From: GLAADSFBA@aol.com Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 07:19:22 -0400 Subject: GLAAD MEDIALERT, Oct. 9 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * M e d i A l e r t * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * for the week of October 9 - 15, 1995 by Al Kielwasser Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area N E W S W E A K N E S S Just a day before arguments began in "Romer v. Evans" -- the Amendment 2 case -- "Newsweek" magazine had already made a major gaff . In the magazine's October 9 issue, David A. Kaplan provides a one-page overview of the Supreme Court's calendar for the 1995-96 term ("This Court's Not on TV"). Though brief, Kaplan's references to Amendment 2 are especially troubling. He uses imprecise terminology, makes defamatory characterizations, and completely misrepresents the substance of the Amendment itself. First, Kaplan reports that "over the next nine months, the justices will take on gay rights . . . ." He also refers to the Amendment 2 case as "the gay-rights case," which is being defended by "gay-rights groups." Since gays do not (yet) posses any rights that aren't already guaranteed to every citizen, the category of "gay rights" is rather imprecise. In fact, because most queers actually have far fewer rights than most heterosexuals, it would make more sense -- or least it would refer more accurately to reality -- if commentators discussed the many appalling "gay non-rights" that exist in our homophobic society. While it would be nice if "Newsweek" and other magazines began to use terms like "gay civil rights" or "equal rights for gays and lesbians," this lack of precision is hardly the most serious problem in Kaplan's article. Kaplan observes: "Gay-rights groups hope for a victory as significant as 'Brown v. Board of Education' was to blacks in 1954." "Even so," he announces, "the case won't be as significant as others that come before the court. The new term likely marks the beginning of a judicial period when single issues like abortion or gay rights no longer will dominate." Kaplan's dismissive tone is as insulting as it is misinformed. The Amendment 2 case speaks to justice, liberty, and equality -- our nation's most basic principles. It speaks as well to prejudice, intolerance, and greed -- our country's most common pitfalls. This case is hardly limited to "special interests" or a "single issue." Amendment 2 threatens all of us. Kaplan suggests that "single issue cases" are somehow less important than those that concern the "whole" nation and involve the interests of "everybody." It appears, however, as if he might be confusing "everybody" with "himself." There is, unfortunately, a tendency amongst heterosexual men (especially white heterosexual men) to see their own "special interests" as global concerns. Characterizing the concerns of queers ("Romer v. Evans"), women ("Roe v. Wade"), and people of color ("Brown v. Board of Education") as "special interest" is a media bias that can only be seen as racist, sexist and homophobic. Finally, the worst part of the "Newsweek" article involves Kaplan's definition of Amendment 2. He writes: "The gay-rights case, to be argued Oct. 10, gives the court its first chance since 1986 to rule on the constitutional rights of homosexuals. The issue: Colorado's Amendment 2, passed by voters in 1992, which prohibited the state government or municipalities from passing special protection for gays. The justices have to decide if that kind of exclusion denies gays 'equal protection.'" Kaplan is shockingly wrong. Amendment 2 says NOTHING about "special protection for gays." Instead, the language of the Amendment would expose lesbians, gays and bisexuals to SPECIAL PERSECUTION. Kaplan fails to grasp this point, even though he appears to understand (almost) that the legal issue before the court is whether or not such legislation violates the "Equal Protection" clause of the United States Constitution. By way of contrast, "Newsweek's" definition of Amendment 2 is far less accurate than "USA Today's" ("Across The USA," September 26). The newspaper reported: "U.S. Supreme Court Justices will hear arguments Oct. 10 on why Amendment 2, which says gays cannot be protected from discrimination, should become part of the state constitution . . . ." "Newsweek's" definition is not merely wrong it what is says, but also in what it does not say. Kaplan never explains that Amendment 2 would effectively prohibit lesbians, gays and bisexuals from having any minority status or "claim of discrimination." He does not mention that, if Amendment 2 is NOT ruled unconstitutional, Colorado citizens will be fired from their jobs, evicted from their homes, and kept out of their schools -- simply because they are queer. There is nothing particularly "special" about the right to food and shelter. Perhaps Kaplan's use of the phrase "special protection" is most disturbing because it represents a direct capitulation to the campaign of misinformation being waged by homophobes. The concept of "special protections" and "special rights" was invented by these bigots to promote hate legislation that, in fact, denies equal rights and promotes special persecutions. Now, the hate mongers have succeeded in putting their Big Lie -- unchallenged, and in tact -- into the mouth of an "objective" reporter, writing for one of the nation's most widely-read news magazines. *** ACTION ITEM!: Let "Newsweek's" editor know that his reporters are parroting homophobic lies. Demand a timely retraction; and if the magazine insists on using the phrase "special protection," then challenge the editor to provide even one actual example of that mythical privilege. Contact Richard M. Smith, Editor-in-Chief, "Newsweek," 251 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019-1894, fax 212-445-4120, e-mail letters@newsweek.com. D I E S E L D Y K E S Over the last few months, the Diesel Jeans & Workwear company has produced several high-profile print ads featuring homoerotic imagery. The company's latest ad -- for "Diesel Shades" (sunglasses) -- bleeds across two magazine pages with a photograph of women on the verge of a passionate kiss. Dressed in stylized nursing costumes and sporting bright red lips and finger nails, the couple strikes an attractive lesbian pose. Yet, it is the sort of pose that can appeal to queers . . . OR to straight men (and their incessant belief that lesbian sex has anything at all to do with their own male pleasure). Significantly, however, the women in Diesel's ad are actually wearing the product being sold. They are NOT being used as mere props, intended solely to attract a straight male gaze toward machine guns or athletic supporters. In another recent ad, Diesel clothing is hung upon a number of colorful characters. At one end of the scene, a group of women is ogling a scantily-clad man. At the other end, we see two women who are clearly more interested in each other. This amorous couple pays absolutely no attention to the stud across the way, and their complete disinterest forms the focal point of the ad. Last month, Diesel also featured two gay men in ads that mimicked a well-known World War II photograph. The men, retro-dressed in 1940's sailor suits, were shown hugging and kissing in front of their ship. *** ACTION ITEM!: Each of these advertisements is open to various interpretations, some far less affirming than others. However, one thing is clear. Given the eruption of homoeroticism, and the fact that some of these ads have appeared in publications like "Out" magazine, the "Devil Jeans & Workwear" company has become a likely target for Right Wing wrath. Send supportive comments to Diana Loguzzo, Diesel Jeans & Workwear, Diesel USA, Inc., New York, NY 10018, tel. 212-575-8222, fax 212-944-0915. C H R O N I C L E O F L O W E R E D U C A T I O N Deb Saunders -- a columnist for the "Chronicle," San Francisco's leading daily, -- has written a particularly offensive opus to one of the city's worst homophobes. In the process, she provides a case study in media bias; unfortunately, the faults that warp Saunders' column are common throughout much of the press on "sex education." In her column ("You Tell me -- Who Is The Zealot?," September 29), Saunders generally defends -- and ultimately furthers -- the cause of CENSORING homosexuality in our public schools. In particular, defends the interests of Bruce Budnick who, for the past three years, has waged a campaign against two San Francisco teachers. Budnick claims that in 1992, in his daughter's sixth-grade class, these teachers allowed a lesbian and gay man to discuss their "private" sex lives. With knee-jerk horror, Saunders reports that one guest speaker -- the lesbian -- may actually have used the word "dildo." The other speaker, purportedly, detailed his personal sexual fantasies, which involved oral sex and sailors. While Saunders carefully reports such salacious rumors, she overlooks several key facts. The presentation was actually brief one -- about 55 minutes -- and focused almost entirely on issues of homophobia and hate violence. With no prompting or direction, some students DID ask a few questions about sexual behavior. Those questions -- which followed the main presentation -- were answered honestly, NOT luridly. The time given to these questions amounted to no more than THREE MINUTES. The baseless claim that guest speakers delved into private fantasies during that times has never been substantiated. Saunders also reports that, following their presentation, the lesbian and gay man "gave out their phone numbers." Whether they gave out business, personal or resource numbers, Saunders does not say. It seems she wants her readers to speculate that these queers -- like all queers -- intended, ultimately, to recruit or rape. Of course, the speakers involved were not operating out of their own basements, nor running some nefarious baby prostitution ring. They were, in fact, members of a carefully-trained team of volunteers, participating in a highly-respected program, operated by a peerless community service organization -- Community United Against Violence (CUAV). For over a decade, the CUAV Speaker's Bureau has sent volunteers into classrooms, to dispel the homophobic myths that breed hate violence. For over a decade, these volunteers have restored hope, bolstered self-esteem and (quite literally) saved the lives of countless young queers. But Saunders doesn't want to tell that story. She is more concerned that -- once, in a sixth-grade classroom, in 1992 -- a lesbian might have uttered the word "dildo." Meanwhile, at every grade level and in every school district, children (and not a few teachers) routinely hurl "faggot," "dyke" and other homophobic slurs. According to an American Association of University Women survey, such slurs are the most common form of harassment in our public schools. Yet this MOST PREVALENT form of abuse is ALMOST NEVER the subject of community censure OR media scrutiny. According to Saunders, parents like Bruce Budnick have "done everything right," a point "misunderstood" by critics. Apparently, it is irrelevant to Saunders that Budnick has ONLY ever complained about HOMOSEXUALITY in the classroom. She insists that he is NOT a homophobe, but simply a "concerned parent." He has "homosexual friends." Again and again, the mainstream media cloak bigots in the mantle of concern. Parents like Bruce Budnick are described as "concerned," even though they are BLATANT homophobes. In such cases it would be EQUALLY (and probably MORE) accurate and objective to use phrases like "bigoted parent" or "homophobic father." Yet, such phrases are virtually NONEXISTANT in the mainstream press. "Concerned parent" Budnick was "betrayed" by his school district, according to Saunders. San Francisco's school board -- like many others -- requires teachers to give advance notice of certain "controversial" presentations, so parents and students can "opt out." Budnick's (unsubstantiated) claim is that he was not properly notified before the 1992 presentation on homophobia "abused" his daughter. Unfortunately, Saunders never questions whether state and local laws should encourage ANY parent to exercise the extraordinary option of removing their children from human sexuality or hate violence lectures. After all, the child of parents who believe the Earth is flat would still be expected to attend geography class. Why should we expect anything less for the children of homophobes? No child should be deprived of information about sexual orientation because a parent believes that gays are sick or sinful. Arguably, such children deserve that information not simply in spite BUT PRECISELY BECAUSE OF their own parents' ignorance. Ultimately, it is parents but CHILDREN who are betrayed by unfair, sex-negative and homophobic "opt-out" policies. Enforced by most school districts, these policies reject fairness, accuracy and diversity -- the hallmarks of quality education -- and deny EVERY child's right to a heritage free of crippling hate and unchallenged bigotry. *** ACTION ITEM!: Send well-earned criticism to Debra J. Saunders, columnist, and Matt Wilson, Editor, "San Francisco Chronicle," 901 Mission Street., San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-777-1111, fax 415-512-8196. For more information about the Speaker's Bureau and other CUAV projects, contact Lester Olmstead-Rose, Executive Director, Community United Against Violence, 973 Market Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-777-5500. Finally, letters are still needed supporting the two besieged teachers, who may soon lose their jobs over the incident. Contact the School Superintendents for California (Delaine Eastin, Superintendent of Public Instruction, 721 Capitol Mall, P.O. Box 944272, Sacramento, CA 94244-2720) and San Francisco (Bill Rojas, Superintendent, San Francisco Unified School District, 135 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, tel. 415-241-6121); urge Eastin and Rojas to expend every reasonable effort to defend these teachers' jobs and to ensure that our public schools integrate fair and accurate information about sexual orientation at all grade levels and in all subject areas. S A T U R D A Y N I G H T M A R E ? In his October 2 column, Steve Johnson -- television critic for the "Chicago Tribune" -- reviews the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, September 30). Johnson specifically lambastes the show's "worst feature," which was "the way it paraded, almost as if by plan, a pathetic reliance on references to homosexuality for punchlines." By way of evidence, Johnson lists the various offending references. He explains: "Guest-host Mariel Hemingway, in the midst of introducing the new cast, soul-kissed all the women. Returning cast member Norm MacDonald, playing Sen. Robert Dole, insinuated Colin Powell was gay. Fellow returnee David Spade, in a stinker that is to be a regular feature called 'Spade in America,' put forth a theory that the Unabomber looks gay." Johnson concludes his review with a familiar question: "Cutting-edge live comedy program or program with only one, sneering idea in its head? You decide . . . " Whether readers agree with Johnson's opinion is perhaps less significant than the mere existence of this particular column. Most popular TV critics approach homosexuality obliquely, if at all, and even then with a sort of thoughtless caprice (almost as if the assumption were that you could say anything about this subject and expect praise simply for saying ANYTHING AT ALL). Very few mainstream critics have considered television's treatment of homosexuality as an important aesthetic, social and cultural metric. In Johnson's column, at least, homosexuality is neither overlooked nor separated out from the program's other qualities, which often happens (as if it was impossible to discuss "regular" subjects whenever queers are the topic). Admitedly, Johnson's criticism pales in comparison to much of what is regularly published in the queer press. However, the significance of his review is multiplied by the status of the "Tribune" itself. In publication for well over a century, the "Chicago Tribune" ranks among the nation's top newspapers in daily circulation. *** ACTION ITEM!: Encourage Johnson and other widely-read critics to seriously -- and regularly -- examine the television's treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender subjects (a critical task that could be especially useful now, given the new season's record number of queer portrayals). Contact Steve Johnson, "Chicago Tribune," 435 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, fax 312-222-2598, e-mail tribletter@aol.com (the "Tribune" specifically welcomes letters from all parts of the country); Warren Littlefield, President, NBC Entertainment, 3000 W. Alameda Avenue, Burbank, CA 91523, tel. 818-840-4444. M E D I A B R I E F S * HOMO VIDEO . . . "Hate, Homophobia and Schools" is a new video tape "designed around a forum of gay and non-gay . . . youth and adults discussing what its like to grow up gay in this society." The tape is intended to "lessen the impact of homophobia in our society by helping teens." Contact NEWIST, Studio B, IS 1040, UW-Green Bay, Green Bay, WI 54311, tel. 800-633-7445. * E-MEDIALERT . . . "Queer News" is a new on-line magazine, originating in Australia. For details, e-mail sherilb@ozemail.com.au. * CHANGING CHANNELS . . . During a nightly newscast on WICU-TV (Erie, PA), the anchors engaged in some casual banter about the movie "To Wong Foo." When asked if he planed to see the film, newscaster Chris Knowles replied: "If I wanted to see freaks, I'd watch 'Jerry Springer.'" After WICU was deluged with complaints from around the country, the Assistant Station Manager -- Bill Knupp -- offered an on-air apology for the "inappropriate and insensitive" remarks and promised to meet with community representatives. Covering the story for the "Erie Gay Community Newsletter" (October 1995), Michael Mahler reports: "I think I speak for most of us who registered protests, that we think the station has dealt with this matter in a very acceptable manner." "The media do pay attention to the messages they receive, whether they are sent by mail, fax, e-mail or telephone," Mahler added, "It's amazing what happens when people work together." Contact WICU-TV, 3514 State Street, Erie, PA 16508, tel. 814-454-5201, fax 814-455-0703; "Erie Gay Community Newsletter," P.O. Box 3063, Erie, PA 16508-0063, tel. 814-456-9833, fax 814-452-1392, e-mail egcn@aol.com or 70431,1622@compuserve.com. * A NEW VOICE . . . "Q-Voice Magazine" is a new lesbian/gay monthly, serving Milwaukee and Wisconsin with news, reviews, interviews, features and photography. Contact "Q-Voice Magazine," P.O. Box 92385, Milwaukee, WI 53202, e-mail qvoice@aol.com, * FUTURE FAQ . . . "Project Brighter Future," intended to address "self-esteem and suicide prevention for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth," is the current video project being developed by Children's Animated Television (CAT), a non-profit organization that produces videos for children and teens on contemporary social issues. CAT has just issued a "Project Brighter Future for GLB Teens Volunteer FAQ." To find out "how and why you should help," request a copy by e-mail (didom@usa1.com) or via the World Wide Web (http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/info/vol-faq.html/). * SHELF HELP . . . "A Walk on the Wild Side," a new book by Jeanette Jones, is described as a "collection of provocative photographs of cross dressers, drag artists and transsexuals . . . . from London to Paris to New York to Miami Beach . . . revealing the reality behind the fantasy of drag." Contact Barricade Books, 150 Fifth Avenue, Suite 700, New York, NY 10011, tel. 212-627-7000, fax 212-627-7028. * MULTI/MEDIA . . . The first annual Multicultural Film/Video Festival takes place December 15 - 17 in San Francisco. The festival is sponsored by the Bay Area Multicultural Telecommunications Association (BAMTA) and the Bay Area Media Advocacy Coalition (BAMAC). For more information, contact Tom Morse (BAMAC, tel 415-541-0102) or Humberto Cintron (BAMTA, 2655 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109, tel. 415-346-8098, fax 415-346-8098). * TO TEACH THE TRUTH . . . The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) will hold its second annual mid-Atlantic conference on November 4, in Washington, DC. The day-long conference will include more than 30 workshops covering a wide range of issues, including educational equity and curriculum advocacy. For more information, contact Matt Burton (tel. 202-546-5335) or GLSTN, 2124 Broadway, Box 160, New York, NY 10023, tel. 212-387-2098, e-mail glstn@aol.com. * SOUND BITE . . . "Question: You believe in reincarnation. What do you want to come back as? Answer: Matt Dillon's underwear." -- Boy George, interviewed by Ryan Murphy, in "US" magazine, October 1995 * (UN)SOUND BITE . . . "Theater, art, literature, cinema, press, posters, and window displays must be cleansed of all manifestations of our rotting world and placed in the service of a moral, political and cultural idea." -- Adolph Hitler, in "Mein Kampf" ******************************************************** 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. GLAAD/SFBA is a non-profit [501(c)(3)] organization; all contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.