From: MediAction@aol.com Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 12:14:20 -0400 Subject: MEDIAlert! - Sept. 15-30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDEX: "MEDIAlert!" for 15-30 Sept 96. -Item 1: AUTUMN LEADS [Ellen DeGeneres; ABC Entertainment; Walt Disney/Touchstone Television; J.C. Penney; Microsoft; Intel; Toyota; Coca-Cola; PepsiCo; TV Guide; Paul Schulman; Christian Coalition; Pat Robertson; American Family Association; Queer Words/Queer Images]. -Item 2: MEDIALERT!/BRIEFS [Suddenly Susan; The Light of Louisville Newspaper; Your Turn With Dr. Frank Simon; Women Organizing for Change; Gay/Lesbian International News Network; One More River to Cross; Engelbert Humperdinck; Fly High Lesbian Seagull; Lesbigay Radio Chicago; ACLU First Amendment Education Project; Steven Capsuto; Alternate Channels; Manload on Hollywood]. -Item 3: WEB WATCH [Q-Zone; 20/20 Vision; Guide To Effective Activism]. -General Information [about MEDIAlerts; author notes; errata]. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- M E D I A l e r t ! ________________________________ September 15-30 , 1996 Al Kielwasser [1] A U T U M N L E A D S . . . The ubiquitous "TV Guide" has sparked widespread interest in -- and protest over -- ABC's popular series, "Ellen." According to the magazine, actress Ellen DeGeneres hopes to out her title character ("Ellen Morgan") in the new Fall season. The prime-time sitcom would be the first in U.S. television history to feature a continuing lesbian LEAD. Citing "unnamed sources," a growing number of mainstream media quickly relayed the initial rumors. Lisa De Moraes of "The Hollywood Reporter" (September 13) posed this typical lead: "Executives involved in the Disney sitcom 'Ellen,' which airs on ABC, are considering having the lead character, played by Ellen DeGeneres, come out as a lesbian." According to Moraes, "No decision has been made and the move, should it get a green light, would not occur at the start of the season." "Some executives think the move is too controversial for broadcast network television, some think it's a bad decision for the show creatively, and others think it would be a good move and would distinguish the sitcom, which has never clearly defined itself and which faces stiff comedy competition this season," Moraes indicated. "Wednesday is expected to be the site of some of the biggest network skirmishes this fall, and 'Ellen's' 8 p.m. time slot is one of the grislier battlegrounds." Associated Press business writer Skip Wollenberg (September 20) reports that "Madison Avenue is staying tuned." According to Wollenberg: "Advertising buyers say some sponsors may avoid the show if Ellen comes out of the closet, but they suspect ABC could find others to step in. The reaction, they say, depends on how the issue is handled." Wollenberg quotes agency executive Paul Schulman -- "who specializes in buying network advertising time" If Ellen Morgan and a girlfriend are shown "going to the zoo together, it's not a problem," according to Schulman. "If they are in bed together, it's a problem." So far, Wollenberg says, "There have been no defections among advertisers since the 'TV Guide' report." "Ellen's" current cadre of advertisers includes Nabisco, Sears, J.C. Penny, Intel, General Mills, Microsoft, and Toyota. According to the Associated Press: "J.C. Penney and Toyota said they would await developments before deciding if they should change their plans. Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola -- each scheduled to advertise on the show later in the year -- released similar statements. Spokesmen for both Microsoft and Intel said they would continue their advertising regardless of the plot developments." If "Ellen" does develop a lesbian plotline, Donald Wildmon -- president of the homophobic American Family Association (AFA) -- says he intends to boycott any advertisers that stay on and "reveal their true allegiances to themes which gnaw at traditional family values.'' Columnist Bill Zwecker of the "Chicago Sun-Times" (September 17) also reports that: "The Christian Coalition and other religious groups may mount a protest against Walt Disney Co. if Ellen DeGeneres, star of Disney's ABC series 'Ellen,' has her namesake character come out as a lesbian this season.... DeGeneres has been the subject of widespread media reports in the past questioning her sexual preferences." To date, DeGeneres has remained silent on the subject of her own lesbianism (though now -- more than ever -- she appears poised for a less constricted role). During an appearance on "FOX News Sunday," Christian Coalition president Pat Robertson was asked for his personal opinion about DeGeneres possibly playing a lesbian. ``I find it hard to believe. She's so popular, she's such an attractive actress," Robertson replied. "I think it will hurt her ratings. I don't think the American people are ready for that, frankly.'' When contacted by "The Hollywood Reporter" (September 16), a spokesperson for Walt Disney Television "had no comment on Robertson's remarks." The Associated Press (September 20) reported a similar response: "The Walt Disney Co., which produces the series and owns ABC, has refused to comment...." Disney's repeated "no comment" is not as satisfying as a vigorous defense of lesbian and gay characters. The company should, at least, take substantive offense to homophobia -- through specific public statements against this latest round of AFA and Christian Coalition bigotry. Offering a cynical slant, "Variety" (September 20) reporter Joe Flint opines: "'Ellen' may be better off staying in the closet if the record low ratings for the show's season premiere are any indication." Flint suggests that ABC had hoped to profit from speculation on Ellen's sexuality, but the spin apparently backfired. "Network executives, who haven't decided how to depict the character's sexuality, thought the publicity might draw more viewers when it screened Wednesday," says Flint. "Instead, the show garnered a record low rating." "Ellen's" season premiere (September 18) rated an 8.9 . . . a 28% decline from the previous year. Each rating point represents 970,000 households. As a LESBIAN CHARACTER, "Ellen Morgan" would be a vital realization -- whatever the commercial costs (or credits). That milestone could be even more significant, though, if -- as a LESBIAN ACTRESS -- Ellen DeGeneres also chooses to come out. As Pat Robertson's stupid comments reveal, there is a need to demonstrate that "popular" and "attractive actresses" can not only play lesbian leads, but lead lesbian lives. The history of prime-time television has been told by (ostensibly) straight actors, playing (occasionally) gay roles. If a lesbian actress who is CERTAINLY OUT can star as an OUT FOR CERTAIN lesbian character, it is something altogether different . . . and exceptional. Perhaps such cultural exceptions have remained so unpopular precisely because they allow that unique fullness of recognition. To be undeniably and unapologetically queer -- in popular fiction and, in fact -- is to become visible not only as the constant OBJECTS of another's action, but finally -- and literally, here -- ACTORS in our own identity. **** A c t i o n / O p t i o n s ! : "Ellen" is produced by Black/Marlens Company, in association with Touchstone Television; series executive producers are Eileen Heisler, Deanne Heline, and Vic Kaplan. Comments should be directed to Dean Valentine, President of Network Television, Walt Disney/Touchstone Television, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California 91521-0001, tel. 818-560-5000, http://www.tvplex.com/Note (viewer comment page); copy all correspondence to ABC Entertainment, 2040 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067, tel. 310-557-7777, e-mail abccaudr@ccabc.com, http://www.abctv.com. A supportive response can be sent to stalwart sponsors, Microsoft and Intel. The hesitant advertisers -- J.C. Penney, Toyota, Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola -- should be reminded that there can be no compromise with bigotry. Contact: William Howell, Chair, J.C. Penney Company, Inc., P.O. Box 10001, Dallas, TX 75301, tel. 214-431-1000, fax 214-431-1977; Shinji Sakai, President, Toyota Motor Sales, 19001 S. Western Avenue, Torrance, CA 90509, tel. 310-618-4000 or 800-331-4331, fax 310-618-7800; D. Wayne Calloway, Chair, PepsiCo, 700 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY 10577, tel. 914-253-2000, fax 914-253-2070; Roberto Goizueta, Chair, The Coca-Cola Company, P.O. Drawer 1734, Atlanta, GA 30301, tel. 404-676-2121 or 800-438-2653, fax 404-676-4903; William Gates, Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052, tel. 206-882-8080, fax 206-936-7329; Gordon Moore, Chair, Intel Corporation, P.O. Box 58119, Santa Clara, CA 95052, tel. 408-765-8080 or 800-548-4725. **** R e / S o u r c e s : Paul Schulman's observation -- "If they are in bed together, it's a problem" -- reflects a central challenge facing contemporary lesbian/gay media activists, particularly as we move beyond demands for quantity (simple inclusion) to quality (fairness and diversity) in representation. Feminist media critics Darlene Hantzis and Valerie Lehr provide a good overview of this problem, in their article "Whose Desire? Lesbian (Non)Sexuality and Television's Perpetuation of Hetero/Sexism." The authors conclude that many "positive" queer characters -- inasmuch as they are conspicuously nonsexual -- actually reinforce homophobia and heterosexism. "Whose Desire?" is published in "Queer Words/Queer Images," an anthology edited by R. Jeffrey Ringer (New York University Press, 1994). [For background to the media coverage of Ellene DeGeneres' real-life lesbianism, see GLAAD vs. GLAAD, "Bay Area Reporter," March 7, 1996] [2] M E D I A L E R T ! / B R I E F S **** S C E N E S O F O M I S S I O N . . . Among the season's crop of new shows is "Suddenly Susan," an NBC sitcom staring Brooke Shields. "Variety" (September 16) describes the series as "a fairly hip ensemble show" that has "keeper potential, if Warner Bros. only lets the story of a young woman striking out on her own for the first time have some room to grow." The audience seems to have taken an immediate liking to the series. The show debuted at the top of Nielsen's chart, and "TV Guide" (September 14) has already predicted: "Improved or not, this sitcom is the season's one certified, can't miss hit." Whatever its qualities, however, the premiere episode strained even the most willing suspension of disbelief. "Suddenly Susan" is set in and about San Francisco (Shields plays "a writer at a trendy San Francisco magazine"), and yet -- incredulously -- not a SINGLE lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender character was anywhere in sight. Of course -- as the series "grows" -- some much-needed cast additions might yet be made . . . particularly if persistent viewers point out the empty rooms. C o n t a c t : NBC Entertainment 3000 West Alameda Avenue, Burbank, CA 91523, tel. 818-840-4444, e-mail entertainment@nbc.com; "Suddenly Susan" is a Warner Bros. Television production; Gary Dontzig and Steven Peterman are the series executive producers. **** H A T E F U L H A N D O U T S . . . "The Light of Louisville Newspaper" is a source of neither news nor illumination. Instead, this one-sheet "newspaper" circulates some of the dimmest homophobia. Profiling "famous" homosexuals who have either raped children or eaten human flesh, the flyer claims that lesbians and gays are "fifteen times more likely to be involved in a sexual murder spree than heterosexuals." Thus, homosexuals (like any other serial killing cannibals) should never be permitted "as teachers and role models in Louisville and Jefferson County Schools." "The Light of Louisville" has been distributed throughout Jefferson County, Kentucky. David Williams, editor of "The Letter" -- Kentucky's gay and lesbian newspaper -- reports that this "extremely homophobic literature" is being pushed by a local broadcaster, Frank Simon. "Simon is using his weekly television program to hawk it," says Williams. "On his September 5 show he claimed that 10,000 have already been distributed." According to Williams, "The fear that gays and lesbians might be legally allowed to teach children has been a major leitmotif of Simon's career." "Your Turn With Dr. Frank Simon" is call-in talk show, televised weekly on WBNA-TV. C o n t a c t : Frank Simon, P.O. Box 6689, Louisville, KY 40206, tel. 502-895-6263; WBNA, 3701 Fern Valley Road, Louisville, KY 40219, tel. 502-964-2121. **** C O U N T E R F O R C E . . . Women Organizing for Change (WOC) is a national advocacy effort "devoted to countering the Christian Coalition by organizing through the Internet, students and other local and national activists." The group recently (September 13) led a demonstration against the Christian Coalition's high-profile "Road to Victory" conference -- "protesting the positions of the Coalition and their all-but-in-name endorsed Presidential Candidate Bob Dole, with particular emphasis on the danger to women's lives and health." WOC is a project of Women Leaders Online. C o n t a c t : Women Leaders Online, P. O. Box 57199, Washington, DC 20037-7199, tel. 202-861-4730, fax 202-861-4297, e-mail wlo@wlo.org, http://wlo.org. **** B R E A K I N G N E W S . . . The Gay/Lesbian International News Network -- GLINN -- is a member-supported organization, providing "basic accreditation, support, services and benefits for individuals working in the gay/lesbian media." As previously noted ["News Paperless," MEDIAlert!, September 1-14], GLINN has also launched a new web site that should be of interest not only to media pros, but the larger gay/lesbian community as well. Highlights include: e-newsletters, syndicated columns, ACLU News Feeds, educational equity (P.E.R.S.O.N. Project) updates, broadcast schedules, and news features. Recent features include "Are Children at Risk from Gay Marriage" (September 11), a compelling editorial by Stefan Lynch, director of Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE). The site also includes and a handy list of contact information for the major "mainstream" media; a gay/lesbian media database -- "a Who's Who of Gay Media that can be continuously updated" -- is currently under construction. "In addition to a BBS, news service, and now this WWW site, GLINN has begun distributing gay male books on floppy disk and through computer bulletin board systems," says Dan Schramm, founder and president of GLINN. "And we aren't stopping there. We have lots of ideas and you'll be surprised and delighted on a regular basis if you keep coming back." C o n t a c t : GLINN Publishing Corporation, P.O. Box 93626, Milwaukee, WI 53203-0626, tel. 414-289-8640, fax 414-289-0789, BBS 414-289-0181, http://www.glinn.com. Send e-mail submissions of news and information items to: sysopdan@glinn.com. **** P R O V O C A T I V E P R I N T . . . . Writing in "The Boston Globe" (September 20), critic Renee Graham eloquently reviews "One More River to Cross" -- Keith Boykin's new book on race and sexual orientation. "Caught between the rock of racism and the hard place of homophobia," Graham notes, "black gay men and women, members of two communities, have often found it difficult to achieve complete acceptance in either. They are the minorities within minority communities." Boykin, says Graham, "impressively deconstructs the roots of black homophobia and exposes the depths of racism within the white gay community. From authors James Baldwin and Audre Lorde to political figure Bayard Rustin.... black lesbians and gays have been among the most culturally influential members of American society. Their accomplishments are all the more impressive given that each had to contend both with racism and homophobia." "'One More River to Cross' is a provocation," Graham concludes, "but a necessary one that will enlighten even as it enrages.... As Boykin writes, 'What blacks and gays both need to learn is that black lesbians and gay men do not threaten the unity of either community -- they preserve it.'" C o n t a c t : "The Boston Globe," Box 2378, Boston, MA 02107, fax 617-929-3490, e-mail letter@globe.com; "One More River to Cross" is published by Anchor. **** F O R T H E B I R D S ? . . . According to a dispatch from "Entertainment Wire" (September 6), Engelbert Humperdinck, "the singer with a Ph.D. in love," will sing the title track of the new Beavis & Butthead film -- "Fly High Lesbian Seagull." EW reports: "Though many people have come to know Engelbert as the romantic leader of the free world, few know of his disarming wit and charm. The film and soundtrack are both scheduled for release in December 1996. Engelbert is planning on performing a number of 'Lesbian Seagull' benefits in order to raise awareness of their heretofore obscure cause." Whether Humperdinck will strike a note of humor or homophobia remains to be heard. C o n t a c t : Baker/Winokur/Ryder Public Relations, tel. 310-277-6200, fax 310-277-8260. **** B R O A D E R C A S T I N G . . . "Lesbigay Radio Chicago" (WNDZ-AM, Chicago) can now be heard in Northern California as well (KEST-AM, San Francisco; KOBO-AM, Sacramento). Recent broadcasts have featured interviews with Kate Clinton, lesbian comedian and writer for "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (September 16) and Tom Rielly, co-founder of Digital Queers and creator of the new on-line service "Planet Out" (September 19). C o n t a c t : "Lesbigay Radio Chicago," 1246 West Pratt Blvd., Penthouse, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-973-3999, fax 312-973-3230, e-mail LesbigayRC@aol.com. **** S T U D E N T W R I T E S . . . Under the auspices of its First Amendment Education Project, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU/NC) has developed a number of resources for student journalists and their advocates: "Express Yourself" is a multimedia MAC-compatible computer program created to teach high school students about their First Amendment rights. The ACLU/NC also offers a "mobile training for members of your Board of Education on the rights of student journalists." As project director Nancy Otto explains: "We are finding that many board members do not know that California has special protections for student expression and apply pressure on administrators and journalism advisors to censor articles in student newspapers." Finally, the ACLU sponsors an annual student journalism conference. This year's conference -- "Writing Your Rights" -- is slated for October 22, on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley. C o n t a c t : Nancy Otto, ACLU/NC, 1663 Mission Street, Suite 460, San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-621-2006 (ext. #37), e-mail FFP1ACLUNC@aol.com. **** T V P R I D E . . . Media analyst Steven Capsuto is working on a new book, "Alternate Channels: The Battle for Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Images in Broadcasting, 1930s-1990s," which will be published "sometime in the next two years." "In the meantime," says Capsuto, "I'm sharing my research findings (and lots of video clips) in a two-hour lecture." C o n t a c t : Anyone seeking a guest speaker for their club, classroom or organization can reach Capsuto by e-mail (stevecap@pond.com) or browse his WWW site (http://wanda.pond.com/~stevecap/lecture.htm). **** E - M E D I A . . . Lance Manload compiles "daily entertainment links to news, gossip, and other celebrity stuff" in his free e-mail list service -- "Manload on Hollywood." Each bulletin offers a collection of general entertainment headlines and corresponding web sites, which point to the original story source for each item. To subscribe to "Manload on Hollywood," send an e-mail message to hollywood@ttalk.com; for "the day's hottest technology news," e-mail news@ttalk.com. The service compliments Manload's net broadcasts, featured each weeknight on the comedic "Dan & Scott Show" (8-10pm CST, at http://www.radiofun.com and http://www.audionet.com; free software available at http://ialabs.com/controlpanel). C o n t a c t : Lance Manload, tel. 888-266-3391 (studio line), fax 414-677-1230, e-mail hollywood@ttalk.com or radiofun@nconnect.net, http://www.radiofun.com. [3] W E B W A T C H **** I N T H E Z O N E . . . The publishers of Q-Zone -- "Your List of Gay Websites & Resources" -- promise: "You'll find everything from travel to online entertainment. If you know of a site that we don't have, please let us know about it. We would love to add you to our growing list of sites" (http://www.lifestyle.com/qzone.htm). **** H Y P E R A C T I V I S T S . . . Tips and touts on "how to become a more effective activist" can be found at the 20/20 Vision web site (http://www.2020vision.org). Offering advice that would be useful to individual or collective media activists, 20/20 Vision's succinct "Guide to Effective Activism" covers: "Making Your Letters and Phone Calls to Policy Makers More Effective, " "Writing Effective Letters to the Editor," and "Getting Active On-Line." [End of main column text] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A B O U T M E D I A L E R T S "MEDIAlert!" [TM] (formerly "The GLAAD Media Watch") is a biweekly, activist-oriented column of media criticism, focused on lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender issues. This column has been distributed continuously since 1992, on request, as a community service. Recipients may print, publish or post this material, in whole or part, under this or any title, without prior permission. When appropriate, attribution may be made to "Al Kielwasser" and/or "MEDIAlert!" File copies of publications using all or part of any "MEDIAlert!" are appreciated. Some current and back issues of "MEDIAlert!" are available online, through the Queer Resources Directory (http://www.qrd.org/qrd/media/medialert/) or the news section of AOL's "Gay & Lesbian Community Forum" (keyword: GLCF). Next "MEDIAlert!" = October 1-15, 1996. 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A U T H O R N O T E S Al Kielwasser is the editor of "Gay People, Sex and the Media" (New York: Haworth Press). He has taught a wide range of courses and workshops in media theory and practice, and his research appears in the "Journal of American Culture," "Journal of Homosexuality," "Journal of Popular Culture," "Feedback: The Journal of the Broadcast Education Association," "The High School Journal," "Critical Studies in Mass Communication," and other publications; he was twice elected Chair of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation/San Francisco Bay Area. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- E R R A T A In "Rosie Colored Glasses" [MEDIAlert!, September 1-14], "TheROSIE@aol.com" is listed as an e-mail address for Rosie O'Donnell. Unlike other America OnLine screen names, however, O'Donnell's official moniker ("TheR0SIE") does NOT also function as her generic ("@aol.com") internet address. AOL users should post e-mail for O'Donnell and her staff through the new Rosie O'Donnell Online site; "Rosie is catching up on her e-mail," cautions AOL, "so don't expect an IMMEDIATE reply...." ______________________________________________ Shape the forces that shape our society . . . challenge homophobia in and through the media. _______________________________________________