Date: Mon, 13 Feb 95 18:56:19 PST From: wasmith@eis.calstate.edu (Waugh Smith) ARTICLES FROM THE GLAAD MARCH 1995 NEWSLETTER 1) Media Awards 2) "Serving in Silence" 3) Advertisers on "Serving in Silence" 4) "Boys on the Side" 5) "Erotique" 6) "Higher Learning" 7) "60 Minutes" medical treatment of lesbians 8) Newt Gingrich 9) "My So-Called Life" 10) George Wolfe in American Theater Magazine 11) "Harvey Milk" the Opera 12) "Larroquette 13) DC Comics lesbian hero 14) "Dear Abby" 15) National Public Radio omits g&l youth 16) Gingrich & Sheldon Richard Armey Gingrich & Pat Robertson 17) NY Times watch 18) GLAAD in the News 19) NY Times and the LAPD 20) Letters - WSJ 21) Tracking the Ads 22) Writers Guild - SS benefits 23) Workplace Sexual Orientation 24) Interview with Lia Shigemura JACL 25) Notre Dame Bans Gay Group 26) 1996 GLAAD Media Awards Committee 27) Portland Office Oklahoma Oregon 28) Chicago Chapter WLS Talk Radio 29) National Capitol Area 30) San Diego Jail Rape 31) SF Bay Area Managing Director opening Marion Riggs KSFO Hate Talk Radio 32) Protests for San Diego 1996 GOP Convention 33) "Cops for Christ" 34) NY Notes "Sum of Us" fund raiser Davidson-Valentini Internship Cable Network News 35) Your Letters 36) Your E-Mail 37) Your Hot Tips GLAAD Reports - March '95 Carl Matthes, Editor (213) 254-2726 - fax (213) 257-5878 1) The Media Awards Special Issue Plan now on attending GLAAD's Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 12. Tickets are available now. Contact: Matthes on the GLAAD BBS for information. The Recipients of the 1995 GLAAD Media Awards Vanguard Award Steve Tisch The Vanguard Award, one of the highest award given by GLAAD, is presented to producer Steve Tisch for his leadership in helping to promote fair and accurate images and treatment of lesbians and gay men in the entertainment industry and for his commitment to community organizations such as AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA). Outstanding Advertising IKEA IKEA's advertising campaign spotlights a gay male couple who are not only shopping for furniture, but also building a home and a life together. Outstanding Television Comedy Series "Friends" This refreshing series, from the creators of "Dream On," includes among its cast a lesbian mother-to-be, her girlfriend and the baby's father, a situation providing much comic fodder and food for thought. "Roseanne" "Roseanne" continues to make lesbians and gay men part of the fabric of the Connor life, including on-going characters (played by Martin Mull and Sandra Bernhard) and episodes like the unforgettable "Kiss" last March. Outstanding Televison Comedy Episode "Frasier: The Matchmaker" What Frasier doesn't know only confounds him when he tries to do a good deed by setting up his gay station manager with his father's female nurse. Writer Joe Keenan turns this farcical foray into a sublime lesson on heterosexist assumptions prevalent in American society. Outstanding Television News Program "NBC Nightly News: Gay in America" This three-part investigative series explored issues facing our diverse lesbian and gay communities, including gay parenting and gay youth. Outstanding Television Miniseries "Tales of the City" Armistead Maupin's delightful series about gay life in late 1970s San Francisco brought appealing, unapologetic images of lesbians and gay men to the small screen, winning PBS one of its largest viewership ever for a dramatic presentation. Outstanding Television Drama Series "My So-Called Life" Teenage Angela traverses the complicated terrain of adolescence, joined by her high school friend Ricky, a bisexual teen, who experiences all the same rigors of growing up - dating, romance, peer acceptance - as well as the specific complications of growing up gay. Outstanding Television Documentary Series "The Real World III - San Francisco" Stephen F. Kolzak Award Pedro Zamora The third installment of this popular series about American youth featured openly gay PWA Pedro Zamora, who brought issues of sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS and racial diversity into America's living rooms. His recent death from complications due to AIDS was widely mourned. Outstanding Television Program for Young Adults "More Than Just Friends: The Coming Out of Heidi Leiter" This half-hour telefilm expertly detailed the story of a young woman who asked her girlfriend to the high school prom, despite the initial protestations of family and friends. Outstanding Film "GO FISH" Captivating first film by Rose Troche about love and dating rituals in a lesbian community which concludes that perhaps opposites do attract. Outstanding Film Documentary "Coming Out Under Fire" Arthur Dong's moving account of lesbian and gay life during World War II, based on the acclaimed book by Allan Berube. Outstanding Print Media "Doonesbury: Same-Sex Unions" by Garry Trudeau Garry Trudeau turns a comic eye towards the controversy over John Boswell's book about same-sex marriages, exploring the subject with characteristic intelligence and wit. Outstanding Music Video "I'm the Only One" by Melissa Etheridge Striking and positive lesbian images abound in Etheridge's passionate love song. Outstanding Song "This Train Revised" by The Indigo Girls Openly lesbian singers, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, rail against bigotry and its effect of those targeted, including lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Outstanding Album "Disappear Fear" by Disappear Fear The two-women folk duo, which includes an open lesbian, weaves gay and non-gay images into a portrait of everyday life. Los Angeles Awards: Outstanding Film with Gay Content: "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" Outstanding Gay Theatre Production: "The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me..." Outstanding Lesbian Theatre Production: "Last Summer at Blue Fish Cove" Outstanding Print Media: "Whose Values Are These Anyway?" Robin Abcarian, The Los Angeles Times New York Awards: Outstanding Theatre Production: Love! Valour! Compassion!" Outstanding Journalist: Gabriel Rotello, New York Newsday Washington, D.C. Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Photography: "Family - A Portrait of Gay and Lesbian America," Nancy Andrews Outstanding Achievement in Advertising: Deutsch Advertising Outstanding Achievement for a Gay and Lesbian Publication: "Lambda Book Report," Deacon Maccubbin, Publisher Visibility Award: Bruce Lehman, assistant Secretary of Commerce, and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks Public Service Awards: "National Coming Out Day" featuring Amanda Bearse GLAAD is proud to announce the... 1995 Media Awards Winners The most exciting evenings of the year are almost here. In Los Angeles, on March 12, at the Century Plaza Hotel, and on March 16 in New York at the Waldorf Astoria, GLAAD will be honoring its national Media Award winners during its 6th annual dinner and awards show. These are events you won't want to miss. And you can help make them a great success by attending and/or by becoming a table sponsor/table host. Just call ten of your closest friends and ask them to spend a fabulous evening with you having dinner, seeing celebrites and meeting new friends. In New York, the evening begins with cocktails and Silent Auction at 6:00pm, followed by Dinner and Awards Presentation at 7:30pm. For ticket information call: (212) 807-1700. In Los Angeles, the evening begins with cocktails and Silent Auction at 5:30pm followed by Dinner and Awards Presentation at 7:00pm. For further information call: Events Unlimited at (310) 996-1188. In Washington, D.C., the local Media Awards will be held on March 19 at the National Press Club. For information about tickets, sponsorships, etc. call (202) 429-9500. Los Angeles Silent Auction Be prepared to place your bids and bring home a piece of Hollywood from the 6th Annual Media Awards Silent Auction at the Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The Silent Auction will begin at 5:30pm, just prior to the awards ceremony. Choose from an exciting array of celebrity items, hotels, trips and dinners from LA's finest restaurants featuring: Round-trip airfare for 2 to Paris on Air France A walk-on part on NBC's "Frasier" Items donated from the casts of "Frasier," "General Hospital" and "Wings" A 3-Night hotel package valued at $1200. from Le Montrose Suite Hotel and many, many more. For further information, contact Events Unlimited at (310) 996-1188. Television, Film & Stage 2) "Serving in Silence" NBC "Sweeps Week"... Are prime time audiences ready for a story about lesbian courage and lesbian love? We think so, and so does NBC Television. On Monday, February 6, NBC-TV premiered "Serving in Silence," the story of Army Reserve Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer. She is the highest ranking officer ever to be discharged from military service for acknowledging she is a lesbian. (Cammermeyer was the recipient of a GLAAD Visibility Award in Los Angeles in 1993.) On the surface, the film deals with her decision and struggle to fight her discharge. We get to see the courage and determination of a woman facing discrimination simply for being a lesbian. But it goes much deeper than that. It's also a story about coming out, as Cammermeyer tells her sons, her father and her co-workers about her life. And ultimately, it's also a love story, as we get to see her connect deeply with a woman who loves her, supports hers and wants to grow old with her. "Serving in Silence" tells an important story. Instead of stereotypes it shows a diverse group of intelligent and loving lesbians leading full, rewarding lives. Glenn Close and Judy Davis deserve applause for bringing poignancy and realism to a wonderful script. And executive producers Barbra Streisand and Glenn Close get special thanks for making the movie a reality. Now it is our turn to thank NBC, as it was their ultimate decision to air "Serving in Silence" intact, refusing to cut a kiss between Cammermeyer and her lover. What's more, they gave it plenty of promotion, and placed it in a prime time spot on a Monday night without the competition of Monday Night Football. It was seen by an incredibly large number of people who will certainly look at lesbians, gay men and bisexuals with greater compassion and understanding. Send your comments to: Warren Littlefield, Vice President of Entertainment, c/o NBC Viewer Services, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 10112. Cammermeyer House Parties... On February 6th GLAAD hosted over three dozen house parties across the nation and in Canada in honor of NBC-TV's broadcast of "Serving In Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story." The parties raised about five thousand dollars for GLAAD and brought over 500 people together to witness what will no doubt be a landmark lesbian portrayal. One party held in Fault Springs, on a small island in British Columbia, brought together 33 lesbians, many of whom posed for the below photograph. The host of the party, GLAAD supporter Dr. Ruth Simkin, said: "I really wanted people to know more about GLAAD's work. This was a great way to do it!" 3) The Advertisers: Use the enclosed postcards... As you know, the religious right is already mounting an attack against the advertisers who supported "Serving In Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story." The movie has already generated fury from the religious right as the Family Defense Council tried to eliminate the kiss between Glenn Close and Judy Davis. Although their attempts failed, we must let the advertisers know that we appreciate their support for the film and in turn the gay, lesbian and bisexual community. Contact: Warren Littlefield, President, National Broadcasting Company, 3000 West Alameda Avenue, Burbank, CA 91523. Please take the time to write or send a postcard to the following sponsors: Retailers, Furniture & Appliances: Sears (Clothes and Kenmore Brand) Sears, Roebuck and Co. Sears Tower Chicago, IL 60684 (312) 875-2500 LA-Z-BOY (Furniture) LA-Z-BOY Chair Company 1284 North Telegraph Road Monroe, MI 48161-3390 (313) 242-1444 Whirlpool Dishwashers (Dishwasher) Whirlpool Corporation 2000 North M63 Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (616) 923-5000 The Wiz (Cheap Electronics) Wiz Distributors of New Jersey 729 Broad St. Newark, NJ (212) 964-5196 Health Care and Personal Care Products: Halls (Cough Drops) and Trident (Gum) and Lubriderm (Skin Lotion) Warner-Lambert Company 201 Tabor Road Morris Plains, NJ 07950 (201) 540-2000 Capzasin-P (Topical Analgesic Cream) Thompson Medical Company (800) 521-7857 Weight Watchers (Weight Loss Program) Weight Watchers P. O. Box 283 Jericho, NY 11753 (516) 939-0400 Keri (Lotion) Bristol Meyers Squibb 345 Park Avenue New York, NY 10154 (212) 546-4000 Alka-Seltzer Plus Liqui-Gels (Cold Medicine), Alka-Mints (Chewable Antacid) Miles, Inc. 1127 Myrtle Street Elkhart, IN 46515 (219) 264-8111 Alpha Hydrox (Skin Product) (800) 55-ALPHA Excellence Creme (Hair Coloring) L'Oreal Cosmair, Inc. 575 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10017 (212) 818-1500 Revlon Age Defying Make-Up (Make-Up) Revlon, Inc. 625 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022-1801 (212) 527-4000 Ultra Slim-Fast (Weight Loss Product) Slim-Fast Foods Company 919 Third Avenue, 26th Floor New York, NY 10022 (212) 688-4420 Escape for Men (Fragrance) and CK One (Fragrance) Calvin Kline Cosmetics Company 725 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10022 (212) 759-8888 Curel (Moisturizer) S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. 1525 Howe St. Racine, WI 53403 (414) 631-2000 Automobiles and Trucks: Saturn and Cadillac Seville General Motors Corporation General Motors Building 3044 West Grand Boulevard Detroit, MI 48202 (313) 556-5000 Land Rover Discovery (4WD Truck) Land Rover Company 4390 Parliament Place Lanham, MD 20706 (301) 731-9040 Honda Accord (Car) American Honda Motor Company 1919 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, CA 90501 (310) 783-2000 Isuzu Trooper (Car) American Isuzu Motors 13181 Crossroads Parkway North, 4th Floor City of Industry, CA 91746 (310) 699-0500 Geo Prizm (Car) Chevy Blazer (Truck) Chevrolet Motor Division General Motors Corp. 30007 Van Dyke Ave. Warren, MI 48090 (313) 556-5600 Ford (PresidentÕs Day Sale) Ford Motor Co. The American Road Dearborn, MI 48121 (313) 322-3000 Food and Household: Taco Bell (Restaurant) Taco Bell World Wide Headquarters 17091 Von Karmen Irvine, CA 92714 (714) 863-4500 Ralph's (Market) Ralph's Grocery Company P. O. Box 54143 Los Angeles, CA 90054 (310) 884-9000 Pillsbury Valentine Cookies The Pillsbury Company Pillsbury Center 200 South Sixth Street Minneapolis, MN 55402-1464 (612) 330-4966 Kraft Catalina (Salad Dressing) and Tombstone Pizza (Frozen Pizza) Kraft General Foods, Inc. Three Lake Drive Northfield, IL 60093-2753 (708) 998-2000 No Yolks (Egg Noodle Substitute) Foulds Inc. 520 East Church Street Libertyville, IL 60048 (708) 362-3062 Hills Bros Coffee Nestle Beverage Company 345 Spear Street San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 546-4600 X-14 (Soap Scum Remover) Block Drug Comapny 257 Cornelison Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 434-3000 Black Angus (Restaurant) American Restaurant Group 6th Floor 450 Newport Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 (714) 721-8069 Cheese (Great on Sandwiches) American Dairy Association O'Hare International Center 10255 West Higgins Road, Suite 900 Rosemont, IL 60018-5616 (708) 803-2000 Ziploc (Storage Bags) Dow Brands 9550 Zionsville Road Indianapolis, IN 46268 (317) 873-7000 Duracell (Batteries) Duracell USA Berkshire Corporate Park Bethel, CT 06801 (203) 796-4000 Pepperidge Farm (Cookies) Pepperidge Farm Inc. 595 Westport Ave. Norwalk, CT 06856 Roy Rogers (Bunch oÕ Bacon Cheddar Melt) Roy Rogers Restaurant 1099 Winterson Rd., Suite 200 Linthicum Heights, MD 21090 (410) 859-8822 Other: ATT True Savings (Long Distance) AT&T 32 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10013 (212) 841-4600 Burlington Coat Factory (Coat Sale) Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation 1830 Route 130 Burlington, NJ 08016 (609) 387-7800 K-BIG (Los Angeles Radio Station) 7755 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90046 (213) 874-7700 WMXV (New York City Radio Station) WMXV Mix 105 FM Radio 485 Madison Avenue New York, NY (212) 752-3322 Moneygram (Wire Transfer System) First Data Copr. 6200 S. Quebec Englewood, CO 80111 (303) 488-8000 4) Doing it Right... "Boys on the Side" Making it to the screen during late January was the Warner Bros.' release "Boys on the Side," starring Whoopi Goldberg as a down-on-her-luck lounge singer. And, oh yeah, she's a lesbian. Beginning in New York, Jane (Whoopi Goldberg), answers an ad for a cross-country driver placed by Robin (Mary-Louise Parker), who is on her way to San Diego. Along the way they detour to visit Jane's friend Holly (Drew Barrymore), who Jane and Robin rescue from her abusive, alcohol-crazed, drug dealing boyfriend. This unlikely threesome end-up, unceremoniously, in Tucson, Arizona, where Robin is hospitalized for pneumonia and it is revealed that she is HIV positive. Prior to this, the three have learn that Holly's boyfriend succumbed to the wounds inflicted by Holly during the rescue by Jane and Robin. Whoopi is in top form. It is easy to forget her wide range of ability (she really hasn't had a role this impressive since "The Color Purple) when she so easily can be a top comic and social observer. In this film she becomes a hero and the strong shoulder for both Robin and Holly. And it is a "woman's" film, in the sense that "Boys on the Side" seems to reflect Robin's mother's remark that Robin always treated men "like they were on the side," like a side-dish. So "whoop it up" for "Boys on the Side." No killer here. No tragic figure. No suicidal, unrequieted love sequence. Just a top actress, giving her all in a delicious role, that touches the mind and heart. And, oh yeah, she's a lesbian. 5) Doing it Wrong... "Erotique" "Erotique" is a three-part film - each segment featuring a different director (Hong Kong's Clara Law, the United States' Lizzie Borden and Germany's Monica Treut) using the common thread of some type of sexual encounter as the subject matter. The first and third parts are entertaining. Unfortunately, in the second segment (Treut's), we're exposed to two women, who we assume are lesbians - well, they are in bed together and they are "smooching it up." However, they stop long enough only for one to knowingly read the "longing" in the eyes of the other and, after donning some glamorous duds, they go out on the town "looking for a man." The rest of this dreary story is best left untold. One would think that with this trio of filmmakers, plus the input of erotic film buff Susan Bright, this type of misguided, pointless effort would have been stopped before the first frame was shot. The worse part is that the name "lesbian" will be connected to this type of behavior. We need a new "sexual" designation for the type of person - male or female - who can function perfectly well in bed, going through the motions of what is supposed to be intimacy or sex, and who can then wield a gun, ice pick, bomb, etc. and kill their partner. Suggestions, anyone? Fortunately for the producers of this film, it was impossible to find the names and addresses for its production or releasing companies. 6) High Standards from "Higher" "Higher Learning," the new feature film by director John Singleton, explores racism, racial separatism and self-determination with such sweeping power that he could well have left it at that. Instead, Singleton and his team of writers and actors devote one of the movie's several interwoven story lines to the emerging bisexual identity of Kristen Conner, a peace activist on the barely fictional Columbus University campus. In one exceptionally strong scene, Kristen is raped by a man who walks her home from a fraternity party. She subsequently begins to explore her deepening affection for Taryn, a lesbian friend who helps her get past this horror. Singleton wisely rejects the homophobic ruse: Kristen will become a lesbian because she now hates all men. Instead, she begins to find a bisexual identity, a process which develops right alongside other personal explorations experienced by the film's young characters. Singleton expertly conveys this through an "alternating" edit of two love scenes - one with Taryn and one with Kristen's male partner - as well as through a very tender (and fully lit) kiss between the two women, all of which is evidence that this African American director leaves virtually all of Hollywood in the dust when it comes to having the courage to tell the truth. Throughout the film, Singleton takes care to highlight Taryn's consideration for the pace at which Kristen wants to move - in stark contrast to the aggressive recruiting done by a homicidal band of skinheads. Toward the climax of the film, as their freshman inductee prepares to spray gunfire into a campus unity rally, Singleton once again confirms his broad message that oppression in one form can never be seen in isolation from others: the skinheads are shown brutally beating a gay male couple whom they happen upon on their way to survey the rally carnage. John Singleton deserves high marks for this outstanding contribution to the liberation of all people and to Sony Pictures Entertainment for releasing the film. Write: John Singleton at New Deal Productions, Capra Building #203, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232; Sony Pictures, same address. 7) "60 Minutes" Airs HIV Expose On New Year's Day, "60 Minutes" (CBS-TV) aired a refreshingly honest expose of the deplorable treatment one lesbian received in the medical system. Ed Bradley investigated the story of Charlene Riling, who was 31 years old when a New Haven clinic counselor delivered the news that she was HIV-positive. Trouble was, her test report clearly showed she was HIV-negative, and the counselor's lawyer did not deny that Riling was referred to a Christian "camp" that would "save her from the disease caused by her sins." Riling refused the referral because she "knew that there was nothing wrong with being a lesbian," and sought help from no fewer than ten doctors over the next four years. Despite their lack of any written record of the clinic test, no doctor or hospital thought to re-test their lesbian patient for HIV, brazenly assuming that her experimentation with IV drugs many years before had exposed her to the virus. Bradley let Riling tell her own harrowing story of being subjected to dozens of toxic treatments in combination, a regime that eventually robbed her of her "health, money and dignity." The doctor who finally did discover Riling's true HIV status and normal T-cell count frankly discussed the tendency of even highly trained clinicians to give sub-standard treatment to persons they believe to have HIV-related illness. Encourage the entire "60 Minutes" team to continue investigating the scandalous treatment often experienced by queer people and women, when they can obtain health care at all. Write to: Editor Ed Bradley and Producer John Hamlin,"60 Minutes," 524 West 57th Street, New York 10019. 8) Quotable Unfortunate Newtism... From Newt Gingrich, the person third in line for the Presidency of the United States, on "How to Win an Election," "AIDS will do more to direct America back to the cost of violating traditional values, and to make America aware of the danger of certain behavior, than anything we've seen. For us, it's a great rallying cry." 9) "Life" Support A viewer-initiated group has organized to save ABC-TV's "My So-Called Life," the only network television series to include a gay teen amongst the cast of main characters. The group, Operation "Life" Support, is raising funds to take out ads in major publications and raise awareness about this pivotal show, which is at-risk for cancellation. On Jan. 26, "My So-Called Life" went on hiatus, concluding the program's first order of episodes which included Ricky, the gay character, being kicked-out of his home and showing up on the doorstep of a gay teacher from his high school. However, Ed Cintron of ABC Television says he is encouraged by viewer support. Cintron then stated that his company " is seriously considering the program for next season." To help fight for "Life," contact: Operation "Life" Support, P.O. Box 641200, San Francisco, CA 94164-1200; fax (415) 292-4111; e-mail savemscl@aol.com. 10) American Theatre Salutes George Wolfe The December issue of American Theatre magazine includes an exceptional interview with director George Wolfe. Following his recent success with "Angels in America" on Broadway, Wolfe is now running the Public Theatre in Manhattan. Interviewer Ed Morales explores in depth Wolfe's approach to life and the theatre. Morales asks, "Do you want people to recognize you as a great director, or do you always want them to have in mind that you are an African American director or a gay African American director?" Wolfe's eloquent reply is: "It depends on the landscape. When I was doing 'Angels in America' on Broadway, I was aware that there'd been eight million gay directors on Broadway before me. The political agenda for me in that arena was that I was a director of color, because I think it was the first time in the history of Broadway that a black director had directed a major play that was not about people of color on Broadway. So the signal was a very specific one - it was unquestionably about race, in a play that was very much about sexual orientation. There's a line in The Colored Museum: 'I'm all of that and then some.' I encompass and embrace all of my complexities --and depending on what the landscape is, what the obstacle is, I may wave one banner more intensely in one arena than I do in another, simply because of the war that's being fought." Praise to interviewer Ed Morales and Editor Jim O'Quinn, American Theatre, Theatre Communications Group, 355 Lexington Ave., New York 10017. 11) "Harvey Milk," the Opera John von Rhein, music critic for the Chicago Tribune, reports that "Harvey Milk," which opened in Houston, Texas in January, and is the first openly-gay-themed opera in America, is "not without flaws, but the flaws are relatively minor and cannot obscure the work's many virtues, or the audacious brilliance of the production by director Christopher Alden and designer Paul Steinberg." The opera draws on the late Randy Shilts' moving biography "The Mayor of Castro Street," and the 1985 documentary film "The Times of Harvey Milk." Von Rein says that composer Stewart Wallace's score "parades its post-modernist eclecticism with all the flamboyance of a Gay Pride parade down Market Street." Houston right-wing radio talk shows aired hateful, homophobic diatribes about how the opera was heralding the end of world, while other religious fundamentalists threatened to disrupt the premiere. On opening night, however, the mood was celebratory, with no disruptions, as elegantly dressed couples - gay, lesbian and straight - jammed the Wotham Center to capacity, giving "Milk" a standing ovation. The opera closed in Houston in early February and will open at the New York City Opera later this year and then go on to San Francisco. Your comments may be directed to: Mr. David Gockley, General Director, Houston Grand Opera, 510 Preston, Houston, TX 77002; fax (713) 247-0906. 12) "Larroquette" In a subsidiary plot of the "John Larroquette" show (NBC-TV, Feb. 1, 9:30pm), there are two cops, one male and one female. The male, a redneck type, who thinks of himself as attractive. Some of his lines: "It's a sad day in America when a cop can't get a beer without someone addressing you with his eyes. And it's not just the women either. The uniform. The fact that I'm a real man. I'm telling you it makes me sick." Lea DeLaria is in the bar. He asks her, "Have you ever been with a man?" Lea, "No, have you?" They agree they will arm wrestle. The female cop says into the ear of the male cop, "Why don't you give her one of your magic kisses. Maybe you can get this truck moving in another direction." "The redneck says to his partner, "Do you think we can get her to take a dive?" His partner, the female cop, says, "The only way she's taking a dive is if Cindy Crawford is under the table." When they finally armwrestle, Lea wins. The tone of this gay subplot is supportive of gays and lesbians. Gays and lesbians are shown in the good light, the homophobic cops as buffoons. Thanks to Producers Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, Don Reo and John Larroquette, c/o NBC Entertainment, 3000 W. Alameda, Burbank, CA 91523. 13) Radio & Print My Hero, Maggie Sawyer DC Comics, a leading comic book publisher, has just completed a four-book mini-series, "Metropolis Special Crimes Unit" (S.C.U.). But, what's really special about the series is that the main character, Captain Maggie Sawyer, is a lesbian super-hero. And she' s even got a lover! Sawyer has appeared previously in the "Superman" series, though only as a supporting character. "Metropolis S.C.U." marks her first starring role. And that star certainly shines. In the new series, readers can see Sawyer protecting the planet as she fights off a variety of super-villains, while also depicting Sawyer's home life, as she deals with the less-fanciful difficulties of career, relationship, and motherhood. Significantly, "Metropolis S.C.U." has earned the Seal of Approval from the Comics Code Authority, a self-regulating industry agency that imposes rather restrictive content guidelines. The Seal of Approval essentially certifies the comic book as appropriate reading for all age groups, establishing that the comic book's appearance is certainly ground-breaking. Support for this heroic effort may be sent to: Jenette Kahn, President & Editor-In-Chief, DC Comics, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York 10019. 14) "Dear Abby," Dear Lesbian Abigail Van Buren ("Dear Abby") continues to outpace Ann Landers, her less-enlightened sister and advice-columnist cohort. The December 30 "Dear Abby" column featured a letter from a 25-year-old lesbian. "Although I am finally happy with my life, the misinformation and misunderstanding of homosexuality continues to appall me," she wrote, "Please print this open letter to all homophobic individuals." Van Buren did print the letter, which stated some simple, yet important truths about homophobia and homosexuality. Moreover, Van Buren offered this reply: "Dear Lesbian: Thank you for your honesty. I have always believed that one's sexual orientation is genetically determined before birth. Homosexuals have, for too long, suffered because of fear, ignorance and prejudice." Your comments may be sent to: "Dear Abby," P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles 90069. 15) NPR Omits Queer Kids On January 17, National Public Radio (NPR) featured an installment of a series on sex, hosted by New York correspondent Joe Richmond. "This week on NPR the subject is sex," the announcer said, "Today, we focus on youth." Remarkably, the well-intentioned 15-minute report never once mentioned lesbian, gay or bisexual youth. This omission only perpetuates the invisibility of queer kids, who are systematically ignored by the mainstream media. Through so many films, books and TV shows - the popular culture in which they live as strangers - queer youth are treated as if they do not exist. The stigma that attaches to such cultural annihilation partially explains why lesbian and gay teens suffer disproportionately from verbal and physical harassment, forced homelessness and suicide attempts. Send feedback to: Delano E. Lewis, President, NPR, 635 Massachusetts NW, Washington, DC 20001. 16) On Line Newt Begins His Record as Speaker House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) has admitted that he has promised to hold hearings sought by anti-gay extremist Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition. Sheldon has advocated confining HIV-positive people in concentration camps. In the last Congress he pushed an amendment that would have targeted lesbian and gay youth for discrimination in school. Contact Speaker Newt Gingrich: Phone - (202) 224-3121; E-mail: georgia6@hr.house.gov.; or by writing, including your name and address in your letter: Hon. Newt Gingrich, Office of the Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Richard Armey (R-Tex.) - Gingrich's second in command - referred to openly gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) as "Barney Fag" during a press briefing in the U.S. Capitol. GLAAD is demanding a public apology from Armey. "It is outrageous that one of the most powerful men in the house would use this kind of gutter language," said GLAAD Executive Director Ellen Carton. "It not only offends the millions of lesbian and gay Americans he is supposed to serve, it also sends the message that bigotry and intolerance have once again become acceptable in the corridors of power." Armey has a zero percent voting record on issues of fairness for lesbian and gay Americans. He has also refused to institute a written policy barring anti-gay discrimination in his Congressional office. Contact Rep. Richard Armey: Phone: (202) 224-3121; E-mail him at armey@hr.house.gov.; or by writing, including your name and address in your letter: Hon. Richard Armey, Office of the Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 Quotable Newtism... Says Newt Gingrich, "Pat Robertson is an extraordinary institution builder and visionary. I believe when the history of the 20th century is written, there are two preachers who, in fact, shaped much of the domestic/political debate of post-World War II America. One was black. One was white. One was Martin Luther King, Jr., and the other Pat Robertson. They had an enormous, profound effect." 17) TimesWatch New York... By Donald Suggs Most media outlets have reported on House Majority Leader Dick Armey's slur of Barney Frank. However, The New York Times has devoted a good deal of editorial page space to the larger issues the incident raises -- conservatives commitment to respecting the integrity of all minority groups and the political price they may pay if they continue to inflame prejudice. In a January 30 editorial, "Hate Speech Comes to Congress," the Times places the Armey slur into both a political and historical context. While one may have to look back to the days of Earl Butz to find a parallel example of such common behavior by a federal official, the Times editorial groups the Armey slur with other outrageous remarks recently made by such prominent conservatives such as Jesse Helms and Robert Dornan. The conclusion? That the mantle of leadership may have fallen on shoulders too slight to carry it. This doesn't mean that the words of a few extremists represent all conservatives. That's the point of a subsequent Times op-ed, "The Man Who Talked Too Much," by Bob Bauman, an openly gay Republican who was a representative from Maryland for eight years. Speaking from a conservative perspective, Baumann warns Republicans against trying to piece together angry, frustrated constituencies with appeals to prejudice, and points out that gays are the last group in our society who can be defamed without fear of meaningful censure. Finally, Frank Rich speaks about the potential backlash from gay and gay-friendly voters in a February 2 editorial page column, "Closet Clout." Rich writes about the negative effect of anti-gay rhetoric at the 1992 Republican convention and the number of gays who voted for candidates such as Richard Riordan in Los Angeles and Rudolph Giuliani in New York, to prove his point that Republicans are going to need this gay swing vote in the future. On a more recent note, the Times acknowledges that charity begins at home by focusing on the decision of New York State Attorney General Dennis Vacco to break with his predecessors by abolishing protection on the basis of sexual orientation in his office. The title of the February 4 editorial sends a message that clearly also applies nationally, that by promoting homophobia the Attorney General begins badly. While lesbian and gay issues have become much more prominent in the media, there is still very little understanding of how we actually live our daily lives. That was the biggest obstacle faced by "Serving in Silence" screenwriter Alison Cross, who was profiled in the February 5 New York Times article "A Love Story, Not a Courtroom Drama." "Serving in Silence" tells the story of Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer, who became the highest ranking military person to be discharged for being gay after she acknowledged her sexual orientation during a security clearance interview. While the issue of the military ban on lesbians and gay men has been widely publicized, there has been little attention paid to the human toll the ban has taken -- in this case on Cammermeyer relationship with artist Divelbess. "Without the love story," says Cross in the article, "I don't understand why Grethe would have said anything at all. That became the motivation that held the movie together." Unfortunately, this human dimension is also what makes gay-themed network television productions like "Serving in Silence" such a rarity. Dunlap deals with the uproar from conservatives over the production, including their unsuccessful attempt to pressure NBC into deleting an on-screen lesbian kiss. However, he never loses sight of a central theme of both the article and the movie -- that this is also a love story between a woman and her career. 18) GLAAD in the News By Donald Suggs and Darryl Clark It was a star-studded month for GLAAD as coverage of our highly successful, star-studded screening of "Serving in Silence" put GLAAD in the news all over the country. The January 23, 1995 event, held at the Cineplex Odeon Century Plaza Cinema in Los Angeles, was covered everywhere from Liz Smith's nationally syndicated column to The Washington Post. Prominently featured in the coverage was Barbra Streisand and Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer, who made live appearances at the event. Ellen Carton was also featured in the February 6 edition of The Wall Street Journal, discussing the merits of "Serving in Silence" and the ability of the producers to develop a project which pleased both network executives and gay rights advocates. GLAAD also recently announced the winners of our 1995 GLAAD Media awards, being held in New York at the Waldorf-Astoria on March 16 and in at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on March 12. The award winners have already been covered in USA Today, Daily Variety, The Los Angeles Times, NewYork Newsday, The Chicago Sun Times, and the wires services. And all this two months before the event. Based on a tip from a radio station employee, GLAAD learned early on about House Majority Leader Dick Armey's slur of Barney Frank. As a result, GLAAD was one of the first national organizations to respond. The result was the concluding quote by Ellen Carton in an Associated Press article on the controversy, and numerous radio appearances by both Carton and Associate Director Donald Suggs, WABC, WCBS, and the infamous Barry Gray Show among them. While we all mourn the apparent demise of "My So-Called Life," the teen-oriented ABC television show that included openly gay actor Wilson Cruz in the role of gay teen Ricky Vasquez, GLAAD was pleased that Ellen Carton had the opportunity to talk about the shows importance in an article in the Spanish language paper El Nuevo Herald. In a recent edition of Electronic Media, Carton was interviewed for an article focusing on the changing climate for lesbian and gay characters on television. Electronic Media is published by Crain Communications. 19) At it Again - LAPD On January 27 several prominent Los Angeles lesbian and gay organizations demanded immediate action against Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers who committed a hate crime against a young gay man that was documented in a New York Times Magazine (NYT) cover story on Jan. 22. The NYT story quotes an LAPD officer in the Rampart Division saying, "Stand still you [expletive] faggot. You're a faggot aren't you? You look like a faggot... Hey, you got AIDS?" to Julien, a 19-year-old robbery victim. The young man, alone on the street, had called police for help. Following this abuse, the officers violated LAPD policy by abandoning him when he said he wanted to kill himself. "We will not tolerate hate crimes being perpetrated by our own police force," said Lorri L. Jean, executive director of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center. "The mission of the LAPD is to serve and protect, not seek and destroy." Specifically, demands have been made that all officers involved in the incident be removed from street duty, that results of the investigation be made public, that officers found to have behaved inappropriately suffer the maximum punishment, that corrective measures be taken to prevent future hate crimes by officers, that the LAPD issue a public condemnation of the officers' behavior and a public apology to the young man, and that Chief Willie Williams appoint an openly lesbian or gay police officer to serve as a liaison to the gay/lesbian community, as is routinely done with respect to other communities, and create a special hate crimes unit. 20) Letters December 13, 1994 Ellen Carton GLAAD Dear Ellen, I'm writing to voice my concern about a recent Media Alert. December 13th's alert urged members to write to Robert Bartley at the Wall Street Journal to commend an opinion piece by author Jonathan Rauch on the roots of the so-called decline of the family. He points out that the real threats...divorce, illegitimacy, and infidelity....have nothing to do with sexual orientation, writes GLAAD. Indeed, Rauch takes the blame off queers, but I for one, am not about to write and thank the WSJ for a piece that actually reads: Divorce, illegitimacy and infidelity are the enemies of the family, and goes on, "Homosexuality is a peculiar and rare human trait that affects only a small percentage of the population and is of little inherent interest to the rest..." GLAAD called this a sensible, well written plea for tolerance. But inscribed in law, what Rauch (and GLAAD) call the universal values of marriage and legitimacy cultivate not tolerance but discrimination -- even violence -- against people born out of wedlock, people who have many sexual partners, and divorces. Rauch's piece is hardly a victory for me and mine. Especially not during this period when mainstream media and the new right are blaming women without husbands and children without legally married parents for almost everything thats wrong in the U.S. In the past, GLAAD might have called for an equivalent opinion piece on the contributions gays and lesbians have made critiquing traditional family norms, in a way that is most definitely of broad interest. This time, the new national group calls applause. Whats going on? Sincerely, Laura Flanders Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting 130 West 25th St. New York, NY 10001 CC: Kathy Acey, ASTRAEA National Lesbian Action Fund Ana Simo, the Lesbian Avengers Martin Duberman, CLAGS Donna Minkowitz, The Village Voice 21) Advertising Tracking the Ads The Media Outreach Committee wants to inform the gay and lesbian community of advertisers who either support programs about our community or contribute to censorship of those programs, and you can help. The next time you watch television, keep a pencil and paper handy. If there is such content, jot down the name of the show and its sponsors. Then, call the information into the GLAAD Hotlines: In Los Angeles: (213) U R GLAAD; fax (213) 658-6776; in New York (212) 802-1700; fax (212) 807-1806. If you are an advertising industry "insider" who might have access to information about advertisers who have been under boycott or hate-campaign pressure to cease advertising on programs that are lesbian and gay positive, please call us. Any information will be treated in confidence. 22) GLAAD News Writers Guild/Industry Health Fund Grant Benefits The Writers Guild-Industry Health Fund (the "Fund") has become the industry's first union health plan - and the first national multi-employer health plan in the country - to extend spousal benefits, including health and dental coverage, to members' same-sex domestic partners. The benefit, announced to Writers Guild members on January 13, will be available to members effective April 1, 1995, according to Rich Jennings, Executive Director of Hollywood Supports. The Fund Trustees' unanimous vote to extend the benefit to members' same-sex partners followed a similar unanimous vote by the Writers Guild of America West Board of Directors. A recent ruling by the IRS removed one potential legal obstacle to adoption of the benefit. This ruling, the first obtained for a multi-employer plan, has far reaching implications for workers nationwide since an estimated 10 million or more are covered by similar multi-employer health plans. Copies of Hollywood Supports model policy for domestic partnership insurance benefits, as well as your comments, may be directed to: Richard Jennings, ED, Hollywood Supports, 8455 Beverly Blvd., Suite 305, Los Angeles 90048; (213) 655-7705; fax (213) 655-0955. 23) "Workplace Sexual Orientation" GLAAD and Hollywood Supports report that over two dozen, highly trained, volunteer facilitators are available to present the 90-minute seminar "Workplace Sexual Orientation" at your workplace. For more information, to make suggestions on whom to contact at your workplace regarding the seminar, or to schedule a seminar, contact: GLAAD at (213) 658-6775 or Hollywood Supports Assistant Director Tamra King at (213) 655-7705. 24) Interview with Lia Shigemura GLAAD/SFBA Update Co-Editor Kathleen Wilkinson recently interviewed former Japanese American Citizen's League (JACL) staff member Lia Shigemura, who spoke out last August in favor of the JACL's adoption of a national resolution to support same-sex marriage. JACL is the first community civil rights organization to adopt such a measure. An edited version of the interview follows: KW: What led to the JACL's resolution to support same-sex marriages and your part in that effort? LS: In 1994 the national board of directors passed a resolution in support of same-sex marriages. This followed passing a resolution in support of gays in the military. When that got out to the national organization, there were homophobes coming out of the woodwork saying, "When our membership dollars are so thin, why are you taking stands on things that have nothing to do with Japanese Americans?" This culminated at the national council--JACL's meeting of all the chapters. They proposed a resolution against the board's earlier one in support of same-sex marriages. I was contacted by people on the national staff to speak out as a Japanese American lesbian and as a former staff member. I guess I was asked because people knew me. I started by writing a letter to the board and then I spoke out at the national council meeting. Basically what I told them was, you are the people from whom I learned my lessons about justice, you are my role models to speak out. So for them to turn around and say this is not a Japanese American issue, it's like saying labor issues are not a Japanese American issue or immigration is not a Japanese American issue. KW: It was reported in the San Francisco Chronicle that you said you felt very "un-Japanese" in speaking out. LS: To call attention to yourself is not a Japanese thing to do. It was meant to introduce humor. It was so un-Japanese to call attention to myself, especially to call attention to my sexuality. Japanese people don't talk about having sex much. KW: So that's a cultural difference that impacts this issue? LS: People see gays and lesbians and immediately think about what they do in bed. I think that homophobia in the Japanese American and the Asian community is as thick as in any other community. When I said un-Japanese, it's that you don't talk about yourself, you don't want to draw attention to yourself. KW: What kind of feedback did you get? LS: I got great feedback. After I spoke, this 80-year-old guy hugged me and he said, "I'm all for it, for whatever this is, it sounds good. You're a good person." There were two microphones, one for the pro and one for the con. People were standing up and giving very passionate pleas. There was a sansei woman, third generation. She said, "you can't choose to be Japanese American or not, but you can choose the lifestyle that you lead." But there were (other) old Japanese ladies standing up and speaking in support of gays and lesbians, and not saying the PC words that we would probably want to hear, but offering really heartfelt support. When the resolution passed to maintain the support, people burst into tears. We all embraced because everyone knew how important this was. This is the first minority civil rights organization to take this stand. KW: Do you think that this marks a change in people's understanding about the relationship between homophobia and racism? LS: I don't know if they realize that. I think that my presence and the presence of other Asian gays and lesbians made them think that we are a part of the community. Congressman Norm Minetta was great. I think the gay and lesbian community needs to acknowledge Norm's support. KW: It is also a good step because other organizations can follow this lead, like the Organization for Chinese Americans can be a role model for other organizations. What do you see as next steps? LS: I think a big future task for JACL within its own organization and within the Asian American community is this issue of educating about homophobia. People have asked me to come to their chapter meetings to talk about gay and lesbian issues. And then to draw the parallels between homophobia and racism. Racism is something they can understand and homophobia is something that they should be able to understand. KW: How did you feel about the media coverage of the decision? LS: Steve Chen and Ben Pimentel were covering it for the Chron and the Examiner. They called it a historic vote. Where they didn't cover it so much, was in JACL's own paper. I think it's also good for the dominant gay press to give the Asian lesbian and gay community credit where credit is due. Because so much of what we read in The Advocate or whatever, doesn't have this coverage in it. People think we're monolithic. I think that because the larger community sees us like that, sometimes we think that too. I was reading Out magazine's 100 movers and shakers. Most of them are white... Urvashi Vaid wasn't even mentioned. Isn't that amazing? As we go to press, we have learned of a surprising development: JACL's newly elected Board has laid off five members of its national staff for "financial reasons." There is some thought that this move was in retribution for their strong support of the same-sex resolution and other progressive issues. Urge President Denny Yasuhara to continue to support the resolution and gay issues. Write: JACL, 1765 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115. 25) Notre Dame Moves to Bar Gay Group University of Notre Dame officials have acted to bar further activities of a lesbian and gay student group on campus. Leaders of Gays & Lesbians of Notre Dame and St. Mary's College (GLND/SMC) were informed in a Jan. 23 meeting that the group would be denied access to the one room on campus that had been open to its use. John Blandford and Kelly Smith, co-chairs of the group, were instructed by Rev. Peter Rocca, assistant vice president for student affairs, that effective immediately the student-run, volunteer organization would be barred from gathering in the University Counseling Center. Notre Dame's action coincides with a planned appearance by openly gay New Republic magazine editor Andrew Sullivan. Sullivan's visit was arranged by GLND/SMC through the good offices of academic departments and recognized campus organizations as part of an effort to invite prominent speakers to address issues surrounding sexual orientation. Your comments may be sent to: Rev. Edward A. Malloy, President, University of Notre Dame, 301 Main Bldg., Notre Dame, IN 46556; GLND/SMC. P.O. Box 194, Notre Dame, IN 46556; e-mail blandford.1@nd.edu 26) Looking Ahead to 1996 The Los Angeles Nominations Committee (NC) for the 1996 GLAAD Media Awards is up and running. The NC, which is repsonsible for reviewing media distributed or produced during 1995 which honestly and accurately reflects our lesbian, gay and bisexual lives, includes seven sub-committees: Film, Television, Music, Radio, Theatre, Print and Advertising. NC members are encouraged to participate on one of more of these sub-committees. At the end of 1995, Los Angeles and New York NCs will jointly establish a slate of nominees and select the award recipients for next year's Media Awards. Contact: Garrett Hicks, NC co-chair, (818) 364-8935. 27) Portland Field Office From the GLAAD Dispatch In Oklahoma, House Joint Resolution (HJR1018), an anti-gay initiative, was introduced in mid-January and would prohibit any state, county or municipal government from adopting or enforcing laws, policies or regulations "whereby homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual orientation...shall constitute or otherwise be the basis of or entitle any person...to have minority status, quota preferences, protected status or claim of discrimination." The measure would also prohibit "teaching of homosexuality, lesbianism or bisexuality as natural lifestyles" and prohibit adoption and foster care by gays, lesbians or bisexuals. Contact: Pat Reaves, Simply Equal, Oklahoma City, (405) 524-7510; Tom Neal, Tulsa Family News (918) 583-5601. The documentary, "Ballot Measure 8," shared the Audience Award with "UnZipped" at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. "Ballot Measure 9" is the film that documents the struggle in Oregon to keep Measure 9, the anti-gay initiative from amending the Constitution of that state to declare that gay and lesbian people are "wrong, abnormal, perverse and unnatural." Heather MacDonald, the filmmaker, and her crew, spent months in Oregon talking to activists on both sides of the issue. Kudos to MacDonald for an extraordinary documentary film. 25) Chapter News From Chicago... by Randy Snyder On January 24, GLAAD representatives met with Tom Tradup, president and general manager and Drew Hayes, operations director of WLS Talkradio in Chicago. The two-hour meeting grew out of a letter written to Mr. Tradup by GLAAD/Chicago ED, Randy Snyder, regarding the outrageous ridicule and defamation targeting lesbians and gay men on talkshow host Jay Marvin's daily afternoon program. After listening to extractions from portions of Marvin's program, Mr. Tradup said, "I'm terribly sorry...This will clear itself up, on this station, faster than anything we've done." He then offered GLAAD/Chicago airtime on Marvin's show to discuss the issue with listeners and agreed to place public service announcements about GLAAD and defamation on the air. Your comments may be sent to: Tom Tradup, President and General Manager, WLS Talkradio AM/FM, 190 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60601; fax (312) 984-5305. On January 19, GLAAD/Chicago met with Dr. James J. Stukel, Chancellor of the University of Illinois/Chicago (UIC), regarding the hiring of former Illinois House Republican Chief of Staff Michael Tristano as Executive Associate Vice Chancellor for Administration and Human Resources (GLAAD Reports Jan '95). Tristano was responsible for an inflammatory election-eve flyer that attacked candidates who voted in favor of non-discrimination toward lesbians and gay men. Randy Snyder said, "It is abhorrent that the UIC, a university that is progressive on the issue of gay, lesbian and bisexual rights, would hire a person such as Tristano, who admittedly called the flyer 'sensitive' and 'appropriate' in how it handled the gay and lesbian equal rights issue." Dr. Stukel is presently discussing the subject with his staff. Your comments may be directed to: Dr. James J. Stukel, Chancellor, UIC, 601 S. Morgan, Room 2833, Chicago, IL 60612; fax (312) 413-3393. GLAAD/Chicago is looking for volunteers to help plan, execute and support a GLAAD/Chicago major fundraiser on September 16, 1995. This event will coincide with the national GLAAD Board of Directors quarterly meeting being hosted by GLAAD/Chicago on September 16-17. Anyone interested may call (312) 871-7633. 29) From NCA... by Cathy Rena GLAAD/NCA held a "Serving in Silence" party at our offices with approximately 30 people in attendance. We supplied names/addresses for NBC-TV and advertisers that supported the movie. We helped in local and national coverage of Rep. Dick Armey's remark about Barney Frank. A GLAAD/NCA representative will be on local WDCA (channel 20) program "Making a Difference" as part of a panel discussing "Media Portrayals of Minority Groups." 30) From San Diego... by Dennis Lucarelli GLAAD/SD is vigorously supporting Susan Davis, a pre-operative transsexual arrested by a San Diego vice-squad officer who answered a personal ad. Davis is suing Wackenhut Corporation, a Florida-based private concern that operates prisons throughout the southern states and in San Diego. Davis was raped while in jail by several male prisoners. "The more witnesses I talk to," says Davis, "the more I believe the guards deliberately set me up to be raped." GLAAD/SD has criticized The San Diego Union Tribune for neglecting to cover the story, but two local television stations, KGTV and KNSD, deserve credit for their sensitive portrayal on the Davis trial. GLAAD/SD urges concerned members to write: George Zoley, President, Wackenhut Corp., 1500 San Remo Ave., Coral Gables, FL 33146; Jack McGory, City Manager, City of San Diego, 202 "C" St., San Diego, CA 92101. 31) From San Francisco... by Al Kielwasser GLAAD/SFBA, a 501(c)(3) grassroots organization with a $150-200K annual budget, seeks a full time Managing Director to work with an Executive Board. Major responsibilities are fundraising, program coordination, fiscal management and office management. Position requires strong skills in computer use (MAC and IBM/Clone), fiscal operations, and public relations; background in media advocacy preferable. Salary $28-34K DOQ, plus health insurance. Please submit resumes and letters of interest to: Laurie Falik & Al Kielwasser, Co-Chairs, GLAAD/SFBA, 1360 Mission St., Suite 200. San Francisco, CA 94103. Please do not telephone the office; we can accept only written applications. Riggs Remembered... As part of African American History Month, the Berkeley Public Library presented "Marlon Riggs Remembered," a free program recalling the man and his ground-breaking contributions to lesbian/gay media. In addition to Riggs' films, the Feb. 10 program featured live music, poetry, and commentary. Your comments may be sent to: Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge, Berkeley, CA. Talking Back to "HateTalk" Radio...Responding to KSFO's AIDS-phobic and homophobic broadcasts, over a hundred protesters -- including S.F. Supervisors Tom Ammiano, Carole Migden and Sue Bierman -- picketed the offices of the Bay Area radio station. The February 3 demonstration was spearheaded by ACT UP/Golden Gate,GLAAD, Mobilization Against AIDS, The AIDS Policy Project, and Project Inform. KSFO is one of several Bay Area broadcasting ventures owned by media giant ABC (the American Broadcasting Company). At the center of the current controversy is J. Paul Emerson, a star attraction in KSFO's conservative "HotTalk" format. Emerson's daily broadcasts consist almost wholly of bigoted epithets. For example, he has referred to gay men as "sick butt humpers" and describes Japanese Americans as "rotten and filthy." Most recently, Emerson used the public airwaves to call for the imprisonment of persons with AIDS, and he has repeatedly made false claims about how HIV is transmitted. Emerson insists that HIV is an airborne contagion, and he warns his listeners that gay people are purposely spreading the virus and endangering non-gays. S.F. Mayor Frank Jordan wrote a letter to KSFO's general manager in which he described Emerson's HIV broadcasts as "absolutely false" and a threat to "the public health and safety of our citizens." "Mr. Emerson does have the right to free speech," Jordan added, "He does not have the right to go unchallenged." Continued complaints should be directed to: Robert Iger, Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., 77 W. 66th Street, New York 10021; fax (212) 456-1419. Mickey Luckoff, KSFO's General Manager, fax (415) 391-2795. Compliments should go to Tom Ammiano, Carole Migden and Sue Bierman, Board of Supervisors, Room 235, City Hall, San Francisco, CA 94102; Frank Jordan, Room 200, City Hall, San Francisco, CA 94102. Samples of J. Paul Emerson's hateful and lunatic broadcasts have been recorded on a special GLAAD hotline. Anyone who has not heard Emerson on the air is encouraged to call (415) 905-9222 and judge for yourself. The hotline operates 24 hours a day. Bigotry is Bad Business...KSFO's management continues to ignore complaints about the radio station's homophobic broadcasts. However, KSFO's advertisers seem to be getting the message, loud and clear. Convinced that hatred doesn't sell, major sponsors are rapidly canceling their advertising accounts. According to an ACT UP tally, companies that have pulled out include Safeway Stores, Virgin Atlantic, the California State Lottery Board, and AT&T. A number of businesses, however, still don't know what they're paying for, and need to be reminded that bigotry is bad business. Companies currently advertising on KSFO include Vantage Press, Gold Bond Powder, Tide (Procter & Gamble), and IBM. Concerns can be shared with: Gold Bond Powder/Martin Himmel Inc., Hypoluxo, FL 33462; Peggy McDonough, Procter & Gamble, Public Affairs Division, P.O. Box 599, Cincinnati, OH 45201-0599; IBM, Old Orchard Road, Armonk, NY 10504. Compliments should be sent to: California State Lottery Board, tel. (916) 322-5156; Steven Burd, Safeway Stores, 201 Fourth Street, Oakland, CA 94660; Ross Markwardt, AT&T, 796 Folsom street, San Francisco, CA 94107; Andrea Spiegel, Virgin Atlantic Airways, 96 Morton Street, New York, NY 10014. 32) Quotable Quote... From Keith Ramsey, coordinator of a new political action committee, Protest: GOP '96, which is organizing protests against the GOP when its convention meets in San Diego in 1996, "With the GOP's historical opposition to women's equality, lesbian and gay civil rights and freedom of choice, and with the party's support for (anti-immigrant) Proposition 187, insensitivity to environmental issues, and hawkish pro-war stances, the possibilities for expressing popular dissent against Republican policies are virtually endless." 33) Hate Media God's "Final Warning" to America details the process by which "divine" intervention (in the form of natural disasters) will ultimately kill off lesbians and gays. This twisted message and other homophobia is being promulgated by "Cops for Christ," P.O. Box 99, Farmingdale, NY 11735. 34) New York GLAAD Notes GLAAD & HX magazine will sponsor a free preview screening of The Samuel Goldwyn Company release based on the play by the same name, "The Sum Of Us," on March 7, at the Angelika 57 in New York at 7pm. A special committee of transgendered community leaders are working with GLAAD to produce a GLAAD fundraiser and outreach event to New York transgender communities. The event will take place at Club 58 on Sunday, April 9, and feature diverse transgender, bisexual, lesbian and gay entertainers. Next up, the Membership Committee is busy planning GLAADs first singles event (for men and women) for mid-April in New York. Craig J. Davidson/Michael G. Valentini Internship Spend the summer working for an advocacy group which promotes fair, accurate and inclusive images of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals on TV and radio, in film, advertising, popular music and print media. Plan media visibility campaigns and help educate media professionals about gay, lesbian and bisexual lives. Mobilize the gay, bisexual and lesbian community when acts of defamation, misrepresentation or invisibility occur in the media. GLAAD is currently seeking full-time interns who will receive a $2,500 stipend to work with GLAAD for three months during the summer of 1995. The internship is open to any undergraduate or graduate student who has experience in organizations dealing with lesbian and gay rights and visibility. Please send your cover letter, resume, three references and one-page writing sample to: GLAAD, 150 West 26 Street, Suite #503, New York 10001, by April 15, 1995. New York MediaWatch Update The GLAAD MediaWatch appears each week in New York on Gay Cable Networks news program Gay USA. This 3 minute segment is designed to give viewers weekly news and information about how lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are being represented in the media, and urge them to respond. The segment is delivered by eight diverse hosts on an eight-week rotation. New hosts are always welcome to audition. Send headshots and resumes to: GLAAD, 150 West 26th Street, Suite #503, New York 10001. GLAAD would eventually like to syndicate the spot to gay and lesbian cable shows nationwide. Please send enquiries to the above address or call (212 807-1700. 35) GLAAD Wants Your Letter The need for continual gay and lesbian reaction to the events that are shaping our lives and our future is very important; this is one of our most effective tools. When you send a letter responding to a g/l issue, send a copy to us for our files. We would also like to have a copy of any response you receive. Send to: New York Headquarters, 150 W. 26th St., Suite 503, New York 10001; (212) 807-1700; fax (212) 807-1806; or Los Angeles Headquarters, 8455 Beverly Blvd, #305, Los Angeles 90048; (213) 658-6775; fax (213) 658-6776. 36) Electronic Mail If you have a computer with a modem and have access to any of these nets, you can pick up this newsletter before it goes to press, about two weeks ahead of your mailbox. Queer Resources Directory: qrd@vector.casti.com Soc.motss (members of the same sex): subscribe to the UseNet Group GayNet-Digest: subscribe by sending e-mail to: majordomo@queernet.org message to consist of: subscribe gaynet-digest The newsletter is on both America Online and Internet with just the articles and an index. You can get the complete newsletter, exactly as it goes to the printer and at the same time it goes to the printer, by setting your modem for the GLAAD BBS, (213) 658-6516. 37) "Hot Tips" Welcomed GLAAD needs advance information on films, TV programs and commercials with lesbian/gay themes or characters. The Media Outreach Committee would like to know of any projects in any stages of production or release. (Development stage may be premature.) Call, fax or write to us in New York at: 150 W. 26th St., New York 10001 Phone: (212) 807-1700 fax (212) 807-1806 In Los Angeles: 8455 Beverly Blvd., #305, Los Angeles 90048 Phone: (213) 658-6775 Hotline - (213) U R GLAAD fax - (213) 658-6776 When you contact us, please include the following information: producing company or studio; names of the producers or directors; synopsis; start or release date; any relevant material. All information will be kept confidential. wasmith@eis.calstate.edu waughs@aol.com ~c q