From: GLAADSFBA@aol.com Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 19:04:49 -0500 Subject: MediAlert! (March 11) _________________________________________________________ INDEX: "MediAlert! (March 11)" 1. "Extreme Heterosexism" (Armstrong Williams; Orlando Sentinel; Friends; Melrose Place; Party of Five; Johnson & Johnson; AFA Journal; Procter & Gamble, FOX; NBC). 2. "All That Glitters" (WWF; Goldust; Stamford Advocate; The Open Prairie; WWF Magazine; AOL; Pro Wrestling Illustrated). 3. General Information _________________________________________________________ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * M e d i A l e r t ! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * for March 11, 1996 by Al Kielwasser Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area E X T R E M E H E T E R O S E X I S M A recent rise in lesbian and gay media portrayals has evoked the "flood warnings" of heterosexism. This bias magnifies homosexual trickles, while ignoring heterosexual torrents. The panicked criticism of Armstrong Williams, radio talkshow host and syndicated columnist, provides a case in point. In his column on "Homosexual Extremism" ("The Orlando Sentinel," March 9), Williams sounds an ironic -- if familiar -- warning: "With this country's moral fabric eroding at an unprecedented pace, it is high time that homosexual extremists be give a reality check." In Armstrong's "reality," lesbians and gays have succeeded in "dominating" television with "images reinforcing and encouraging homosexuality." He explains: "Prime-time television now offers programming that portrays, and dare I say encourages, the homosexual lifestyle. A recent episode of the popular sitcom 'Friends' showed a lesbian wedding officiated by Speaker Newt Gingrich's sister. The prime-time soap opera 'Melrose Place' has a continuing story about the relationship between two homosexual men. The Golden Globe award-winning show 'Party of Five' had a recent episode in which one high school girl was propositioned by another high school girl." In a typical sitcom, high school girls are propositioned by boys every five minutes -- not once in fifty years, which is about the average for lesbian teens. For Armstrong, it seems, THREE homosexual portrayals can outweigh the three HUNDRED -- or three THOUSAND -- heterosexual images that television offers each day and night. Heterosexism is blind to proportion Armstrong attacks not only television, but textbooks as well. Because "homosexuality is not normal," he reasons, "our children should not be given materials in school, under the guise of sex education, that describe homosexuality as a normal, alternative lifestyle." Of course, Armstrong's reasoning is the very antithesis of the most basic educational values. He prefers that his own a priori beliefs -- and his own unsubstantiated fears -- remain unchallenged. Where Popes once concluded "the earth does not move," now Armstrong claims "homosexuality is not normal." Heterosexism is blind to intellect. Finally, Armstrong argues that none of his claims amounts to any sort of "bigotry" -- and that to call HIM a bigot would be hateful! "With the support of many in Washington and Hollywood," Armstrong says, homosexuals have "twisted political correctness to intimidate good people from standing against them." They have "labeled good Christians who confront their immorality as bigots." And so we have. Just as we have labeled "good Christians" who burned witches, tortured pagans, and beat their slaves. Heterosexism is blind to history, too. Lacking any sense of proportion, intellectual rigor, or even historical context, Armstrong is ultimately blind to his own, debilitating agenda -- EXTREME HETEROSEXISM. It is high time for a reality check, indeed. *** ACTION/OPTIONS! Direct eye-opening criticism to Armstrong Williams, c/o "The Orlando Sentinel," 633 N. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801, fax 407-420-5286, e-mail OsoInsight@aol.com. Armstrong's views -- however insane -- are hardly singular; his is a shared insanity. The TV programs he specifically criticizes are also the objects of an on-going, well-organized attack led by the Right Wing "American Family Association" (AFA). The March 1996 issue of the "AFA Journal" list each show a hit list of programs that "bombard viewers with pro-homosexual TV." The AFA encourages its members to complain to the networks, as well as the primary advertisers for each series. The top advertiser for "Melrose Place" (FOX) has been Johnson & Johnson; for both "Friends" (NBC) and "Party of Five" (FOX), the chief sponsor is Procter & Gamble. To counter AFA-induced complaints, send comments to any or all these companies: Lucie Salhany, President, FOX Broadcasting, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., # 761, Los Angeles, CA 90035, tel. 310-277-2211, e-mail jpr@foxnetwork.com; Paul McGuire, Executive Vice President of Prime-Time Programs, and Warren Littlefield, President, NBC Entertainment, 3000 W. Alameda Avenue, Burbank, CA 91523, tel. 818-840-4444, e-mail entertainment@nbc.com or nbcshows@msn.com; Ralph S. Larsen, Chairperson, Johnson & Johnson, One Johnson & Johnson Plaza, New Brunswick, NJ 08933, tel. 908-524-0400 or 800-635-6789, fax 908-214-0332; John E. Pepper, Chairperson, Procter & Gamble, P.O. Box 599, Cincinnati, OH 45201, tel. 513-983-1100 or 800-435-9254, fax 513-945-9155. A L L T H A T G L I T T E R S Though the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) continues to sidestep complaints that the company is promoting gay bashing through its popular TV programs, several print media have paid some attention to the controversy. At issue is "Goldust" -- a featured WWF character who plays a gay menace, jeered by the audience and bashed for their amusement [see "Wrestling With Homophobia," MediAlert, January 29; "Adding Insult To Injury," MediAlert, February 26]. Goldust was recently the object of newspaper, magazine and cartoon accounts. In an article for the "Stamford Advocate" (February 25) -- a daily newspaper in the WWF's hometown -- staff writer Stacy Shelton did an admirable job of reporting on the Goldust controversy. Her balanced and well-researched piece included interviews with WWF staff, as well as perspectives from various queer individuals and groups (GLAAD, Triangle Community Center, NGLTF). Significantly, Shelton's article allowed lesbian and gay individuals to express their concerns over the connection between mediated gay bashing and real-life hate violence. The WWF was also taken to task in a February 6 installment of Joe Hoover's syndicated cartoon, "The Open Prairie." In the cartoon's first panel, Hoover announces: "The World Wrestling Federation features it's very own gay wrestler, Goldust, whom the other wrestlers -- in a fit of 'Homosexual Panic' -- attack and violently assault when he reveals his crush on them." In two subsequent panels, Hoover then suggests that -- to follow up on such "success" -- the WWF might create such consistent characters as: "Rowdy Rodney King . . . a black wrestler that white wrestlers beat and lynch when they find out they are to lose to him" and "Tailhook . . . a female wrestler that male wrestlers beat and rape when she refuses to clean and iron their tights." Hoover's editorial cartoons are distributed by Open Prairie Syndicate, the home to a number of progressive strips. Much-less-amusing coverage of Goldust can be found in the official "World Wrestling Federation Magazine." The latest (March 1996) issue includes an extensive feature, "In the Line Of Fire: Goldust." Presented in the form of an interview with the magazine's editor, the feature is touted as a "Goldust speaks," "tell all" tale. Not much is said, however. In fact, the article manages to avoid ANY specific references to either homosexuality or homophobia. Elsewhere in "WWF Magazine," the subject of homophobia IS at last raised directly -- but very briefly. In a news item titled "Goldust: Is He Smarter Than We Think?," the magazine reports: "Whenever conversation comes up concerning the World Wrestling Federation these days, it seems that the first word out of everybody's mouth is GOLDUST. It seems that people around the world are intrigued by him, especially since he became -- shall we say -- infatuated with Razor Ramon [another WWF wrestler]." The magazine is quick to point out that "not everybody is hopping in the same balcony as Goldust! . . . As a matter of fact, many have become rather offended by his 'questionable' remarks and gestures." The article simply concludes: "Is it possible that Goldust may be more intelligent than we think, and he is actually using the homophobic fear of others against them? Think about it." Unfortunately, "WWF Magazine" fails to mention that many have also been offended by the HOMOPHOBIC remarks and gestures made TOWARDS Goldust. And while audience response has indeed been roundly homophobic, the WWF has also received (unacknowledged) letters encouraging Goldust's development -- as a source of gay pride, instead of an object for gay bashing. If "WWF Magazine" really wants to give its readers (most of whom are children and young adults) something to think about, the editor could do a feature on homophobia and hate violence. After all, the magazine regularly engages other "pro-social concerns;" in the March 1996 issue, for example, the editor's profile of WWF wrestler Savio Vega is used a platform for Vega's "Don't Drop Out Of School!" message. Unprecedented or not, the WWF has an absolute RESPONSIBILITY to address homophobia directly and substantively -- particularly since the organization continues to PROD homophobic reactions through its various media outlets. For example, in the course of a recent America Online interview (the WWF is one of AOL's "Sports" features), the host posed this pre-fabricated query to wrestler Ahmed Johnson: Question: What would happen if Goldust ever came on to you? Ahmed: He would be gold dust . . . Question: Ahmed, are you married? If so, any children? Ahmed: No, I am not married. And yes, I have a little boy . . . . This disparaging theme permeates "WWF Magazine" as well; in the March issue, a regular gossip columnist known only as "The Informer" warns readers with this, unfortunately typical, reference: "If you haven't seen he, she or it, yet -- YOU WILL! The bizarre GOLDUST will soon have a new 'friend' who will accompany him to the ring!" Goldust fever is not limited to the self-promoting media of the World Wrestling Federation. The character is also the subject of a feature story in "Pro Wrestling Illustrated," a monthly magazine distributed internationally. An image of Goldust fills the magazine's May 1996 cover, beneath a headline that screams: "Un-Natural! The WWF Has Finally Gone Too Far!" Inside the magazine, writer Stu Saks argues that "the WWF has done many off-beat things" and "on occasion, it has come very close to crossing the thin line between acceptability and tastelessness." However, Saks says, "when the WWF allowed Goldust to place the likeness of Razor Ramon on his outfit and pursue a romantic relationship with him, it went too far -- way too far." Though Saks declares such a theme "un-natural," he still manages -- for a moment -- to pull himself back from the brink of homophobic hyperbole. He goes on to say that the Goldust character "blatantly plays upon the stereotype of homosexuals and encourages us to laugh at them. It wouldn't be so offensive if Dustin Rhodes [who plays Goldust] really was a homosexual, but as far as we know, he isn't." Despite his obvious drag-phobia and gender rigidity, Saks also makes this (relatively) "decent" point: "The WWF . . . is encouraging us to believe that all homosexuals act and dress as flamboyantly as Goldust and openly force themselves upon the heterosexual community. We thought this image of homosexuals disappeared in the 1960s; sadly, we were incorrect. The backward, dangerous minds in the WWF still look upon the Goldust image as reality." Unfortunately, Saks eventually gives in to a familiar cliche-of-the-closet. "There might well be several homosexuals in wrestling, just as in any profession," he says. "But you would no more know that these people are homosexuals than you would know that the others are heterosexual, bisexual, or asexual." In fact, pro wrestling promoters CONSTANTLY signify the heterosexuality of their star performers. Despite the pervasive homoerotic subtext of professional wrestling, the male "athletes" are portrayed as deeply desired by -- and desirous of -- their female fans. As he argues his own version of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Saks exhibits one of the most common forms of heterosexist bias. He writes: "Even if [Goldust] were [gay], the WWF should not be allowing -- even encouraging -- him to 'woo' Ramon during its telecasts. By doing so, it has alienated fans and probably a few sponsors. The first time he made romantic overtures toward Ramon, he should have been severely reprimanded, perhaps even fined or suspended, and told that such actions would not be tolerated during federation cards." Saks concludes -- rhetorically -- with a question for Goldust: "You want to pursue a relationship with Ramon? Do it on your own time." Considering its source -- the tabloid-esque "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" -- Saks' article MIGHT almost be praised as "progressive." However, any compliments must be hedged, amply, with constructive criticism. In his call for the EXCLUSION of homophobic portrayals, Saks never supports the INCLUSION of positive, diverse gay characters in pro-wrestling programs. More significantly, Saks denounced ONLY the way that Goldust treated his heterosexual counterparts. He did NOT condemn the way that THEY have treated Goldust . . . by hurling homophobic epithets and, on at least one televised occasion, brutally bashing him for simply being flirtatious. The mainstream media routinely situate homosexuality itself as the source of conflict and object of inquest. In the coverage of controversy, HOMOSEXUALS -- rather than HOMOPHOBES -- are the usual suspects. *** ACTION/OPTIONS! Send constructive criticism or compliments, as warranted, to each of the following: Stuart M. Saks, Publisher, "Pro Wrestling Illustrated," London Publishing Co., 7002 W. Butler Pike, Ambler, PA 19002; copy your correspondence to the magazine's reader comments (letters) column: "Between Falls," Box 1148, Ft. Washington, PA 19034. Vincent Russo, Editor, "World Wrestling Federation Magazine," P.O. Box 3859, Stamford, CT 06905, fax 203-359-5118, e-mail WWFEDITOR@aol.com; comments to or about "The Informer's" column can be sent to the same address, e-mail inform02@aol.com. Joe Hoover, "The Open Prairie," P.O. Box 8117, Minneapolis, MN 55408, e-mail oprairie@winternet.com, URL http://www.winternet.com/~oprairie/hoover. Stacy Shelton, Staff Writer, "Stamford Advocate," Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc., 75 Tresser Blvd., P.O. Box 9307, Stamford, CT 06904-9307, tel. 203-964-2257, fax 203-964-2345. America Online users can post comments directly to AOL's World Wrestling Federation section (keyword: SUPERSTARS), which solicits "fan" chat, user surveys, and feedback for various WWF media agencies. _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ 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 . . . . "MediAlert!" is a weekly, critical- and action-oriented media watch column, 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 MEMBERSHIP . . . . GLAAD/SFBA's work is directly supported by our members. 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