From: GLAADSFBA@aol.com Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 21:55:31 -0500 Subject: MediAlert!, February 26 ___________________________________________________ INDEX: "MediAlert! -- February 26" 1. "Killing Us Softly" (Lilly Tomlin, Armistead Maupin, Ellen DeGeneres, TV Guide, The Celluloid Closet, National Writers Union). 2. "Adding Insult to Injury" (World Wrestling Federation Fan Services). 3. "Robertson Redress" (Mel White; Christian Coalition; 700 Club; Pat Robertson's Anti-Homosexual Campaign-A Case Study in the Rhetoric of Intolerance). 4. "Minding Their Business" (KSFO; ABC; Kmart). 5. "Video Phobia" (The Report; The Gay Agenda; The Gay Agenda in Public Education; The Ultimate Target of the Gay Agenda: Same-Sex Marriage). 6. "Definitive Action" (ILGA-Portugal; Porto Editora). 7. "Health Hazard" (Men's Health) 8. "Web Watch . . . " (Pop Front Press; Progressive Networks/WebActive; Hon. Carole Migden; Project McLuhan; Children's Animated Television/Fight The Right). 9. "In The Alternatives . . . " (Girlfriends Magazine; Aqua Net). 11. "Sound Bite" (Michael Musto). 12. General Information (about GLAAD; about MediAlerts). ___________________________________________________ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * M e d i A l e r t * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * for the week of February 26, 1996 by Al Kielwasser Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area K I L L I N G U S S O F T L Y It is an especially painful fact of pop cultural life. Even the brightest stars can inhabit the dimmest closets. Over past few decades, Lilly Tomlin has established herself as the archetype of a unique closet case -- the "conspicuously silent" -- the celebrities who might not deny their lesbian or gay identity outright, but certainly do NOTHING to affirm the truth. Instead, they desperately evade the issue at every turn, and are often aided in their contortions by journalists -- in both the queer and mainstream press. Most recently, Tomlin's evasive maneuvers left one outspoken gay author -- Armistead Maupin -- feeling "profoundly disappointed and slightly used." Both Maupin and Tomlin had worked together on the newly-released documentary version of "The Celluloid Closet," based on Vito Russo's pioneering history of "homosexuality in the movies." According to Maupin, he only agreed to write the film's narration -- which Tomlin delivered -- because she led him to believe that "she'd use this film as a vehicle for coming out." The film is now officially out, but Tomlin isn't. Maupin told the "Village Voice" (Jan. 30) that before his death in 1990, Vito Russo specifically indicated "he wanted an out-of-the-closet actor to narrate the film." "My feeling was it should either be an openly gay person or a sympathetic straight person," Maupin said. "Instead, I have to endure the cruel irony of a film called 'The Celluloid Closet' narrated by a closeted person!" As for Tomlin's "progressive" appeal, Maupin advises fans to wake up and smell the homophobia: "I'm tired of hearing apologies from people saying, 'Well, she's done so much for gay people . . . . Silence about her sexuality undermines all her good work and it reinforces the notion that homosexuality is something to be tolerated, but never discussed. That's not the message I want to send to teenagers, nor the message of 'The Celluloid Closet.'" Tomlin's silence was never more deafening, in fact, then on February 6 -- as she yucked it up at a White House press event CELEBRATING passage of the new telecommunications act [see "An Indecent Act," MediAlert, Jan. 12]. One journalist lambasted Tomlin's performance in a column aptly titled "Uncle Tomlin?" (Susan Gerhard, "Bay Guardian," Feb. 14). The "staged hoopla" was also criticized by the "Bay Area Reporter" (Feb. 15), which editorialized: "Tomlin's antics had Gore in stitches, while the First Amendment was being torn to ribbons. Both of them should have known better. Forcing silence and ignorance upon the world, especially in the name of the educational opportunity that is the Internet, is no laughing matter." Bob Chatelle, a representative of the National Writers Union (one of 20 ACLU plaintiffs currently challenging the "decency" act in court), also found the performance disturbing -- though not entirely unexpected. "Given Tomlin's famous 'discretion' about her own sexual orientation, I suppose it's not surprising that she cares so little about censorship," Chatelle said. "But I find it most troubling that she would be this callous about the feelings (and Constitutional rights) of those of us who choose NOT to hide in our closets." Unfortunately, a younger generation of lesbian and gay actors has not been immune to Tomlin's "discretion sickness." Most notable among them, perhaps, is Ellen DeGeneres. In interview after cagey interview, DeGeneres has refused to identify as lesbian -- asserting her "right to privacy" (when she asserts anything at all). Last year (Nov. 24-25, 1995), in a cover story for "USA Weekend's" 39 million readers, DeGeneres told her interviewer: "What's the issue? If it's important to someone to know what my sexuality is, I'm sorry." In the same article, the interviewer noted: "I just saw a study in which people around the country were asked whether their opinion of a favorite actor would change if they knew the actor was gay, and over 60 percent said no." To which DeGeneres replied: "I don't believe that." More recently, a feature story in "TV Guide" -- the nation's largest weekly magazine (circulation 14 million) -- examined "The Ever Changing World of Ellen - And How She Runs It" (Feb. 10-16, 1996). The reporter, Daniel Howard Cerone, panders to the journalistic double standard that maintains HOMOsexuality as the singular privacy convention "respected" by celebrity reporters. Cerone quotes DeGeneres, who says "In my life, I've found that people are really frightened of strong women." The reporter then observes: "Perhaps that's why DeGeneres politely refuses to dish up her personal life for public consumption. What she will share: She's in a loving relationship, and she feels too selfish right now to take on the challenge of motherhood." It appears that the only thing DeGeneres actually "refuses to dish up" are the LESBIAN qualities of her "private life." She apparently has no problem "dishing up" a host of other personal facts for "TV Guide's" readers -- from "I don't dress to show off my body" to "I'm a very open-minded, very liberal, very strong woman . . . . I'm very comfortable with who I am." DeGeneres also states, once more for the record: "It's amazing to me that everyone thinks I have a responsibility to divulge my personal life." Of course, demanding one's privacy while parading through the popular press -- in interview after interview -- is laughably disingenuous. But even if, for a moment, the claim could be taken seriously, it still suffers from several logical faults. First, such demands for privacy treat sexual IDENTITY as if it were essentially salacious stuff. Yet asking Ellen DeGeneres if she is a lesbian is NOT AT ALL the same as asking her with whom and how she "does it." As with other social standards, the so-called "right to privacy" does not always mean the same thing for heterosexual and homosexual citizens. Writing for a special "gay ethics" issue of the "Journal of Homosexuality," Jeremiah McCarthy concluded: "What is counted as PRIVACY for the homosexual here would be SECRECY for the heterosexual, the right never to have information divulged that one is straight. But no such right in the realm of heterosexuality is claimed or recognized. It is hard to see, therefore, that there is any such privacy right." Unfortunately, internalized homophobia is seldom contained, but is often externalized. And whenever celebrities are involved, it is typically amplified -- on a massive scale. Whether gay public figures have an obligation to act as "role models" for a gay community is, at best, a secondary concern. What is at issue here is whether or not gay public figures are acting -- however "inadvertently" -- as role models for HOMOPHOBES. Indeed, the "privacy" rights typically claimed by closeted celebrities are indistinguishable from the "don't flaunt it" demands made by ardent homophobes (who insist the solution to homosexuality is to "just leave it in the bedroom"). Claims about "being discrete" demonstrate even less valor. As Armistead Maupin asks of closeted gay teachers: "What earthly good is your discretion, when teenagers are still being murdered for the crime of effeminacy?" It's a question that ought to be asked of closeted celebrities, too. For all their undoubted talent, these celebrities remind us -- still -- of the many ways that silence equals death. *** ACTIONS/OPTIONS! As media scholar Larry Gross (author of "Contested Closets-The Politics and Ethics of Outing") points out: "No one is obliged to make a fabulous living as a movie, television, or recording star, and those do take on this burden can be held accountable for the images they promote." Hold the "silent celebrities" accountable; remind them that the "privacy" they invoke conceals only their pride. Also, regularly encourage journalists to avoid double standards with regard to "privacy" and sexual orientation. Contacts: Ellen DeGeneres, c/o Bantam Books Author Mail, 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036; Jack Curry, Managing Editor, "TV Guide," Radnor, PA 19088; Mike Salinas, Editor, "Bay Area Reporter," 395 Ninth Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-861-5019 or 415-861-7230; Bob Chatelle, National Writers Union & Boston Coalition for Freedom of Expression, e-mail kip@world.std.com, URL http://world.std.com/~kip/. A D D I N G I N S U L T T O I N J U R Y The World Wrestling Federation (WWF) has been nonresponsive to concerns that the company is promoting homophobia through its popular television programs [see "Wrestling With Homophobia," MediAlert, Jan. 29]. At the center of the controversy is "Goldust," one of WWF's featured wrestlers, who has been portrayed as a menacing gay freak. In the storyline for a particularly offensive broadcast, Goldust flirted with one of the "normal" heterosexual wrestlers who responded by "heroically" beating him senseless. In response to individual complaints, WWF has sent out an evasive form letter. Signed by the company's Fan Services Coordinator, Christine Wypy, the letter explains that the "World Wrestling Federation appeals to a broad spectrum of fans." To achieve this "universal appeal," Wypy says, "we utilize different characters, story lines, and techniques creating a degree of controversy as we do so." "Goldust, by design, with his androgynous presentation is bizarre and controversial," Wypy writes. She further explains: "The overriding theme of the Goldust character is that he uses unorthodox elements to keep his competitors off track, confused, and yes, even sometimes disgusted. That kind of mental stimulation is acted out through bizarre gestures some of which have sexual overtones, however, were not intentionally designed to offend." Wypy's "response" completely ignores the central issue (not to mention the rules of grammar). She treats homosexuality as the problem, rather than homophobia. Significantly, Wypy apologizes for the GAY character's behavior. She never mentions the GAY BASHER. The WWF's response carefully avoids any mention -- let alone condemnation -- of hate violence. Whether or not the company (rightfully) assumes responsibility for promoting homophobic bigotry, it could AT LEAST acknowledge that the problem exists. *** ACTIONS/OPTIONS! Demand a less-evasive and more-constructive response from the WWF; encourage the company to actually help combat (rather than promote) homophobia through it's expansive media outlets, most of which target children and young adults. Contact: Christine M. Wypy, Fan Services Coordinator, World Wrestling Federation, TitanSports, Inc., Titan Tower, 1241 East Main Street , P.O. Box 3857, Stamford, CT 06902, tel. 203-352-8600, fax 203-352-8699; copy correspondence to Linda E. McMahon, President of TitanSports, at the same address. You might encourage the WWF to add remedial anti-violence information to its America Online "Sports" site (keyword: SuperStars), which could easily provide references -- or better yet, actual links -- to AOL's Gay & Lesbian Community Forum (keyword: GLCF) or to the World Wide Web pages of groups like Community United Against Violence (http://www.xq.com/cuav/index.html) and the National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Youth (http://www.cyberspaces.com/outproud/). Currently, the WWF site links only to recruiting information from an "official" company sponsor -- the U.S. Army. Finally, pitch this story to WWF's monthly magazine, which has not previously covered the problem of homophobic hate violence. Contact: Vincent Russo, Editor, "World Wrestling Federation Magazine," P.O. Box 3859, Stamford, CT 06905. R O B E R T S O N R E D R E S S In his continuing battle against the rhetoric of the Christian Coalition, Mel White has begun circulating "a resolution to condemn the false and inflammatory anti-homosexual campaign of Pat Robertson," the founder of the Christian Coalition and CEO of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Since 1995, White has monitored every broadcast of Robertson's daily TV series, the "700 Club;" the petition advises Robertson that his "media and print campaign against homosexuals is polluting the moral environment of the nation." White plans to collect signed petitions and deliver them to Robertson and the national media on Pride Sunday, this June. White has also produced a 35-minute videotape -- "Pat Robertson's Anti-Homosexual Campaign: A Case Study in the Rhetoric of Intolerance" -- which features "dozens of examples" of Robertson's "dangerous and outlandish comments." White intends to distribute the tape to various media and civic groups across the country. Before accepting his own sexual orientation, White served as the ghost-writer for Pat Robertson's best-selling book "America's Dates With Destiny." *** ACTIONS/OPTIONS! For a free copy of the video tape or petitions to sign and circulate, contact: Dr. Mel White, P.O. Box 609, Ennis, TX 75120, fax 214-875-4858, e-mail RevMel@aol.com. M I N D I N G T H E I R B U S I N E S S The Kmart Corporation recently demonstrated its better business practices by REFUSING to advertise on radio station KSFO (560 AM), which broadcasts a "Hot Talk" format more aptly described as "hate talk." Typical of the station's jeremiads is this "World AIDS Day" message -- directed to gays -- from the microphone of KSFO host Spencer Hughes: "I am fed up with people saying that homosexual sex is just as normal as heterosexual sex! It's an absolute lie and it has to end here . . . . And if you can't handle that, the hell with you! Keep up with your dangerous lifestyle and you'll end up in a casket too . . . ." Kmart is the latest in a series of companies that have refused to subsidize KSFO's homophobic rants. "We continue to instruct our agency to review all radio buys to insure that this particular station is not included," said Deborah Musselman, a Kmart spokesperson. KSFO broadcasts in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the station is owned and operated by ABC. *** ACTIONS/OPTIONS! Contact: Deborah A. Musselman, Director of Agency Relations & Administration, Kmart Corporation, International Headquarters, 3100 West Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48084-3163, tel. 810-643-3193 or 800-635-6278. Copy your correspondence to the station and the network: Jack Swanson, Operations Manager, KSFO-AM Radio, 900 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111-1450, tel. 415-398-5600, fax 415-954-8700, e-mail KSFOAM560@aol.com; Office of the President, ABC Radio Division, 77 W. 66th Street, New York, NY 10023-6298, tel. 212-456-7777. M E D I A B R I E F S * VIDEO PHOBIA . . . The hate mongers at "The Report," producers of such infamous video fare as "The Gay Agenda" and "The Gay Agenda in Public Education," have released a new "documentary." Their latest feature is titled: "The Ultimate Target of the Gay Agenda: Same-Sex Marriage." Successfully inspiring a number of anti-gay initiatives and inquests, the earlier "gay agenda" videos have been widely-distributed amongst local "church" groups -- and members of the U.S. Congress. The "marriage" tape will likely be put to similar use. Contact: The Report/Springs of Life Ministries, 42640 10th Street West, Lancaster, CA 93534, tel. 1-800-462-4700; advise your elected representatives to denounce -- and the local news media to expose -- this video venom. * DEFINITIVE ACTION . . . The lesbian/gay group ILGA-Portugal reports that one of the country's most prominent dictionaries includes "aberration" and "inversion" in the definitions of lesbianism and homosexuality, respectively. ILGA-Portugal members are asking the international community to join with them in a letter-writing campaign to the dictionary's publisher, Porto Editora. Contact: Porto Editora, Rua da Restauragco 365, 4040 Porto, Portugal, fax 011-351-2-606-2787; copy your correspondence to ILGA-Portugal, Apartado 21281, 1131 Lisboa Codex, Portugal, e-mail ilga@mail.telepac.pt. * HEALTH HAZARD . . . The January/February issue of "Men's Health" offers housing advice that one offended reader, Kerry Abel, describes as "a backhanded swipe" against gays. The magazine contains a brief column about finding a place to live, which suggests the following: "Step Two -- Stake out the neighbors. Are they flaky? . . . What are the colors of the local gangs? (Be careful if they wear pastels)." Contact: Steven Slon, Managing Editor, "Men's Health," Rodale Press, Inc., 33 E. Minor Street, Emmaus, PA 18098, tel. 610-967-5171, e-mail menshealth@msn.com. * WEB WATCH . . . (1). Gay/lesbian popular music is the subject of two books published by Pop Front Press; information and photos are extracted online (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PopFront). (2). Progressive Networks, Inc., maintains a useful web site that describes, indexes and links various activist organizations; contact Sam Tucker (e-mail samt@prognet.com), Progressive Networks, Inc. -- Home of WebActive (http://www.webactive.com). (3). Carole Migden's office has announced that the lesbian politician continues to "take the lead on making herself available in Cyberspace," by establishing a new World Wide Web site (http://www.sirius.com/~migden/). Migden is a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and a candidate for state office in California; he can also be reached by e-mail (CMIGDEN@aol.com). (4). Nearly two decades after his death, theorist Marshall McLuhan continues to provide insight into the media and messages that massage our daily lives; appropriately, McLuhan's ideas can now be explored online, at the Project McLuhan web site (http://www.vyne.com/mcluhan). (5). Children's Animated Television continues to provide "hope and information for the family of the future" through the CAT Web Homepage, which recently added a "Fight The Right" resource site (http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/fight_the_right/). * IN THE ALTERNATIVES . . . (1). Covering "culture, politics, and sexuality" since 1994, "Girlfriends" is now "the fastest-growing national lesbian magazine," according to publisher Erin Findlay. Recently, the magazine launched a web site, which features "editorial content, gossip about the staff, great links, and valuable resources" (http://www.gfriends.com), "It's a first in lesbian publishing!," says Findlay. Contact: "Girlfriends" Magazine, 3415 Cesar Chavez, Suite 101, San Francisco, CA 94110, tel. 415-648-9464, fax 415-648-4705. (2). AQUA is a social and support service, run for and by those who are "Asian/Pacific Islander Queer/Questioning 25 and Under Altogether." The group recently published the first issue of it's zine -- "Aqua Net" -- and is now seeking submissions for the second. Content parameters are widely scoped, to include "stories, experiences, pictures, drawings, art, and just about anything else you can think of." Contact: "Aqua net," 1841 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-575-3939, ext. 316. * SOUND BITE . . . " I agree, I agree, I agree, and feel that Lily Tomlin staying semicloseted while promoting her role in this film is like Kathie Lee Gifford narrating the cable show 'Positively Jewish' (don't worry, she isn't)." -- Michael Musto, columnist, agreeing with Armistead Maupin regarding Tomlin and "The Celluloid Closet," in the "Village Voice," January 30, 1996 ___________________________________________________ ABOUT GLAAD 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 an independently-incorporated, nonprofit organization, which is volunteer-based and member-supported. Dedicated to cultural advocacy and media activism, GLAAD/SFBA promotes the fair, accurate and diverse representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives. The San Francisco chapter of GLAAD is the largest and oldest in the nation. To report any defamatory or affirmative media coverage, 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.ccnet.com/gaytrek/glaad.html. ___________________________________________________ ABOUT MEDIALERTS "MediAlerts" are biweekly, action-oriented columns, produced and distributed on request by GLAAD/SFBA. This material may be printed, published or posted, under these or any titles, in whole or part, without prior permission. When appropriate, attribution may be made to "Al Kielwasser" and/or "GLAAD San Francisco." We greatly appreciate file copies of any publications that make use of these reports. ___________________________________________________ ABOUT GLAAD MEMBERSHIP GLAAD/SFBA's work is directly supported by our members. To request a membership brochure and further information about other GLAAD projects and programs, please contact: Kristy Billuni, Managing Director, GLAAD, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, tel. 415-861-3021, fax 415-861-4893, e-mail billuni@aol.com, URL http://www.ccnet.com/gaytrek/glaad.html. For membership information in any of the following cities, direct requests to these GLAAD Chapter Offices: Atlanta (tel. 404-876-1398, fax 404-876-4051), Chicago (tel. 312-871-7633, fax 312-685-8064), Dallas (tel. 214-521-5342 ext. 816, fax 214-247-5803), Kansas City (tel. 816-374-5927, fax 816-561-7604), Washington, DC (tel. 202-429-9500, fax 202-857-0077), San Diego (tel. 619-688-0094, fax 619-294-4814). ___________________________________________________ "MediAlert" [TM] and "Project 21" [TM] are trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation/San Francisco Bay Area, a nonprofit [501(c)(3)] organization; the views expressed by GLAAD/SFBA do not necessarily represent the opinions of other GLAAD chapters or offices.