Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 17:35:57 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADAlert 05.30.97 GLAADALERT May 30, 1997 The GLAADAlert is the weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Contents: 1. Anti-Gay Dr. Laura Goes On Homophobic Warpath (Dr. Laura Schlessigner (psychologist)) 2. Lesbians-Where The Boys Are? (Vanity Fair (magazine)) 3. Rolling Stone Remembers Allen (Rolling Stone (magazine)) 4. Domestic Partnership and Business: A Good Marriage (San Franicsco Chronicle (newspaper), MSNBC Online (online news service)) 5. GQ and RuPaul See Double (GQ (magazine)) 1. Anti-Gay Dr. Laura Goes On Homophobic Warpath In a May 25 column appearing in newspapers all over the country, Dr. Laura Schlessinger calls gay men and lesbians "afflicted," calls being gay a "biological faux pas," and denounces lesbian and gay parented families as inferior to cogendered, heterosexual parented ones. "With respect to gender identity," she writes, "heterosexuality is the functional norm," while she sees homosexuality as "an error in proper brain development. Acceptance of [homosexuality] as a state of being comparable to heterosexuality is not appropriate." She then tries to paint herself as tolerant: "A significant bulk of the critical letters I get at my radio program have to do with my apparent 'tolerance' of homosexuals-that I talk to gays and lesbians about the same moral, ethical and life issues as I do with heterosexuals when I should be condemning them. Even for me, it is too great, bizarre and regrettable a leap to go from compassion and tolerance for an individual who is 'afflicted with homosexuality' to declaring that nuclear, heterosexual families have no importance or advantage over any other form of family. To even suggest that this state of being is equivalent morally or practically to heterosexuality is taking an advocacy to the degree of being destructive to children's development-as well as to the very existence and continuity of a coherent society." Either Schlessinger is ignorant to the increasingly large volume of psychological and sociological studies that have proven that children with same-sex parents are as well-adjusted and healthy as those of cogendered parents, or she chooses to stick her head in the sand to protect her own prejudices and bigotry. Her assertion that being gay is an "error in brain development" as opposed to just a difference, like skin color or personality is completely groundless in scientific fact. Finally, how same-sex parenting could possibly be seen as "destructive" to the existence and continuity of society is just plain irrational. Her bigotry is a slap in the face to serious psychological professionals, same-sex parents, their children and all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Write to Dr. Laura and expose her prejudice for what it is-irrational and ill-informed-and provide her with a "bulk of critical letters" explaining that her thinking isn't tolerance-it's bigotry. Contact: Dr. Laura Schlessinger, New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 122 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10168, phone: 1.800.375.2872, e-mail: wisdom@cprinc.com, WWW: http://www.drluara.com/forum. 2. Lesbians-Where The Boys Are? In June's Vanity Fair, writer James Wolcott explores "lesbian chic" in the media in an interesting and thought-provoking article entitled "Lover Girls." Wolcott states that "once the mere malicious mention of lesbianism could be life-ruining, now the word has acquired designer-label panache." He claims that straight white men have thrusted, exploited, even helped create this new, media friendly image of "lesbianism." The article quotes Washington Post writer Kara Swisher as stating, "'even with the welcome warmth of the spotlight, lesbians shouldn't allow anyone to exploit them for their trendiness...if they do, they will inevitably be left behind in the fringes of cultural acceptance with new and damaging stereotypes to counter.'" With the television milestone of Ellen's coming out, the media and America are more attuned to the concept of lesbians than ever before. Wolcott's article serves to raise a cautious red flag: When pop culture deems marginalized groups as more acceptable, often the result in larger society is, in fact, a warped perception of that group's collective identity which erases diversity. Unfortunately, Wolcott fails to recognize the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who paved the way for "straight white men" to feel safe in backing projects with lesbian characters and themes. In addition, the so-called "designer-label panache" is something of a misnomer. After all, if it were really so "trendy" to be openly lesbian in Hollywood, it would seem like more than a handful of performers would be out. As it is, Wolcott's observation and warnings serve as a reminder that our community must always be questioning who is producing images of us and for what purpose, but we still have a long way to go before being lesbian can be seen as a sought-after "fashion statement" by popular culture. Please thank Vanity Fair for this interesting, thought provoking article on a very timely, "chic" topic. Contact: Graydon Carter, Editor, Vanity Fair, 350 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017-3799, fax: 212.880.6707, email: vsmail@vs.com. 3. Rolling Stone Remembers Allen Since gay poet, revolutionary and controversial American cultural icon Allen Ginsberg died April 5, many newspapers and magazines have done tributes to him, but few with the depth of feeling and breadth that Rolling Stone printed in its May 29 issue. In an eight-page article, writer Mikal Gilmore puts into historical, political and personal perspective both Ginsberg's life and work, without shying away from his homosexuality or some of his more controversial acts. "Not since the 1977 death of Elvis Presley and the 1980 murder of John Lennon has a certain segment of popular culture had to come to terms with the realization of such an epochal ending. Allen Ginsberg not only made history but also lived through and embodied some of the most remarkable cultural mutations of the last half-century....Perhaps only Martin Luther King, Jr.'s brave and costly quest has a more genuinely liberating impact upon the realities of modern history, upon the freeing up people and voices that much of established society wanted kept in the margins," Gilmore writes. Still, he notes, "Ginsberg was also, of course, simply a man-at turns generous and competitive, self-aware yet self-aggrandizing, old in his wisdom, juvenile in his tastes and affections, and relentlessly promiscuous though deeply faithful." He writes of the poet's friendships and sexual affairs with the core of the Beat Generation, including Neal Cassidy, Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs and his long-term partner Peter Orlovsky. Finally, unlike so many other figures of that era, until his death, "Ginsberg would remain an important artists and active force." In addition, Rolling Stone compiled tributes from a number of literary, Beat and musical luminaries. With numerous photographs of Ginsberg from through his life, as well as images of many who were close to him, the entire tribute is powerful and honest, fully embracing Ginsberg's open and explicit sexual orientation and sexuality. Please commend Rolling Stone for doing justice in the memory of a gay American cultural luminary. Contact: Jann S. Wenner, Editor and Publisher, Rolling Stone, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10014-0298, fax: 212.767.8214, e-mail: rollingstone@echonyc.com. 4. Domestic Partnership and Business: A Good Marriage With the June 1 deadline for businesses who work with the City of San Francisco to comply with the new domestic partnership ordinance, the May 28 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle and the May 29 edition of MSNBC Online both looked at how the law is good for businesses and equal rights. The Chronicle story, headlined, "Big Help for Small Firms: Large Insurers to Office Domestic Partner Coverage," noted that "thanks in large part to the domestic partner law due to take effect on Sunday," all five of the largest healthcare insurers in California now offer domestic partnership coverage to small businesses. Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Health Net, PacifiCare and Kaiser Foundation, "hold more than 75 percent of the market," it said, "and observers predicted that other insurers will follow suit." The article quotes Bill Corba, a vice president at Blue Shield of Northern California, saying, "'I see this will become the industry standard in a very short time.'" The MSNBC piece, entitled "Domestic-Partner Benefits: Good Business," notes that the San Francisco law "has become a model for the state." In it, West Hollywood City Council member Steve Martin says, "'I think it's going to be common 10 years from now.'" Addressing the concern that it will be excessively expensive for small businesses, the report says, "With 170 unmarried people on the payroll, only a handful of the city employees of West Hollywood took the offer of a domestic partner benefit package. The low percentage is similar among small and large businesses." Please let the San Francisco Chronicle and MSNBC know that their clear-headed, objective reporting on this hot-button issue of workplace equality is appreciated. Contact: William German, Editor, San Francisco Chronicle, 901 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-2988, fax: 415.512.8196, email: danr@sfgate.com; Mark Harrington, Vice President, MSNBC, 2200 Fletcher Avenue, Fort Lee, NJ 07024, fax: 201.583.5512, email: opinion@msnbc.com. 5. GQ and RuPaul See Double The June issue of GQ (Gentlemen's Quarterly) features a fun and gender bending photo spread and interview, entitled "Dude Looks Like A Lady," with the supermodel drag performer RuPaul. With the help of computer technology, RuPaul is featured frolicking around Manhattan with none other than himself, out of drag and in a men's suit. The accompanying interview by Sallie Motsch finds RuPaul discussing his life as a drag performer, answering such questions as where he hides his "candy." RuPaul tells GQ that he is "the queen you can take home to meet Mom and Dad." Please thank GQ, a magazine targeted at straight men, but read by many gay ones, for this fun, gender bending photo spread and interview with Ru. Encourage them to include more articles about the lesbian, gay, bisexuals and transgender community. Contact: Arthur Cooper, Editor-In-Chief, GQ: Gentlemen's Quarterly, 350 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017-3704, fax: 212.880.8548, email: ggmag@aol.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. Contact GLAAD by e-mail at glaad@glaad.org or by phone at 213.658.6775 (Los Angeles), 212.807.1700 (New York), 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 registered 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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