From: JimFour@aol.com Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 13:26:38 EST Subject: Thanks: GAYBC transcriopt..Signoreli:deflates a bad Dr.Laura GLAAD Thanks for GAYBC transcript *(reprinted below) where Signoreli deflates a bad GLAAD strategy. Thanks for letting us all read Signoreli in action with his guest GLAAD Executive Director Joan Garry. It's an eye opener. Signoreli correctly nails the ineffectiveness of GLAAD's Dr. Laura strategy and its failure to stop Dr. Laura's network access for her homophobic verbiage. I c an feel Vito Russo rolling over in his grave. I don't think the problem is Garry. I find her a strong, assertive ED. I certainly do not think she is afraid of Paramount. What GLAAD's board of Directors needs to do is re-think how aggressively the organization needs to be with blatant, mainstream, entertainment industry homophobia. Garry has to take her direction from the Board and its mission statement. Dr. Laura, which GLAAD has taken the leadership on for over 18 months, is a good example of how background politicking does not stop an express train of hate thought. Most interesting to me is the FOX CABLE NEWS defense of Dr. Laura complete with Republican party spokespeople talking about her "freedom of expression" and GLAAD's attempt to "censor" Dr. Laura. FYI: GLAAD is now giving out contact info for Paramount honchos: Michelle Hunt Media Relations Paramount Television Group 5555 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90038-3197 michelle_hunt@paramount.com the president of Paramount Television Group is Frank Kelly Paramount Television Group 5555 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90038-3197 Frank_Kelly@paramount.com Jim Fouratt In a message dated 2/23/00 7:19:08 AM, john@wiredstrategies.com writes: << The Signoreli Show (excerpt of radio transcript) GAYBC Radio Network (www.gaybc.com) Saturday, February 19, 2000 This excerpt of a radio transcript is an interview by Michelangelo Signorile with Joan Garry, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). It occurred six days after GLAAD met with Paramount Television to discuss the format of radio talk show host Laura Schlessinger's new television show, set to air in the fall. Five days after that meeting, and one day before this interview, GLAAD sent out a short statement, saying that "the meeting created a positive exchange of differing perspectives," and that the show's discussion of homosexuality will include "many points of view, derived from a variety of sources, guests and a studio audience." Dr. Laura's spokeswoman, however, soon told the media that the talk show host "stood her ground absolutely," and that she would remain "in total control" of the show. Signorile: There are several interpretations of what exactly happened in this meeting--from gay activists...from religious conservatives, and others. [GLAAD's] statements have been sort of late in coming and sort of cryptic...Can you explain what happened in the meeting? Garry: I actually would like to take a step back if I might...I'd like to take the opportunity to talk about the path that led to that meeting and some of the things that I think about that meeting. If that works for you? Signorile: Sure Garry: The path of work we've taken with Dr. Laura is, we've been on a journey on this subject for 12 to 15 months. Starting in the good old-fashioned GLAAD way, monitoring her, listening to her every day. We also took a path to say, Let's meet with this woman and see what she has to say and educate her about the words she uses, trying to challenge her position...We met several times with her actually. Signorile: You'd said in the media that she was "impervious to reason" and that those meetings came to naught. Garry: I think that that's right. The next angle that we worked with her on again, again going back to GLAAD's roots, was a letter-writing campaign. In 72 hours she received 1400 letters. Again, really just sharing the community's concerns about the kinds of messages she was sending every day on the air. Signorile: No one would argue with that--your strategy with the radio show was more proactive. You urged people to write letters, to fax, to call and to e-mail, to put pressure on radio stations. Why weren't those same tactics used with Paramount? You've not yet even once on your web site told people to write Paramount and send letters and put pressure. Garry: Well, I'll tell you why. Our first goal was really to get to the table, have a conversation with them...This is an opportunity for us to have a voice right now, eight months before Dr. Laura goes on the air...Our goal throughout this process has been to say we wanted to raise issues right now before this show hits the air, to make sure that this show is shaped in a way that is balanced and shows opposing viewpoints. Signorile: Why not simply demand that the show not air? Certainly Paramount would not be airing a show by someone who is blatantly racist or anti-Semitic and certainly the black community or the Jewish community would demand it not be aired, and it has been done in the past. Garry: I believe we have an obligation and an opportunity to make Paramount aware of what's going on and to make sure this show is shaped the right way. If it hits the air, and there are issues about it, we will be the first people knocking on the door. Signorile: But again, why not demand that it not go on and why not create that pressure from the community? Some of the e-mails we've received from people have said GLAAD has not been hard on Paramount. Some have pointed to your having worked [at Showtime, owned by the same parent company as Paramount, Viacom]. I've spoken to some people who shell out money for your dinners, and one who is involved in corporate funding, and they are not happy. Someone I know who is close to [GLAAD] confided in me that there's a fear among several staffers that you're afraid of going tough on Paramount--that's the term they used, "going tough." What is it that you are afraid of? Is it the fear of losing a place at the table in Hollywood? What is the fear? Garry: I don't have any fear about going tough on Paramount. We are in the business of having effective strategies for change. And we see having a voice with Paramount and raising concerns before the show hits the air as a smart strategy. Signorile: But Joan, this strategy has not worked. You've tried to work with her on the radio show. That hasn't worked. You've said she's "impervious to reason." Nothing's happened. Now it's going to TV. It has gone on now for weeks. You're saying you're going into more meetings while the pressure has not been brought to bear from the community, by you. You've not told people to put pressure on Paramount. Garry: Our strategy has been very thoughtful and very strategic. We are eight months away from the show hitting the air and our goal, plain and simple, has been to raise awareness, which we have done extremely effectively over the last 12-15 months. The press around this has not been a coincidence. We have made tremendous strides in making this a highly visible issue. Signorile: And yet, you have made no demands on Paramount and even this concession that you claim you've gotten--which members of [Dr. Laura's] staff now say is not true--even this concession, the offering of "divergent viewpoints," well, don't you see that as still troubling? Paramount is still putting homophobia out there. Would it be okay to put a racist talk show host up there, as long as there was a differing viewpoint [offered], as long as they had someone come on and say, "No, blacks are okay?" Garry: Again, our goal here is to work with Paramount up front to make sure the show has balance to it. Signorile: Do you feel that Paramount, just as the case with an anti-Semitic show and or a racist show, should not be airing this show? Garry: I believe that Paramount needs to be aware of who she is and the kind of words she uses, and that they have an obligation to present a balanced television show. Signorile: Joan, we were hoping that you would clear some things up. I again want to know, point blank, Do you feel that the community should be putting enormous pressure on Paramount, writing letters, faxes, e-mails, and saying that this show should not run, that Dr. Laura is a homophobe, and that this is like putting a racist or an anti-Semite on and giving them a platform? Garry: Look, I think there's probably nobody who better understands what kind of controversy and what kind of a lightening rod Dr Laura is. I've spent way too much time----- Signorile: The question is: Are you saying, right now, that I can put out there that you and GLAAD are telling the community to put pressure on Paramount not to run this show? Garry: I respect people's needs to feel their voices need to be heard on this issue. GLAAD's strategy is to work with Paramount to make sure that they create a balanced show, and if they don't, this is a whole different conversation Michelangelo. Signorile: I know Joan, but you're sounding like a press release. I'd like to know what you think this community should do and why you're not utilizing the activism of this community and instead going in corporate meetings quietly and not letting us know what's happening? Garry: Look, I read my emails too. I know that the community is writing letters and sending e-mails. I respect people's right to do that. Our goal is to have a conversation with Paramount. I don't know how else to say that. Signorile: It's different to say that you respect this and to say that you're urging people to do this. This is a TV production company that is putting on a blatantly homophobic woman who is attacking our community.... Garry: ...In the past we didn't have the kinds of opportunity that we have now before an air date...I want to be involved in this conversation to ensure that they have a balanced show. Signorile: How could it be a balanced show? Garry: The conversations will continue with Paramount, we'll continue to press them, and we'll continue to press them to see examples of the shows, and if there are issues we'll raise our voice. But right now we have a voice at the table and an opportunity to make sure the show is fair, accurate and inclusive. Signorile: Joan, with all due respect, Do know what I think? This corporate strategy, which is what you're using, doesn't seem to be working. It's proved wrong. This woman is not going to let them mold her and reshape her show. They've signed contracts. As she said, she's going to stay in control. You met with Dr. Laura twice while protesting the radio show. Nothing happened. As you said, she's "impervious to reason." She's not going to change. You've not summoned up the troops. You've not blasted Paramount and scared them in the way other minority groups have scared them from putting on defamatory shows. You've not demanded this show not be aired. It all seems to deny GLAAD its activist past...In the end you only get the access by having power, and you only get power by flexing muscle, and that means putting pressure - Instead you use this corporate strategy that only gives an illusion of access and allows them to buy time, and to screw you over--and to buy you too. I don't know, maybe Paramount has some investment in giving you money for table's at your events, or something, I don't know. This strategy has GLAAD dropping the ball, losing critical battles. Garry: I respectfully disagree with you Michelangelo. The one thing you didn't talk about is respect. GLAAD has a tremendous amount of respect within the industry. GLAAD's voice is respected, whether we're celebrating the things they do right or calling them to task...The strategy at the moment is to make sure this show has a fair and balanced perspective. *** Signorile: Why are you afraid to go tough on Paramount? Garry: This is not a strategy about fear. It's a strategy about having a voice at the table. This show is eight months from air date. Signorile: Well, you've answered the question Joan, by saying that you have that place at the table. You are afraid of losing that place. And I would say it is the role of your group to be the outsider attacking. And that once you are afraid of losing that place at the table you are not effective anymore. I thank you for coming on and I know it's been a heated one, but I hope you will come on again. Garry: Well, I do think that there are many levels to the strategies that one employs, and there are different definitions of pressure. Some of the work we have done over the last 18 months with Dr. Laura has been about applying pressure. The last thing I'll say is that nobody is clearer about the kinds of issues Dr. Laura presents to our community. We will continue to stay on this, to pressure Paramount to learn more to hear more, and we'll continue to voice our concerns. >>