Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 19:29:36 +0100 From: glaad@glaad.org (Bill Horn) Subject: Do's and Don'ts of Reporting "Murder By Design" MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Liz Tracey (212) 807-1700 Pager: (800) 946-4646 (pin #1423527) E-Mail: tracey@glaad.org The Do's and Don'ts of Reporting "Murder By Design" A Resource for Media Professionals on the Andrew Cunanan Story New York, July 17, 1997-The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) understands the importance of reporting on the Gianni Versace murder and the hunt for prime suspect Andrew Cunanan, and in the interest of fairness and accuracy has created this resource to provide media professionals with the necessary tools for this story. Below are Do's and Don'ts for reporting on lesbians and gay men as it pertains to the Versace/Cunanan story. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Liz Tracey, GLAAD's Associate Communications Director. Do's and Don'ts The following list has been adapted from GLAAD's Media Guide to the Lesbian and Gay Community, a resource tool available to media professionals interested in fairly and accurately reflecting the lives of our community. The complete Media Guide is available by contacting GLAAD at the number above. Do explore the life of a well-respected figure such as Gianni Versace. The positive contributions made by the victim are often lost in the telling: the enormous warmth generated by Versace among those who worked with him has been demonstrated repeatedly. Additionally, don't lose sight of those who have lost a family member, a partner or a friend. Do list the name of a partner of many years in a lesbian's or a gay man's obituary. Recognize that it is unfair to defer automatically to the biological family in these matters. Circumstances such as the deceased's previously expressed wish, the length and nature of the relationship, and the relationship between the deceased and her or his biological family should be taken into account. Gianni Versace had a life partner, Antonio D'Amico, of 11 years. Do not identify someone as a "gay killer." A term such as this is extremely problematic because it links one's sexual orientation directly with his or her crimes. In the case of Andrew Cunanan, one would be outraged to see him termed as a "Filipino killer." The same should apply with sexual orientation. The relevance of Cunanan's sexual orientation is only as important as it pertains to his life story, and as far as it serves to inform the gay and lesbian community as to his possible whereabouts. Do not refer to gay bars, clubs and nightlife as a "gay underworld" or "gay underground." Many bars and clubs are decades-old institutions that have been important in the development of lesbian and gay communities. Furthermore, the implication is that if Andrew Cunanan were to move through a local gay community, that he would be "hidden" by them. This is false: No one, gay or straight, wants a murderer walking the streets. Do not mention the gay or lesbian angle only when a story is negative. Historically, a criminal who happens to be gay has been identified as a "gay criminal," even when sexual orientation is irrelevant to the story, while the gay humanitarian is simply a "humanitarian." A heterosexual murderer would never be coined a "straight murderer." If a crime involves a homosexual or heterosexual act, this is usually made clear from the facts presented in a story. Do not demonize the victim. Often, the private life of the individual is sensationally scrutinized and reported on, in the very same paragraph as that of the accused. Some have begun to demonize Versace, a well regarded and respected man, solely on the basis of his sexual orientation. Do use the term "sexual orientation" instead of "sexual preference" or "alternative lifestyle." Most authorities agree that a person's basic sexual orientation is established at a very young age and, as a rule, can be hidden but not changed in later life. Do include the viewpoint of someone who is actually lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender when reporting in issue that affect our communities. Indeed, more than one viewpoint should be solicited, since our communities are very diverse. Do not use the label "admitted homosexual" or "avowed homosexual" to describe those who are openly lesbian or gay. Lesbian, gay, or "openly" lesbian or gay will suffice. Do not refer to a lesbian or gay "lifestyle." The word implies something casual and changeable, whereas being lesbian or gay is a fundamental sexual orientation, like heterosexuality. Just like there is no "straight lifestyle," there is no one lesbian or gay "lifestyle." We are as diverse in the way we live our lives as everyone else. Do not reduce the lesbian and gay communities to a single presumed way of life. Like many heterosexuals, many lesbians and gay men are involved in monogamous relationships. Indeed, it is all the more remarkable that these couples build lives together without the support of social sanctions like marriage and spousal benefits, and often without the support of their own families. Do not use inappropriate or stereotypical imagery, such as footage of gay men "cruising" at parks to illustrate an AIDS story, or images of naked men in a shower for a piece on gays in the military. Do not stereotype lesbians and gay men by focusing on a particular segment of our population. Coverage of lesbian and gay pride parades often centers around stereotyped images of transgendered persons or members of the leather community. In addition, coverage generally excludes the many people in our communities who are not white, middle class, or male. Both kinds of presentations misrepresent the reality of the lesbian and gay community by failing to reflect our true diversity. -30- _______________________ GLAAD -- The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation E-Mail: glaad@glaad.org GLAAD Online http://www.glaad.org -- AlertLine 1-(800) GAY MEDIA GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. ______________________________________________________________________________ 'GLAAD' and 'Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation' are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.