Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 15:18:47 -0700 From: GLAAD Subject: GLAADAlert 01.10.97 GLAADALERT January 10, 1997 The GLAADAlert is the weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Contents: 1. Rhonda's Relativity Kiss (ABC (Television Network), Relativity (Television Drama)) 2. Bigoted Quacks Attack Gay Men As Sick (The Wall Street Journal (Newspaper)) 3. Ex-Ex-Gay Web Site Debunks Anti-Gay "Cures" (ExEx (Online Resource)) 4. ABC Holding Key to Ellen's Closet, Taking Five Gay Characters Off Air (ABC (Television Network), Ellen (Television Sitcom), Associated Press (Newswire)) 5. Boston Globe Feature Celebrates Same-Sex Marriage For Children's Sake (Boston Globe (Newspaper)) 6. I Love A Parade (Parade (Magazine)) 7. Paper Profiles HIV-Positive Windy City Politician (Chicago Tribune (Newspaper)) 8. CNN Says Gay TV Characters Don't Risk Sponsor Support (CNN (Television News Network)) 1. Rhonda's Relativity Kiss The Saturday, January 11 episode of ABC's acclaimed series Relativity features a passionate kiss between Rhonda Roth, a lesbian character played by Lisa Edelstein, and her new girlfriend. For Rhonda, one of the most complex and realistic lesbian characters on television today, the kiss is in keeping with the character's romantic development. Unlike other lesbian and gay television characters (most notably Matt on Melrose Place), Rhonda not only experiences a full range of emotions, but is also allowed to show physical affection. This multi-dimensional character can only make future lesbian and gay characters more complete and realistic. The episode will portray a much-publicized steamy love scene between the two heterosexual main characters that stands in direct contrast to the much tamer lesbian kiss, highlighting that while Rhonda's kiss is progress, television still has a long way to go towards equitable representation of the romantic and sexual relationships of heterosexuals as opposed to those of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people. According to ABC, the program will receive a TV-14 rating for the sexual content. "We are enthusiastic about this honest portrayal of a lesbian character's romantic relationship," said GLAAD Managing Director William Waybourn. Please let ABC know that we appreciated Rhonda's romantic turn, and encourage them to continue to develop a realistic romantic element to her evolving relationship and make known your desire to keep Relativity on the air. Contact: Jamie Tarses, ABC Television Network, 2040 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067, fax: 310.557.7679, e-mail: abcaudr@ccabc.com. 2. Bigoted Quacks Attack Gay Men As Sick The January 9 Wall Street Journal featured an op-ed by infamous and widely discredited psychiatrists attacking gay men as sick and promoting the much-dismissed "reparative therapy" to "cure" homosexuality. In "Don't Forsake Homosexuals Who Want Help," anti-gay ideologues Charles Socarides, Benjamin Kaufman, Joseph Nicolosi, Jeffrey Satinover and Richard Fitzgibbons put forth the absurd thesis that, "Every day young men seek help because they are experiencing an unwanted sexual attraction to other men, and are told that their condition is untreatable. It is not surprising that many of these young men fall into depression or despair when they are informed that a normal life with a wife and children is never to be theirs." (Never mind the fact that many gay couples are raising families of their own.) They then claim that because such men are not provided treatment to "cure" homosexuality, many young gay men practice unsafe sex. In bizarre fifties-style pseudo-Freudian jargon, they say that by strengthening the masculinity of such men, "as these men become more conformable and confident with their manhood, same-sex attractions decrease significantly." The final insult comes with their claim that, "We would do well to reflect that some of the young men who have died of AIDS have sought treatment for homosexuality and were denied knowledge and hope. Many of them would be alive today if they had only been told where to find the help they sought." If this sounds like something out of the distant past, that's because it is. The worn-out and wholly false overbearing mother/distant, demasculinized father pop-Freudian "cause" of homosexuality that was bandied about through much of the 1950s and 1960s was completely rejected by the American Psychiatric Association in the early 1970s. Indeed, it is the stigma society places on homosexuality that causes distress in young gay men, and it is through growing past one's internalized homophobia that one becomes cured of these feelings. Serious medical and psychological professionals understand that homophobia is the disorder, not being gay. It is shameful of the Wall Street Journal to give such harbingers of hate the validation of posing as real men of medicine. Demand that the newspaper provide ample space for true medical professionals to give counterpoint to this dangerous nonsense. Contact: David Asman, Op-Ed Editor, Wall Street Journal, 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10281, phone: 212.416.2561, fax: 212.416.2658, e-mail: editor@cor.dowjones.com. 3. Ex-Ex-Gay Web Site Debunks Anti-Gay "Cures" On December 24, the Ex.Ex site (http://members.aol.com/exexgay) which is a site on the World Wide Web devoted to exposing the lies of so-called "reparative therapy" and "ex-gay ministries" that claim to "cure" homosexuality. In the words of the site, "Most people are aware that there is a group of people that say that homosexuality can be 'healed' or 'cured.' Unfortunately that claim, combined with social and religious pressures, has caused many gays and lesbians to go through the emotionally damaging and unsuccessful process of 'sexual re-orientation.'" Doug Upchurch, founder of the site, says that, "It is our belief that a person that accepts and integrates their sexual orientation is a healthier person, both mentally and emotionally. After spending almost 12 years of my life in both formal and informal ex-gay groups, I know there are many ex-gay groups, but there are many more ex-ex-gays." Ex.Ex also features information about so-called ex-gay ministries, personal stories from ex-ex-gays, and links to other useful sites. Please send letters of support to this new affirming and informative web site. Contact: Doug Upchurch, Ex.Ex, e-mail: exexgay@aol.com, WWW: http://members.aol.com/exexgay. 4. ABC Holding Key to Ellen's Closet, Taking Five Gay Characters Off Air According to a January 10 Associated Press story, ABC's Ellen is ready to come out, but ABC may not let her. ABC Entertainment President Jamie Tarses admitted this week that an episode of the sitcom that reveals Ellen Morgan (Ellen DeGeneres' title character) is a lesbian is in the works. In the January 10 wire story, Tarses is quoted telling reporters that "'We are very seriously considering going in the direction that everyone is speculating on.'" She would not make any guarantees that the episode would air, however. "In any case, nothing will happen immediately," the AP article states. "Ellen will go off the air in March and April so its 9:30 Wednesday slot can showcase a new romantic sitcom starring Arsenio Hall on March 5." Additionally, the article says, NYPD Blue will be taken off during March and April to launch a law drama entitled The Practice, Relativity will be bumped during February sweeps and Murder One will leave the weekly primetime schedule on January third to come back as a three-part miniseries in April. This shuffling indicates a disturbing trend. Not counting the Ellen Morgan character, ABC will be pulling five of the remaining 22 lesbian and gay characters on prime time off the air during the spring. According to GLAAD's Managing Director William Waybourn, "It is a great tragedy that ABC is now waffling on what could be one of the boldest and most dramatic steps ever taken by an American television network. It defies understanding that ABC would float yet another trial balloon to determine if they should air this groundbreaking episode of Ellen. It would be a grave injustice if ABC robbed the American public of this tremendous opportunity to get to know such a positive lesbian character." Let ABC know that the only thing holding back Ellen from coming out now is their own unfounded fears, and insist that Ellen be let out of the closet and that ABC renew its commitment to diversity and inclusion in its programming. Contact: Jamie Tarses, ABC Television Network, 2040 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067, fax: 310.557.7679, e-mail: abcaudr@ccabc.com. 5. Boston Globe Feature Celebrates Same-Sex Marriage For Children's Sake The January 5 Boston Globe featured a lengthy feature by E.J. Graff that explored the many reasons that the legalization of same-sex marriage can only help children. "Whenever a previously forbidden family arrangement starts to look reasonable, those who still recoil-but can't find rational reasons-thump their chests about 'the children,' deflecting anxiety onto a cultural ideal so pure and shiny that many can't squint past it to see the facts," Graff wrote. The author then dismantles myths of gay parenting, such as "fear that children will grow up deprived of male or female influences," and "propaganda that confuses homosexuality and pedophilia, despite the avalanche of facts." Graff also says that, "Some argue that it's unfair to let children be stigmatized by their parents' homosexuality. But could anyone but Pharaoh suggest that, saw, Jews should not have children because they, too, will suffer anti-Semitism? Hardly. If society really wants to rescue children of same-sex parents from stigma, why not let the parents marry?" In summary, the author says, "More Americans are in favor of same-sex marriage today than were in favor of interracial marriage when the Supreme Court struck down antimiscegination laws in 1967. Maybe they're thinking of someone they know-or of the best interests of the child." Congratulate the Boston Globe for publishing what is one of the most exhaustive, convincing and thoughtful arguments for same-sex marriage yet to appear in a mainstream newspaper. Contact: Boston Globe, P.O. Box 2378, Boston, MA 02107, fax: 617.929.2098, e-mail: letter@globe.com. 6. I Love A Parade In the January 5 "Fresh Voices" section of Parade magazine, which appears in thousands of newspapers each Sunday, three lesbian and gay youth shared their personal feelings so, as author Lynn Minton reports, "other young homosexuals would not feel so alone-and so that heterosexuals would better understand what it's like to be a teenager and to be gay." C.C., 21, from Utah wrote that, "I've always been afraid to tell my friends, because I knew that they would hate me or beat me up and never talk to me again. But I can't change who I am or how I feel. No one can control love and emotions. If being gay is wrong, then why does God let it happen?" Steven Garza, 21, of Harlingen, Texas, was more optimistic: "A year after I graduated from high school, I decided to be what I felt inside. Since then, I have been happy. I am in college, I have a boyfriend, and I live a normal life just like anyone else does. I'd like [other teenagers] to know that repressing your feelings will only make it worse on yourself. You are not alone just because you are gay." Sara Davila, 20, of Gauley Bridge, West Virginia, came out beginning her junior year of high school, to generally positive responses from family and friends. Finally, at the end of the article, Minton provides several resources for lesbian and gay youth. Please commend Parade for this excellent discussion of lesbian and gay youth, and encourage them to increase their coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues and personalities in the future. Contact: Walter Anderson, Editor, Parade, 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, fax: 212.450.7284. 7. Paper Profiles HIV-Positive Windy City Politician The December 29 edition of the Chicago Tribune profiled Larry McKeon, a newly elected Democratic member of the Illinois House who is the first openly gay or HIV-positive person elected to an Illinois state office. The article examines the ways in which the "fraternity house" culture of the Statehouse and the common rejection of gay-inclusive legislation "without comment" by legislators may have to change because of McKeon's presence: "'Just by him being there, he'll be saying to people, "Look at me, I'm just like everybody else,"' said Rep. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago), a friend of McKeon's." The story also relates his own personal struggle to come out of the closet at 40 and later become Mayor Daley's liaison to gay and lesbian leaders in the City in a time when Daley's relationship with the community was "contentious." "But McKeon says he cares most about healing society's problems," the article says. "It was the topic of his campaign literature and the issue he discussed most passionately. 'I bring a lot of things to the table,' McKeon said. 'Being HIV-positive is just one of them.'" Please let the Chicago Tribune know their profile is appreciated and appropriate. Contact: Howard Tyner, Chicago Tribune, P.O. Box 4041, Chicago, IL 60611-4041, fax: 312.222.3143, e-mail: tribletter@aol.com. 8. CNN Says Gay TV Characters Don't Risk Sponsor Support On CNN, a December 27 report by correspondent Sherri Sylvester revisited the "Is She or Isn't She" Ellen theme once again, emphasizing that while Ellen continues to play coy, having lesbian and gay characters on prime time television is becoming more commonplace and, as it does, carries less of a stigma for advertisers. "These days," Sylvester reports, "gay characters rarely bring advertiser backlash. Jack Kenny, an openly gay writer and producer, says such storylines are seldom seen as risky business." She also asks, "Does the average TV viewer care? Behind-the-scenes gay writers work on many of the top sitcoms and are partly responsible for the increased presence of gay characters. Ellen Morgan still remains halfway in, or out, of the closet. But all around her, more and more gay characters are stepping out of the shadows and into sitcom families." Sylvester's discussion of the rising numbers shows with lesbian and gay characters and the lack of "advertiser backlash" is heartening. It reflects the reality that much of the industry and media speculation about television representation of lesbians and gay men as a threat to viewership and sponsorship is much ado about nothing. Nonetheless, it is important to acknowledge that gay and lesbian characters still make up a minuscule number of the characters on prime time, and that advertisers, who often shy away from controversy of any kind, are still stumbling blocks to more accurate and inclusive representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters and issues. However, Sylvester's report also raises another issue: As resistance from sponsors decreases, will the entertainment industry seize the opportunity to create more complete and challenging lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters? Or is much of the foot-dragging coming from homophobia within the industry itself? Please let CNN know that their coverage of this important issue is appreciated. And more in-depth examinations of why there aren't more realistic lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters on television is necessary. Contact: Ed Turner, Executive Vice President, CNN, 1 CNN Center, Atlanta, GA 30348-5466, fax: 404.737.3323, email: cnn.feedback@cnn.com. The GLAADAlert is the weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. GLAAD is the lesbian and gay news bureau and the only national lesbian and gay multimedia watchdog organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. Copies of articles referred to in the GLAADAlert are available to our members by contacting GLAAD. Contact GLAAD by e-mail at glaad@glaad.org or by phone at 213.658.6775 (Los Angeles), 212.807.1700 (New York), 413.586.8928 (Northampton), 202.986.1360 (Washington, DC) or 415.861.2244 (San Francisco). Report defamation in the media by calling GLAAD's Toll-Free AlertLine! 1-800-GAY-MEDIA (1-800-429-6334) Visit GLAAD's Web Site at http://www.glaad.org "GLAADAlert," "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org TO REPORT DEFAMATION IN THE MEDIA - Call GLAAD's Alertline at 1.800.GAY.MEDIA or go to the GLAAD Web Site at www.glaad.org and report through our Alertline Online. 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