From: GLAADSFBA@aol.com Date: Wed, 4 Oct 1995 17:08:40 -0400 Subject: GLAAD MEDIALERT, Oct. 2 M e d i A l e r t for the week of October 2 - 8, 1995 by Al Kielwasser Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area T H E C O M P A N I E S W E K E E P The American Family Association -- a deeply homophobic media watchdog group -- has launched nationwide assaults on several companies, including Disney, MCI, and Schwab. These new hate campaigns are detailed in the October issue of the "AFA Journal." Noting that "the 'AFA Journal' often reports on companies marketing to homosexuals," the October issue reprints a question about the Schwab investment company. A reader writes: "I have enclosed an article from the 'New York Times' newswire stating that Charles Schwab has supported gay and lesbian activities and is now going after their business. It would seem this calls for drastic action, like throwing them overboard, but I don't know what the alternatives are. Would you address this?" The question is answered by "expert" Austin Pryor, editor of the "Sound Mind Investing" ("the financial journal for today's Christian family"): "This is certainly disappointing news. Indifferent to the lessons of several thousand years of human history and the moral force of Judeo-Christian tradition, our society and government has increasingly legitimized homosexual conduct . . . In the brokerage area, you can add Charles Schwab, Merrill Lynch, Paine-Webber and Smith Barney. Schwab was recently one of the major sponsors of the 19th annual San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. The company also has begun testing how to use direct-mail to reach this affluent group. . . . " Staff at Charles Schwab confirm that the company has been besieged with hate mail. For example, Bill Smith of Smith Capital Management wrote to Schwab indicating that his clients did not wish to do business with any company that "promotes homosexuality." Noting the "degenerate impact of homosexuality on people and societies." Smith questioned why Schwab would "contribute to the promotion of a lifestyle that is estimated to be behind over 90% of AIDS cases." Schwab has received numerous such letters, each threatening the company with the loss of business: "I am morally opposed to homosexuality . . . . ." "I will most surely close these accounts . . . .," "I was disappointed to hear of your active endorsement of gay and lesbian activities . . . ." Reportedly, letters of support have NOT been forthcoming. The AFA has also attacked MCI -- the long distance telephone service -- for "targeting homosexuals." According to the AFA: "MCI is offering special discounts on long distance phone calls to businesses owned by homosexuals. MCI is using a direct mail campaign to cross-promote with the National Gay and Lesbian Business Alliance (NGLBA), a new group the long distance carrier helped found." With homophobic horror, the AFA quotes "a letter from an MCI account executive," which states that the NGLBA is "dedicated to furthering the growth of the Gay and Lesbian business community." Finally, the AFA has renewed its censorious campaign against the Disney company, this time for releasing "Lie Down With Dogs," which is described by the AFA as "a homosexual film." The AFA warns readers that: "Disney's Miramax film company has released a movie aimed at homosexuals, directed by and staring a homosexual, and featuring homosexual sex . . . . Although the movie is rated 'R,' reviewers describe strong homosexual content in the film's scenes and language." *** ACTION ALERT: Counter the AFA campaigns! Contact Charles R. Schwab, Chair, The Charles Schwab Corp., 101 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94104, tel. 415-627-7000, fax 415-627-8894; Bert C. Roberts, Jr., Chair, MCI Communication Corp., 1801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20006, tel 202-872-1600, fax 202-887-2195, tel. (TOLL FREE) 800-444-3333; Michael Eisner, Chair, The Walt Disney Co., 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521, tel. 818-560-1000. Also, send contrary complaints to Austin Pryor, "Sound Mind Investing," 2117 Glen Eagle Drive, Louisville, KY 40222, tel. 502-426-7420; Bill Smith, Smith Capital Management, Pleasant Valley Office Center, 12115 Hinson Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212-3410, tel. 501-228-0040, fax 501-228-0047. T H U M B S D O W N While movie reviews in the "Philadelphia Inquirer" might not be homophobic, the newspaper's accompanying "Parent's Guides" leave much to be desired. These "guides" offer brief notations of -- presumably -- "questionable" movie content. The "Inquirer's" September 15 review of "Lie Down With Dogs" is followed by this listing: "Parent's Guide: R (discreet sex, profanity, homosexuality)." Why should any parent be warned about homosexuality per se? Does the "Philadelphia Inquirer" also advise parents about films that are excessively heterosexual (or better yet, heterosexist)? If the "Philadelphia Inquirer" wishes to alert parents to on-screen depictions of sex acts, so be it. But, just because HOMOsex happens to be the subject is no reason to single out a film for extraordinary dread or caution. Moreover, it appears that parents are being "guided" in regard to movies that treat the subject of homosexuality IN ANY MANNER, with or without the explicit portrayal of sexual behavior. Finally, linking "homosexuality" to such categories of content as "profanity" is also inappropriate. This system of "parental guidance" is utterly derisive, immature and homophobic. It is -- in fact -- only a short step from the racist classification schemes of the 1920s and 30s, which warned of "miscegenation" in the movies. *** ACTION ALERT: Guide the reviewers in the right direction. Contact the "Philadelphia Inquirer," 400 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19101, fax 215-854-4483, e-mail editpage@aol.com. T H E B U L L E T S O F B I G O T R Y In the most outrageous assault on academic integrity since the Scopes trial, two San Francisco teachers may be stripped of their credentials -- simply because they allowed a lesbian and a gay man to speak to sixth-grade students about sexual identity and hate violence. On September 25, the Credential Committee of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing recommended revocation of the teachers' credentials in response to the complaints brought by outspoken homophobe Bruce Budnick, who insists that his daughter was "abused" in 1992 when the teachers did not stop guest speakers from discussing "personal" homosexual experiences. Budnick's case is being funded by the Rutherford Institute, a Right Wing organization based in Virginia. The Institute has declared that this action represents "the first bullets fired in what we can see as a growing campaign to eradicate such grotesque violation of parents' rights in public schools." The recommendation of the Credential Committee must be accepted or rejected by the full Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The San Francisco School District has been lukewarm in it support for the besieged teachers, but district officials have indicated that they might appeal any ruling against the teachers. All across the nation, the Right Wing is vigorously attacking our public schools, with the specific intent to censor fair and accurate information about homosexuality. These bullets of bigotry must be stopped. These teachers deserve the complete and unhesitating support of the San Francisco School District. The decision of the Credentials Committee is nothing but a capitulation to narrow-minded prejudice, and it must not be allowed to stand. There can be NO compromise with homophobia. *** ACTION ALERT: Demand that the full Commission on Teacher Credentialing REJECT the recommendation of its Credentials Committee. Insist that the San Francisco School District defend facts rather than fears. Finally, urge California School's Chief Delaine Eastin -- who has vowed to combat homophobic censors -- to speak out against this intolerable act. Contact Verna Dautreive, Chair, Commission on Teacher Credentialing, 1812 9th Street, Sacramento CA 95814., tel. 916-445-7254 (press "1," then "2," then "1" for the Professional Standards Division), fax 916-323-6735; Bill Rojas, Superintendent, San Francisco Unified School District, 135 Van Ness Avenue., San Francisco, CA 94102, tel. 415-241-6121 (copy your correspondence to Dan Kelly, President, S.F. Board of Education, at the same address, tel. 415-241-6427); Delaine Eastin, Superintendent of Public Instruction, 721 Capitol Mall, P. O. Box 944272, Sacramento, CA 94244-2720. N O E X C U S E S Last year, Robert Hale Ltd. published "Homosexuality: A Guide for Parents and Teachers." The book by Joan Gomez has been touted as a fact-based resource, though it is riddled with homophobic misinformation. For example, Gomez (who is purportedly a psychiatrist) writes that "Gay lifestyles lead to an increased likelihood of all the sexually transmitted diseases" (p.16). She also reports that "Pale colours and soft materials, such as silk shirts and corduroy are favoured away from work, rather than the austere grey/black of the conventional male. the gay man spends care and money on his clothes, whether elegantly formal or comfortably casual" (p. 47). On the subject of gay sex, Gomez claims that research reveals: "If you go into a gay bar . . . overtures are made within a few minutes' conversation, with the explicit expectation that the encounter will include sex" (p. 94). She concludes that: "The fabric of the gay lifestyle, at any rate up to thirty-five, is made of casual encounters involving sex with a stranger" (p. 104) and "The big item missing from the homosexual act is the absence of creativity. In heterosex, there is the possibility, risk, or hope of generating a new human being, plus a huge ongoing responsibility . . . . Homosexual intercourse, by contrast, is a mere pastime" (p. 113). In response to complaints from lesbians and gays, the publisher has issued the most outrageous excuse. A company spokesperson recently stated: "We are proud to have published the book which we feel serves a real need, but would point out that it is not intended for homosexuals." The spokesperson added: "If there are any factual errors, perhaps you would care to point them out and we will incorporate them in the next printing of the book." *** ACTION ALERT: Contact John Hale, Director, Robert Hale Limited, Clerkenwell House, 45-47 Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R 0HT, tel. 0171-251-2661, fax 0171-490-4958. M E D I A B R I E F S * LIFE PRESERVERS . . . Once again, the MTV network will rebroadcast "My So-Called Life;" the series revival will kick off on October 7. "My So-Called Life" -- noted for including a gay teen in the cast of main characters -- received high praise but low ratings, and was subsequently canceled by ABC. Kudos to: Judy McGrath, President, MTV Networks, Inc., 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, tel 212-258-8712 or 212-258-8000, fax 212-258-8718, e-mail mtv@aol.com; America Online users may post comments directly to the MTV message area on AOL (keyword "MTV"). * FROM BAD TO WORSE . . . Transphobic advertisements for Sauza Tequila have featured a photograph of a bikini-clad woman with the phrase ""She's a he" written across her chest. The ad's tag line states: "Life is harsh. Your tequila shouldn't be." In recent magazine versions of the ad, the woman's image is now featured on one full page, with this text over her chest: "She's blonde. She's beautiful. She's headed your way." Turn the page and the same image appears, with the "She's a he" phrase and insulting tag line. This company has yet to understand that transphobia is bad business. Contact: Janice Jarrett, Administrative Manager, Marketing department, Domecq Importers (of Sauza Tequila), 143 Sound Beach, Old Greenwhich, CT 06870, tel. 203-637-6500. * AUSSIE TV . . . According to Gay and Lesbian Cable Television Australia -- GALACTA -- the new pay TV service is "poised to become the world's first television channel run by and for lesbians and gay men." The service has already acquired a 24-hour national license dedicated to lesbian and gay programming, and is mow seeking "strategic alliances with program producers, cultural organizations, advertisers, and investors worldwide." Contact: Cayte Latta, Programming Director, GALACTA, P.O. Box 392, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia, tel./fax 011-61-2-550-6058, e-mail Lpears@joLt.mpx.com.au. * E-MEDIA . . . Journalist Rex Wockner reports that a new Internet newsgroup for queer women has been established (soc.women.lesbian-and-bi). Also, a mailing list for Vietnamese lesbians, bisexuals and gays is up and running (to subscribe, mail "subscribe vn-gblf [your e-mail address] " to vn-gblf-request@saigon.com). * COVERING QUEERS . . . "Diversity & Sexuality" is the cover theme of September-October 1995 issue of "Colors," a magazine dedicated to "Opinion & The Arts in Communities of Color." Contact: Jennifer Juarez Robles, Editor, "Colors," 2608 Blaisdell Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408-1505, tel. 612-874-0494, fax 612-874-0086. * (UN)SOUND BITE . . . "In spite of the fact that the distorted media elite is consumed with portraying homosexuality as a normal, alternative lifestyle, most Americans are equipped with a natural, innate moral discernment that tells them otherwise" (Jessalyn Bailey, "citizen columnist" for "The Sun" newspaper, P.O. Box 1059, Jackson, TN 38302). ******************************************************** 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, please call our 24-hour MediAlert Hotline (415-861-4588) or write to the 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 our on-going monitoring and response efforts, GLAAD/SFBA 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 this or 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 weekly reports. ******************************************************** "MediAlert" [TM] is a trademark of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation/San Francisco Bay Area.