From: MediAction@aol.com Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 17:36:06 -0400 Subject: MediAlert! - June 21-27 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INDEX: MediAlert! for 27 June 96 -Item 1: "Heart of the Matter" [Have A Heart; America's Talking; Salt Lake City School Board; Gay/Straight Student Alliance; National Education Association - Human & Civil Rights Unit]. -Item 2: "Demonizing Dykes" [National Enquirer; Pointer Sisters]. -Item 3: "(Re)Viewing Lorde" [A Litany for Survival-The Life and Work of Audre Lorde; P.O.V.; PBS; USA Today]. -Item 4: "MediAlert!/BRIEFS" [Ann Landers; PFLAG; KQED-TV; USA Network; Breaking the Surface-The Greg Louganis Story; QWorld; Gay American Composers; CRI; Hollywood Pictures; The Rock]. Item-5: "Sound & (Un)Sound Bites" [Stephen Whitty/San Jose Mercury News; Eugene Narrett/AFA Journal]. -General Information [about MediAlerts; author notes]. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ M e d i A l e r t ! ____________________________ June 21-27, 1996 Al Kielwasser [1] H E A R T O F T H E M A T T E R "Have A Heart" is a breezy talk show that airs each weekday on the "America's Talking" (AT) cable network. The program is built around viewer calls, taken in response to a "Question-of-the-Day. The June 19 broadcast included a segment on Salt Lake City's School Board, which recently voted to ban a "Gay/Straight Student Alliance." The Gay/Straight Alliance had been formed to combat homophobic ignorance, and was one of dozens of "non-academic" student clubs. Prohibiting ONLY this club -- which the school board wanted to do -- would have violated equal access protections. So, rather than allow the Gay/Straight Alliance to meet, the board opted to ban ALL student clubs. "Have A Heart's" Question-of-the-Day asked: "Did the Salt Lake City Board of Education go too far?" To help discuss this issue, the show featured Lee Berg, a representative of the National Education Association's (NEA) Human and Civil Rights Unit. The choice in guests was a smart one. The NEA is the largest teacher's union in the United States, and has been a significant voice of reason -- advocating for educational equity and lesbian/gay inclusion in textbooks and other curricula. Unfortunately, however, Berg's well-intentioned comments also revealed a heterosexist slant. Framed and echoed by the show's daily question, this bias is worth a closer look. It repeats a persistent, debilitating rhetoric found throughout the mainstream media. According to Berg, the Salt Lake City School Board's decision is "a tragedy for all the other non-academic groups." It's tragic, he further explained, because "you cut out the chess clubs, the Bible clubs, the computer club...." He added: "I would encourage the students in all the clubs.... to continue to meet on an informal basis." The point NOT made by Berg is that prohibiting the Gay/Straight Alliance would have been reprehensible even if it were the ONLY club banned. The real tragedy is homophobia, which is actively promoted by the school board's ban. THAT situation -- of rampant, institutionalized bigotry -- is hardly comparable to the "tragedy" experienced by chess club members. Of course, homophobia DOES affect everyone, queer and non-queer alike. However, denying what is fair and factual -- and promoting what is hateful and bigoted -- is, IN ITSELF, an immoral and tragic act of stupidity. This point was further obscured by the host of "Have A Heart," Bob Raser, as he asked callers: "Did the board go to far in banning EVERYTHING?" Raser's question assumes a heterosexist metric; the weight of homophobic ignorance is not measured, only its "side-effects." The priorities of (presumptively) heterosexual "others" are what matter most. Attempting to be supportive, Raser was quick to point out that the Gay/Lesbian Student Alliance wasn't a social club -- "with dancing and that sort of thing" -- but a "support group." This, too, is a common media theme. Queer teens are permitted the necessities (life-saving therapy), but not the pleasures (simple recreation) of life. Ironically, the pursuit of romantic (let alone sexual) happiness remains -- literally -- out of the question. To be fair, neither Berg nor Raser seemed to INTEND such heterosexist messages. Berg was clearly opposed to the school board decision, which he described as "myopic" and inexcusable -- particularly in "a day an age when violence against lesbian and gay students [is common]." The show did not feature a homophobic minister or quack psychologist to oppose or "balance" Berg's position, and callers were overwhelmingly supportive. Nevertheless, the consequences of heterosexism -- especially as a form of media bias -- should not be underestimated. Or excused. In many ways, heterosexism -- disguised as "moderation" -- is more insidious than homophobia. Though both are destructive, the latter bias is easier to identify, and combat. In the mainstream media, heterosexism works to limit the range of liberating thought. The significant questions are those NOT posed. What are the merits of so-called "Bible clubs," organized to spread the hateful message of the Christian Coalition? What "right" do JROTC units have to promote the Pentagon's anti-gay propaganda? In order to defend the Gay/Straight Alliance, Berg argues that all student groups possess an equal worth. But do they really? Banning the Gay/Straight Alliance isn't repugnant because banning ANY or EVERY club would be. This ban is repugnant because homophobia ALWAYS is. **** ACTION/OPTIONS: To share your opinions with AT and/or the NEA, contact: "Have A Heart," America's Talking, 2200 Fletcher Avenue, 6th Floor, Fort Lee, NJ 07024, fax 201-346-6534; Lee Berg, National Education Association, Human and Civil Rights Unit, 1201 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036-3290, tel. 202-822-7700. To educate the School Board, contact: The President, and All Members, Salt Lake City Board of Education, Salt Lake City School District, 440 E. 100 Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1898, tel. 801-578-8559. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) has spearheaded the formation of gay/straight student alliances; for more information (including activist/organizing resources that can be used in local school districts), contact: GLSTN, 122 W. 26th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10001, tel. 212-727-0135, fax 212-727-0254, e-mail glstn@glstn.org. [2] D E M O N I Z I N G D Y K E S Over the past few years, the "National Enquirer" has attempted to reposition itself a trustworthy tabloid -- the reputable exception in an otherwise disreputable market niche. To some extent, that effort has been sincere; the newspaper regularly scoops its competition on the "show biz" beat. After 25 years in the tabloid trade, however, the "Enquirer" is still peddling homophobic sleaze. The newspaper's June 11 edition -- a "special anniversary double issue" -- contains a particularly offensive article, written by staff reporter Patricia Shipp. A huge headline sets the tone: "Pointer Sister Nightmare -- Booze and Drugs with Lesbian Lover." Shipp's article purports to be an "exclusive interview" with bonnie Pointer, who "turned to the 'Enquirer' for help.... and laid bare the Pointer Sisters' most shocking family secrets for the first time." "Pop superstar Bonnie Pointer is desperately battling to save her sister June from a drugs-and-alcohol nightmare she fears is taking June straight to the grave," Shipp writes. "But heartbroken Bonnie say's she's been thwarted by her baby sister's lesbian lover -- who wants to keep June in a drugged-out craze so she can freely spend the stoned singer's money!" As if that weren't enough, Shipp adds: "The divorced singer's lesbian lover used to be her husband's mistress!" Throughout the article, Shipp makes no distinction amongst "booze," "drugs" and "lesbian lover." All are collectively assumed in the "destructive downward spirals" of "June's demons." "We've all tried to intervene in this horrible situation," Shipp quotes Bonnie Pointer. "But June will physically fight anyone who tries to take away her 'stash' or her lover." Even if such assertions are reality-based, Shipp's interview moves well beyond the "basic facts." June Pointer might very well be a lesbian AND a drug addict. In the "Enquirer's" homophobic fantasy, however, she becomes a LESBIAN DRUG ADDICT. The distinction is hardly trivial. Whether motivated by malice or stupidity (or both), Shipp's style is a bigoted throwback. Historically, journalists have routinely included homosexuality on a "laundry list of social evils," reinforcing the spurious associations that fuel homophobia. By contrast, heterosexuality is always incidental to scandal. When the drunks and drug addicts are straight, sexual orientation is not news. The "National Enquirer" has yet to run a headline decrying the nightmare of "Booze and Drugs with Heterosexual Lover." **** ACTION/OPTIONS: Register complaints with Patricia Shipp, Staff Reporter, and Malcolm Hayes, Managing Editor, "National Enquirer," Lantana, FL 33464, tel. 561-586-1111 (Florida) or 310-657-9872 (Los Angeles), e-mail letters@nationalenquirer.com. Reaching a readership of millions, the "Enquirer's" circulation has ranked among the Top-25 magazines nationwide. [3] ( R E ) V I E W I N G L O R D E To coincide with Pride Month, a number of PBS stations are broadcasting "A Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde." Reviewing the documentary for "USA Today" (June 18), TV critic Matt Roush opens on a sour note: "Black. Lesbian. Feminist. Warrior. Poet. Mother. Sounds like the prototypical PBS profile subject, carrying a lioness' share of socio-political baggage. Audre Lorde chose these words to describe herself upon accepting the honorary position of New York state poet for 1991-93. (She would die of breast cancer in 1992.)" Offering no credentials for his ability to judge either poetry or politics, Roush describes Lorde as "one of those activist-artists whose life may been their greatest work." He adds, dismissively: "One's appreciation for this loving film tribute may depend on how high the threshold for flowery statements of empowerment such as, 'I had to be everything I was.'" Ultimately, Roush manages to rise briefly above his (unwarranted) condescension and he gives the documentary three stars (out of four). "Filmmakers Ada Gay Griffin and Michelle Parkerson weave vignettes from Lorde's life story with snatches of her poetry and bluesy music over newsreel footage of the political realities that informed her work (the Rosenberg's execution, marches on Washington)," he writes. "... Lorde always found occasion to express her voice." "Toward the film's poignant end, that expressive voice is cracked and strained from the ravages of her disease, but no less potent in its fusion of the political and personal," Roush concludes. "The intersection of art and life is where this 'Litany of Survival' flourishes." "A Litany for Survival" is a co-presentation of P.O.V. and the Independent Television Service. "USA Today" boasts the nation's largest newspaper circulation, and reaches some six million readers daily. **** ACTION/OPTIONS: As warranted, share constructive criticism ("USA Today," 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22229, fax 703-247-3108, e-mail editor@usatoday.com) or supportive comments (PBS, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314 tel. 703-739-5000 or 800-356-2626, fax 703-739-5295, http://www.pbs.org/insidePBS/email.html). [4] M E D I A L E R T ! / B R I E F S *** GOOD ADVICE . . . Ann Landers -- the undoubted queen advice columnists -- has given a noteworthy boost to PFLAG's visibility and stature. In her top-syndicated column (June 18), Landers printed a letter from two PFLAG coordinators -- Bob and Laurie -- who thanked her "for stating that counseling will not change sexual orientation." The couple went on to recommend (in some detail) PFLAG's various services, and encouraged "both gay children and their parents contact their local chapter." As the letter explained: "PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, their families and their friends and offers support to help them cope with an adverse society. We provide education to enlighten an ill-informed public and advocacy to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights. PFLAG provides opportunities for dialog about sexual orientation and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human dignity." In reply, Landers wrote: "Dear Bob and Laurie -- I have received a lot of letters from parents who want to be supportive of their gay children. You are sure to get a big response. There are a great many people out there who need your help." Contact: Ann Landers, P.O. Box 11562, Chicago, IL 60611-0562; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 1101 14th Street, Suite 1030, Washington, DC 20005. *** WEB WATCH . . . "QWorld" (http://www.qworld.org) claims to be "one of the first [free] sites on the Web to offer interactive chat like that on the commercial online services." The site also features various information resources, including QZine ("a monthly online magazine") and Visibilities ("a lesbian magazine with an international staff"). In its review of the site, "The Net" magazine notes: "Once you're ready to journey out of QWorld, the massive collections of links will help you follow the rainbow streaming through the net." *** HISTORICAL RECORD . . . Philip Kennicott, classical music critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (June 16), reports: "CRI Records (Composers Recording Incorporated), a non-profit company devoted to recording American music that might not otherwise make it to a wide public, has released a compilation disc titled 'Gay American Composers.'" "It's heartening to see people who wish to ignore such things being reminded that music doesn't exist in a political and social vacuum, no matter how much sanctifying dust it gathers over years sitting in the marble tower of the Great Canon," Kennicott says. Kennicott also notes that "the CRI disc does send very clearly a message that is as obvious as it is astonishing: With only a few notable exceptions, the music that America produced in the 20th century -- the basic idioms, the characteristic sounds, and the works that defined their times -- were written by gay men.... Straight composers of similar stature form a disproportionately smaller list (in real numbers, and even more tellingly, when compared to the ratio of gay and straight people in society at large)." According to CRI producer Joe Dalton, "the record is doing very well. For many of the composers on this disc, 'Gay American Composers' will be their most successful recording, reaching a larger audience than they have before." Contact: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 900 N. Tucker, St. Louis, MO 63101, fax 314-340-3139, e-mail letters@pd.stlnet.com. *** TELL A VISION . . . As part of its documentary series on San Francisco neighborhoods, KQED-TV plans to focus on "The Castro." Currently in production the episode s slated to air in March 1997. In preparation, the station is seeking input from anyone with pertinent "home movies, photos, or other memorabilia." KQED is the CPB/PBS-affiliate for the San Francisco Bay Area, and a major source of PBS programming nationwide. Contact: KQED-TV, 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, CA 94110-1400, tel. 415-553-2850, fax 415-553-2380, e-mail castro@kqed.org. *** COMING ATTRACTION . . . Writing in "Variety," Ray Richmond reports: "Cable's USA Network, continuing its quest to lend its name to bolder and classier projects, will co-produce a film based on the life of the controversial Olympic diving gold medalist Greg Louganis. 'Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story' will be scheduled for broadcast during the second quarter of 1997." According to Richmond, the movie will be "based on Louganis' bestselling 1995 autobiography, in which he candidly discussed his tumultuous personal life, including his homosexuality and HIV-positive diagnosis." Ian Valentine, USA's vice president of longform programming, has indicated strong support for the project. "This is an important and socially significant film -- and a perfect example of the type of high-quality entertainment that USA wants to be a home for," Valentine said. Contact: USA Network, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020; "Daily Variety," 5700 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036, tel. 213-857-6660, fax 213-857-0742. *** ROCKY ROLE . . . "The Rock" -- a new feature film from Hollywood Pictures -- requires a unique suspension of disbelief. Set in San Francisco, the script includes ONE (and ONLY one) gay character. Moreover, not all audience members have been amused by "The Rock's" gay role. According to critics, the comedic character -- a shallow, cowardly hairdresser -- is more laughable than funny. When trapped in an elevator with Sean Connery (the film's heroic, heterosexual lead), the gay character exclaims: "I don't care if you threw that man off the building, I only care if you like your hair!" Previews for "The Rock" feature the scene -- an apparent selling point in the studio's eyes. Contact: Michael Lynton, President, Hollywood Pictures, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521, fax 818-841-9463, http://www.disney.com/Mail; Jerry Bruckheimer, Producer, "The Rock," Simpson-Bruckheimer Films, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Animation 1B, Burbank, CA 91521. [5] S O U N D B I T E . . . . "It's not hard for audiences to find drag comedies, or the occasional liberal tearjerker. But other choices are more limited. Want to see a comedy in which the characters aren't funny simply because they're gay? Want to see a show about lesbians happily raising children? Then go see an independent film.... because you won't see that in a studio release. Comic drag queens, Hollywood can handle.... Happy lesbians and joyful gay sex scare it to death." -- Stephen Whitty, staff film writer, in the "San Jose Mercury News" (June 17, 1996). ( U N ) S O U N D B I T E . . . . "Do we, then, want censorship of sex and violence, including parental rights to restrict pandering in schools? Emphatically we do. Television, films and advertising are going to have to clean house, or citizens must do it for them. Explicitly political speech must be protected, but we must cease offering its protective umbrella to hucksters and to bacchantes of unnatural lifestyles.... It is often argued that censorship would do little to stem America's cultural rot, but in truth it would do a lot." -- Eugene Narrett, professor of English, Farmingham State College, in the "American Family Association Journal" (February, 1996). The AFA is Right Wing organization, dedicated to promoting homophobia and heterosexism in the media. [end] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABOUT MEDIALERTS "MediAlert!" [TM] is an activist-oriented column of media criticism, focused on lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender issues, and distributed weekly on request. Recipients may print, publish or post this material, in whole or part, under this or any title, without prior permission. When appropriate, attribution can be made to "Al Kielwasser" and/or "MediAlert." File copies of publications using "MediAlert!" are appreciated. Contact: "MediAlert!," 163 Park Street, San Francisco, CA 94110-5835, voice-mail 415-826-5203, fax 415-826-5203 (ext. 8), e-mail MediAction@aol.com. Next "MediAlert!" = June 28 - July 5, 1996 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AUTHOR NOTES Al Kielwasser is the editor of "Gay People, Sex and the Media" (Haworth Press) and has taught a wide range of courses and workshops in media theory and practice. His research appears in the "Journal of American Culture," "Journal of Homosexuality," "Journal of Popular Culture," "Feedback: The Journal of the Broadcast Education Association," "Critical Studies in Mass Communication," and other publications; recently, he completed a two-year term as Chair of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation/San Francisco Bay Area (GLAAD/SFBA). ______________________________________________ Shape the forces that shape our society . . . challenge homophobia in and through the media. _______________________________________________