From: GLAADSFBA@aol.com Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 00:58:22 -0400 Subject: GLAAD MEDIALERT, Sept. 18 The GLAAD MediAlert for September 18, 1995 by Al Kielwasser Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area T I M E T O A C T F O R C H I L D R E N ' S T E L E V I S I O N In 1990, Congress passed the Children's Television Act, which requires local broadcasters to meet the "educational and informational needs of children" through programming that furthers "the positive development of the child in any respect." For the most part, these mandates have not been enforced. Currently, officials are evaluating ways to clarify or strengthen the programming provisions and enforcement procedures of the Children's Television Act. Through October 16, the Federal Communication Commission is seeking public comment on how broadcasters can best fulfill the Act's objectives. Few audiences have been so neglected or ignored as lesbian, gay and bisexual youth. They are seldom represented on television or even recognized as members of the viewing public. As media critic William Henry noted, "Children's shows never acknowledge that [homosexuality] exists, although many adult homosexuals report having been aware of their specific sexual identity by age four or five." This systematic censorship contributes directly to the suffering of young gays and lesbians, maintaining their invisibility, isolation and stigmatization. Of course, heterosexual youth -- some of whom will become parents of a lesbian or gay child -- are also not being educated about homosexuality. This situation surely exacerbates the national climate of hate violence, in which lesbians and gays are the MOST frequent victims of hate crimes and YOUNG heterosexuals are the most frequent attackers. Inexcusably, broadcasters continue to overlook the enormous potential of children's television for combating homophobia. Even multicultural programs like "Ghostwriter" and "Sesame Street" -- which specifically aim to teach tolerance and promote diversity -- have had NOTHING to say about homosexuality or homophobia. For television to meet the educational and informational needs of ALL children, this silence must be broken. **** ACTION ALERT! Advise the FCC of the need for children's programming that begins to combat -- rather than reinforce -- the horrors of homophobia, which is certainly one VITAL way for broadcasters to fulfill the objectives of the Children's Television Act. Send comments, NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 16, to the Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20554, e-mail kidstv@fcc.gov. Indicate "MM Docket 93-48" at the top of the first page. Additional information is available via the Internet, at the FCC's web site (http://www/fcc/gov). P S Y C H O B A B L E The myth of homosexual predation -- which falsely conflates homosexuality and pedophilia -- has been one of the most persistent and pernicious lies ever told about lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. The use of this lie might SEEM to be on the decline, but in ways that are increasingly more subtle than scarce, queers continue to be labeled as a community of child molesters, hell-bent on a systematic program of kidnapping and recruitment. In a recent issue of "The New Yorker," Lawrence Wright -- "reporter at large" -- investigated psychotherapeutic methods used in treating violent sex offenders ("A Rapist's Homecoming," September 8). In his essay, Wright claims that "rapists and sex murderers and homosexual pedophiles" are amongst the "least promising cases" for therapy. Significantly, Wright fails to elaborate on this odd claim. He offers no substantive evidence to support the notion that sexual orientation per se can determine the success or failure of psychotherapy. Moreover, in asserting that "homosexual pedophiles" are specifically prone to "failure," Wright has aligned himself with the worst of homophobic propagandists. The "Anita Bryant logic" is all too familiar. In the syllogism underlying Wright's claim, he suggests that (1) since homosexuals are pedophiles, and (2) because homosexual pedophilia is incurable, therefore (3) homosexuals are -- AND ALWAYS WILL BE -- a threat to children. Of course, competent research demonstrates that homosexuals are NOT more likely than heterosexuals to abuse children. Emerging studies also reveal that HOMOPHOBIA -- rather than HOMOSEXUALITY -- is the most powerful predictor of psychological health. Wright is clearly wrong. And whether this error reflects abject carelessness or wanton homophobia, it is an obvious stain on "The New Yorkers" much-touted reputation for precision journalism. **** ACTION ALERT! Ensure that a volley of critical feedback appears on this magazine's "Letters" pages. Write to: In The Mail, "The New Yorker," 20 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036 (brief letters are preferred, and you must include your name, address and daytime phone number for possible verification). W O U L D N ' T Y O U L I K E T O B E A P E P P E R , T O O ? The Red Hot Chili Peppers -- one of alternative rock's most popular bands -- recently broke one of the media's most popular taboos. Same-sex kissing scenes (involving band members) are featured in the Pepper's latest music video, and also in a recent cover story about the band. The Chili Pepper's new video, "Warped," is infused with sexual tension and phallic bravado. In one scene, guitarist Dave Navarro passionately kisses lead singer Anthony Kiedis. Later, Kiedis takes Navarro's head in his lap and lovingly strokes his hair. Recently-released by Warner Brothers, "Warped" has enjoyed regular airplay on the MTV network. Dave Navarro is also the subject of another same-sex kiss, this one depicted on the cover of "Guitar" magazine. For the October 1995 issue, Navarro and fellow guitarist Flea appear in a shirtless, playful, lip-to-lip embrace. Inside the magazine, additional photos of Navarro and Flea illustrate a feature story about the Peppers. Though not kissing in any of these interior shots, the two men do appear in several affectionate poses -- leaning head upon shoulder, holding hands, and caressing each other's faces. Unfortunately (but not unexpectedly), "Guitar" has now become an object of considerable fear and loathing. According to the "Los Angeles Times" (September 7), "nearly 100 music stores, newsstands and chain stores around the country are balking at selling the October issue of 'Guitar' magazine because of its cover photo." The "Times" reports that "the retailers rejecting the issue include many independent musical instrument stores, but the national distributor that provides 'Guitar' to a number of chain stores says that Wal-Mart and Gelson's Market in Los Angeles may follow suit." Dave Triller, owner of a New York guitar shop, told the "Times" that "Guitar's" cover photo "turned his stomach." Following complaints from his customers and staff, Triller pulled the magazine off the shelves and returned the copies to "Guitar" headquarters. Triller also informed "Guitar" that, because he was so "offended by two men kissing each other," he would NEVER again carry ANY issues of the magazine. "If I don't stand up for this it will be worse next time," he explained. A similar complaint was registered by Karen Tennent, publications manager of Kent Stanton's Music store in Georgia. Tennent also objected to the kissing cover, which is "not an appropriate thing for a store that bases its business on family." "We have children coming in the store and we have had complaints from parents," she said. "We even had guys in our guitar department appalled that the magazine would put trash on the front cover." Significantly, such criticism demonstrates the gross breadth of homophobic bigotry, since the members of the Chili Peppers actually identify as heterosexual. Homophobes fear and hate homosexuality and ANYTHING -- AND EVERYTHING -- THAT EVEN "LOOKS QUEER." Responding to the critics, Dave Navarro stated: "I don't have a problem with playful affection between friends. I only have a problem with those who do." "Guitar's" editor-in-chief, H. P. Newquist, has responded to the criticism with "total surprise." "Not a single person in the company, from the publishers to the copyeditors, had any idea that people would refuse to sell the magazine on the basis of it being homoerotic or defiling Christian values," Newquist claimed. Certainly, "Guitar" magazine should be supported and the homophobes should be condemned. Yet, Newquist also contributed (however inadvertently) to the very homophobia that so "surprised" him. In the controversial October issue of his magazine, Newquist began an editorial by asking: "What are those guys DOING on the cover?" He immediately answered: "Well, it's just Flea and Dave Navarro . . . shocking the music world with their twisted sense of humor." He then repeated the point: "As the cover shows, Navarro has definitely taken to the Pepper's warped sense of humor." What Navarro himself described as "playful affection," Newquist defined as "shocking" and "twisted." **** ACTION ALERT! Send advice, compliments or criticism -- as appropriate -- to each of the following targets: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, c/o Lindsey Gotez, 11116 Aqua Vista Blvd., Suite 39, Studio City, CA 91602, tel. 818-508-1875, fax 818-766-7102. Judy McGrath, MTV Networks, Inc., 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, tel. 212-258-8712 or 212-258-8000, fax 212-258-8718, e-mail mtvmail@aol.com (AOL users can post messages directly to the MTV message area, keyword "MTV"). S. Robson Walton, Chair, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 702 S.W. 8th Street, Bentonville, AR 72716, tel. 501-273-4000, fax 501-273-1969. Dave Triller, Owner, "The Only Guitar Shop," Route 9, Clifton Park, NY 12065, tel. 518-371-1232. H. P. Newquist, Editor-In-Chief, "Guitar," P.O. Box 1490, Port Chester, NY 10573, tel. 914-937-8061, e-mail 74774.2131@compuserve.com. T V W O R T H T A L K I N G A B O U T Featuring a large panel of bisexual youth, the September 13 "Gordon Elliott Show" struck a much-needed blow for visibility. The panel's diversity of class, race and family experience -- combined with (uncommonly) respectful treatment by host and audience alike -- made for an enlightening talk-show hour. Discussion topics included the reactions of parents and siblings, groundbreaking media portrayals, biphobia within the gay and lesbian community, and the distinctiveness of bisexuality. A pregnant 22-year-old woman explained that, although she and the baby's father are monogamous 9and both bisexual), they will not get married because they reject the unfair privilege associated with the institution. A young club dancer and her former girlfriend kissed lovingly (twice!) when they were reunited on national television. A clinical therapist affiliated with the National Bisexual Youth Initiative pinned the blame for "identity struggles" right where it belonged -- not upon "confused" kids, but a confused and phobic society. The show's producers did NOT include a misinformed "minister" or quack "psychologist" amongst the guests, thus avoiding the "bigots for balance" tendency. Too often, the mainstream media still approach any (and every) discussion of queer identity as a refutable proposition. Statements made by queers are treated as essentially biased, one-sided claims in a "debate" that -- in the name of "balance" or "fairness" -- require an "opposing point of view." Applied without distinction, the media's tendency to treat homophobes as experts on homosexuality actually elevates hate to the status of reason. **** ACTION ALERT! Encourage television to keep talking with fairness, accuracy and diversity. Send supportive feedback to "The Gordon Elliott Show," 524 57th Street, Fifth Floor, New York, NY 10019, tel. 212-975-8100, fax 212-975-7844, e-mail ges514@aol.com. C A U S E F O R C O N C E R N Concerned Women For America (CWA) is a large, well-funded organization of professional homophobes with a particular interest in promoting anti-queer hatred through the public schools. This month, CWA has launched a nationwide postcard campaign that attacks the National Education Association (NEA) for adopting a resolution in support of "Gay/Lesbian History Month." In July, the NEA (a 2.2 million-member association of teachers and other education professionals) adopted a resolution supporting the concept of "the celebration of a Lesbian and Gay History Month as a means of acknowledging the contributions of gay, lesbian and bisexual people throughout history." The NEA has previously called for textbooks that fairly and accurately portray "the roles and contributions of gay, lesbian and bisexual people." According to CWA's president, Beverly LaHaye, "the NEA has a long track record of trying to take over every aspect of education in our country and force the values and morals of the home out of our schools." "I believe every Christian parent in America will view this official observance of homosexuality as a direct assault on innocent, unsuspecting children," LaHaye said. "With this resolution," LaHaye added, "the NEA goes on record nationwide in its support for the celebration of gays, lesbians and bisexuals. We must act to ensure the innocence and purity of children we love are not destroyed. That's why CWA is launching an all-out effort to stop this program from entering our schools." Specifically, CWA members have been asked to send pre-printed postcards to the NEA (opposing "the designation of October as Gay/Lesbian History Month") and to their Senators (demanding an investigation into "every dollar of federal tax money the NEA receives and to suspend all federal funds to the NEA until they rescind their resolution declaring October Gay/Lesbian History month"). **** ACTION ALERT! Counter the CWA campaign by sending your own cards and letters to Keith Geiger, President, National Education Association, 1201 16th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-3290, and The United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510, tel. 202-224-3121. General information about the U.S. Senate, including members' e-mail addresses, is available on-line (gopher://gopher.senate.gov:70/1). For more information about the "Lesbian and Gay History Month Project," e-mail LGBHM@aol.com. Additional information and resources are available from the NEA (Division of Human and Civil Rights, tel. 202-833-4000) and Project 21 (Kristy Billuni, tel. 415-861-2244, fax 415-861-4893, e-mail glaadp21@aol.com or billuni@aol.com). To keep an eye on the right, request a FREE 3-month "trial" subscription to the homophobic magazine "Family Voice," published by Concerned Women For America, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20024, tel. 202-488-7000, 800-560-CWFA or 800-458-8797, fax 202-488-0806. M E D I A B R I E F S * KID VID UPDATE . . . Children's Animated Television (CAT) is a non-profit organization that produces educational videos for children and teens, covering such issues as AIDS, diversity, violence, and sexual identity. This June, CAT announced the development a new video project intended to help prevent suicide and promote self-esteem amongst lesbian/gay/bisexual youth. CAT is moving steadily forward with the project, though public support has been less than expected. "So far," reports CAT president Claude DiDomencia, "it's been particularly tough to raise funds for this video." For information about supporting this invaluable effort, contact CAT, 1492 Highland Avenue, Suite 3, Needham, MA 02192, tel. 617-449-9699, fax 617-449-2238, e-mail didom@usa1.com, URL http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/. * FIRST THINGS . . . "Express Yourself: The First Amendment" is a multimedia Mac-compatible software program that "teaches students about their rights and tests them on what they learn through an interactive game." Send requests for the diskette to Nancy Otto, Director, Howard A. Friedman First Amendment Education Project, American Civil Liberties Union/Northern California, 1663 Mission Street, Suite 460, San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-621-2493, e-mail ffpiaclunc@aol.com. * NEWSLETTER NEWS . . . "Task Force Connections" is the quarterly technical assistance newsletter of the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention; to be added to the mailing list, just write to NTFAP, 973 Market Street, Suite 6000, San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-356-8110. * AGENDA SETTING . . . Transgender issues -- however significant and newsworthy -- rank among the most "overlooked" (i.e., censored and ignored) stories in the mainstream media. Letters sent NOW to national and local news media could help ensure fair and accurate coverage of the upcoming "National Transgender Lobby Days" (October 2 and 3). Newspaper editors and radio/TV news directors should be encouraged to report on this important story in particular, and to expand the range of their transgender beat in general. For more information, both press and public can contact the International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy, 5707 Firenza Street, Houston, TX 77035-5515, tel. 713-723-8368, fax 713-723-1800, e-mail prfrye@aol.com. * WEB WATCH . . . Media analysts and activists can find useful information at web sites maintained by the Newspaper Association of America (http://www.infi.net/naa/), the Electronic Privacy Information Center (http://www.epic.org/privacy/privacy_resources_faq.html), Columbia Tristar Television (http://www.spe.sony.com/Pictures/tv/cttv.html), POV Interactive (http://mumford.pbs.org/pov/), Elektra Entertainment Group (http://www.elektra.com), GLAAD (http://www.gaytrek.com/gaytrek/glaad.html, or http://www.datalounge.com/glaad), Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (http://www.igc.org/fair), World Wide Rush Limbaugh (http://www.tiac.net/users/macgyver/pols.html), Interactive Democracy (http://www.teleport.com/~pcllgn/id.html) and the Noam Chomsky Archive (http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/usr/tp0x/chomsky.html). ******************************************************** The GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION challenges homophobia in and through the mass media . . . shaping the forces that shape our society. Founded in 1988, the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of GLAAD is a non-profit, volunteer-based membership organization dedicated to cultural advocacy and media activism. GLAAD/SFBA promotes the fair, accurate and diverse representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives. To notify GLAAD/SFBA of any defamatory or affirmative media coverage, or to request GLAAD membership information, call the 24-hour MEDIALERT HOTLINE (415-861-4588) or write to Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, 1360 Mission Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-861-2244, fax 415-861-4893, e-mail glaadsfba@aol.com, URL http://www.gaytrek.com/gaytrek/glaad.html. To support on-going monitoring and response efforts, GLAAD welcomes copies of any correspondence individuals send to, or receive from, the media. ******************************************************** MEDIALERT is a weekly column that may be printed, published or posted, under any title, in whole or part, without prior permission. When appropriate, attribution should be made to "Al Kielwasser" and/or "GLAAD San Francisco." GLAAD/SFBA greatly appreciates copies of any publications that make use of these MEDIALERT reports. ********************************************************