crime that we don't expose the homosexual community," Amend concluded, "and it is not just a simple . . . aberrant activity. It is significant when it takes in innocent minds like this Carver gal." That a LICENSED medical doctor and an ELECTED coroner could espouse such nonsense is a horrific commentary on the state of professional medicine -- not only in Washington, but across the nation. The country's medical schools and health associations should seriously re-examine their efforts to combat homophobic hate and ignorance. There is simply NO EXCUSE for the likes of Dr. Dexter Amend. Local activists in Spokane have begun contacting Dr. Amend's office, urging him to resign or, at least, to apologize. A possible recall effort might also be in the works. *** Contact Dr. Dexter Amend, Spokane County Coroner's Office, West 1201 Broadway, Spokane, WA 99206, tel. 509-456-2296. Send letters-to-the-editor regarding this travesty to "The Spokesman-Review," W. 999 Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201, tel. 509-459-5000, fax 509-459-5482 and "The Seattle Times," P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111, tel. 206-464-3730, e-mail edtimes@hebron.connected.com or opinion@seatimes.com. Share your thoughts with Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA 99201, tel. 509-625-6250, fax 509-625-6217. Finally, urge the American Medical Association to denounce Dr. Amend's gross malpractice and to support vigorous efforts to combat medical homophobia; contact the AMA, 515 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60610, tel. 312-464-5000, fax 312-464-4184. W E L C O M E A B O A R D "The Crew" is a new situation comedy to be broadcast by the FOX television network. The series is based around the lives of four airline flight attendants, one of whom is gay. "The Crew" is the creation of producer-writers (and real life gay couple) Marc Cherry and Jamie Whooten. "Jaime and I have a vested interest in making sure this is a very positive portrayal," Cherry said of the show's gay character. Speaking to a group of television critics, Cherry added: "We're very thankful for the network to let us have this voice because it's not a voice that you see on every show." He reminded the audience that "you can't deny the existence of gay people throughout this country . . . . people who have a distinct comedy voice and should be heard." Actor David Burke will play "Paul," the gay member of "The Crew." Cherry and Whooten previously wrote for "The Golden Girls," where they were responsible for creating another queer character, Blanche's gay brother. According to Whooten, homophobic organizations like the American Family Association (AFA) "came after us big time" over that portrayal. "They went after the advertisers. They did the whole thing," he said. Whooten and Cherry are determined to provide a cutting-edge character in "Paul," who -- they promise -- WILL be given a "social life." "He will absolutely at some point be dating," Whooten said. But, Cherry cautioned: "A lot of that is going to be dependent upon, you know, does the audience get the show? Do they like the show? The rule is that the more successful your show is, the more risks you can take." *** Early support for "The Crew" can be sent to: Marc Cherry and Jaime Whooten, "The Crew," c/o FOX Broadcasting, P.O. Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213; copy your correspondence to Chase Carey, President, FOX Broadcasting, at the same address, tel. 310-277-2211, e-mail foxnet@delphi.com. S O M E F R I E N D L Y A D V I C E "Ask Beth" is a syndicated advice column for teenage newspaper readers. On August 3, a young woman wrote: "Dear Beth -- The more I know this boy at school, the better I like him. I'm 15 and he's 16." The reader further explained that this boy "confided in me that he is gay. I'm so devastated! Whenever I am near him I want to kiss him. Is there any way to change the way he feels?" The letter was signed, "Peter's Friend." Beth Winship replied, matter-of-factly: "No, there isn't." She added that "there are some bisexual people, who are attracted to both sexes, but this doesn't seem to be Peter's situation." Winship further advised that a platonic relationship with Peter could be "a wonderful kind of friendship." *** Send encouraging feedback to Beth Winship, in care of the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, 218 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, tel. 213-237-5485. U N F A I R B O O K F A I R Lesbians and gays were banned from the recent Zimbabwe International Book Fair. One of the largest book conventions in Africa, this year's Fair drew exhibitors from some 120 nations. Ironically, the theme of the Fair was human rights and justice. Under pressure from Zimbabwe's Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications, officials of the Book Fair barred the Gay and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) from participating in this year's events. In his speech opening the Fair, on August 1, Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe declared: "We do not believe (homosexuals) have any rights at all. I hope the time will not come when they will want to reverse nature and expect men to bear children. . . . If we accept homosexuality as a right, as is being argued by the association of sodomists and sexual perverts, what moral fiber shall our society ever have to deny organized drug addicts, or even those given to bestiality, the rights they might claim they possess under the rubric of individual freedom and human rights?" U.S. Congresspersons Barney Frank and Maxine Waters were joined by 70 members of the House of Representatives in sending a letter of protest to Mugabe. "When individuals are mistreated by government because of some basic characteristic of their nature," Frank and Waters wrote, "human rights are violated." They added: "We strongly urge you to re-examine this issue and to follow the example of the new government of South Africa in respecting the human rights of all people." The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. *** To support freedom of expression and defend global human rights, contact: H. E. Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Ministry of Information, Posts & Telecommunications, P.O. Box CY 1276, Causeway, Zimbabwe; Trish Mbanga, Executive Director, Zimbabwe International Book Fair, 78 Kaguvi Street, P.O. Box CY1179, Causeway, Zimbabwe, tel. 263-4-750-282, fax 263-4-751-202, e-mail zibf@mango.apc.org; The Embassy of Zimbabwe, 1608 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009, tel. 202-332-7100, fax 202-483-9326. M E D I A B R I E F S * CRITICAL MASS . . . Queer media activism seems to be paying off, perhaps substantially, in prime-time. In the August 1 issue of "Inside Media," Ed Martin reports on a July "Television Critics Tour" in Los Angeles at which ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX "unveiled" 34 new fall TV shows. Among the noteworthy themes, according to Martin, "was a substantial increase in homosexual characters . . . in new series, with producers insisting that they would all have prominent storylines and romantic relationships throughout the season." Keep watching! * LET'S GET CLINICAL . . . Robert Bray, media activist and field organizer for the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, will offer "Media Action Clinics" at the November 1995 "Creating Change" conference in Detroit, Michigan. These clinics are "designed for groups that want to garner better press coverage, spin proactive messages to the media, and shape public opinion." Contact: NGLTF, 2320 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009, tel. 202-332-6483, ext. 3329. * PINK ON BLUE . . . Alan Bush, writing for "USA Today" (August 8), reports that actor Bill Brochtrup, who plays the role of a gay secretary on "NYPD Blue," WILL BE returning next season. According to Bush: "Now, Brochtrup, 31, is ready for even more air time. Having sparked more fan mail during his six-episode stint than any other character on the show, he's slated to be a recurring character 'upstairs in the anti-crime unit' as 'NYPD Blue' starts its third season." Only this May, "USA Today" was reporting that the character's future was in serious doubt. Keep those (obviously effective!) cards and letters coming! Contact: Steven Boccho and David Milch, Executive Producers, "NYPD Blue," Steven Boccho Productions, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035; copy your comments to Ted Harbert, President, ABC Entertainment, 2040 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067, fax 310-557-7170, e-mail abcaudr@ccabc.com. * E-MEDIA . . . "BillWatch: A Weekly Newsletter Tracking U.S. Federal Legislation Affecting Civil Liberties" is an excellent on-line resource, published every Friday as long as Congress is in session. To receive a copy of the latest version, e-mail vtw@vtw.org, with "send billwatch" in the subject line. To get on the distribution list for "BillWatch," e-mail listproc@vtw.org, with "subscribe vtw-announce Firstname Lastname" in the subject line. * WORKING (AND BEING) OUT . . . A notable article appears in the August 1995 issue of "Men's Fitness," a mainstream health and exercise magazine. This issue includes Peter Gambaccini's article, "Family Ties," in which the author examines his relationship with his gay brother, Paul. Gambaccini undertakes a well-intentioned effort to challenge homophobia and the closet syndrome. Despite a few unfortunate phrases (such as sexual "proclivities" and "preference"), he succeeds -- especially given the (often heterosexist) genre in which this article is printed. Contact: Sharon Cohen, Executive Editor, "Men's Fitness," 21100 Erwin Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. * FUNDIE FAX . . . The fundamentalist homophobes of "Focus on the Family" receive regular "Family Issues Alerts" (for a "donation" of $45 per year), which call them to action around various conservative causes. In the most recent (August 9) issue, readers are warned that "Clinton's (Executive Order 12968) giving top secret clearance to homosexuals jeopardizes national security." The fax cites Bob Knight, an "authority" from the Family Research Council: "Homosexuality has raised a red flag in security clearances because . . . this behavior is associated with a lot of anti-security markers such as drug and alcohol abuse, promiscuity, and violence." The "Alert" reminds readers that Clinton's executive order can be overturned by Congress. Individuals are admonished to "call, fax and write your legislators, urging them to introduce and support legislation that overturns EO 12968." Contact: Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995, tel. 1-800-A-FAMILY. * SUBMIT! . . . "Peace Review: A Transnational Quarterly" is a journal that publishes multidisciplinary essays in "peace studies, broadly defined." Topics range across "violence, human rights, culture and consciousness and related issues." A special Winter 1995 issue will be devoted to "Media and Social Change." The deadline for submissions is November 5. Contact: Robert Elias, "Peace Review," Peace & Justice Studies, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94117-1080, tel. 415-666-6349, fax 415-666-2346, e-mail (Rod Watkins, Managing Editor) watkins@pop.admin.usfca.edu. * AFFIRMATIVE ACTIVISM . . . The National Lawyer's Guild of San Francisco has begun organizing to educate the queer public about the so-called "California Civil Rights Initiative" and other pernicious attacks on affirmative action. To receive a briefing packet that you can use in broadcasting the message, contact: Crystal Weston, tel. 415-543-9444, e-mail lccr@netcom.com. Also: "United We Stand: The Linkages Between Affirmative Action and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Civil Rights" is a set of talking points available from the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, 2320 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. * FAMILY BUSINESS . . . On August 6, "The New York Times" advice column "Minding Your Business" provided a detailed response to a query from a couple who wrote in to ask: "As a same-sex couple, we're not entitled to many of the financial benefits enjoyed by married people. Under the circumstances, what can we do to better protect ourselves legally and financially?" The reply not only provided considerable recommendations, but also made a point of condemning homophobic discrimination. Contact: Laura Pedersen, "Minding Your Business," Money and Business, "The New York Times," 229 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036, e-mail yourmind@nytimes.com. * SELLING/OUT . . . According to a recent survey by the New York-based advertising agency Mulryan/Nash, ad spending in lesbian and gay print media amounted to $61.6 million between May 1994 and April 1995. At an increase of 16.2 percent over the previous year, advertising spending in the queer press grew more rapidly than revenues in other print markets. This increase also exceeded national growth rates. By comparison, overall ad revenues for the nation's newspapers rose 6.8 percent and magazine revenues increased 13.3 percent. * SOUND BITE . . . "So far as I am aware, I'm conventionally a heterosexual male. And yet I find something quite flattering in these suggestions that I'm something else" (Patrick Stewart in the August 22 "Advocate," discussing his role in the new film "Jeffrey" and why he is not bothered by rumors that he is gay). * UNSOUND BITE . . . "I will go on record and say that I have sexual relationships with men only. Why do people think that every famous person is gay? . . . I think it's a way of cutting you down. It's sad, and it has to stop. That's why Richard has resisted answering the question for so long. The day that attitude changes is probably the day Richard will go on the record" (Cindy Crawford in September's "Playboy," discussing rumors that she and now-separated husband Richard Gere are queer). ##################################### THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN GLAAD'S WORK. YOUR PARTICIPATION IS VITAL! Founded in 1988, the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of GLAAD is a volunteer-based membership organization dedicated to cultural advocacy and media activism. GLAAD/SFBA promotes the fair, accurate and diverse representation of lesbian, gay and bisexual lives. GLAAD challenges homophobia in and through the mass media . . . shaping the forces that shape our society. 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/San Francisco. We greatly appreciate copies of any publications that use all or part of the MEDIA WATCH. To notify GLAAD/SFBA of any defamatory or affirmative media coverage, or to request GLAAD membership information, please call our 24-hour Media Watch Hotline (415-861-4588) or write to: GLAAD/SFBA 1360 Mission Street, Suite 200 San Francisco, CA 94103 Office phone: 415-861-2244. Fax: 415-861-4893. E-mail: glaadsfba@aol.com. URL: http://www.gaytrek.com/gaytrek/glaad.html. LET THE MEDIA KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING! #####################################