Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 14:11:43 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADAlert 08.29.97 Times00FF,00FF,00FF GLAADALERT August 29, 199700FF,00FF,00FF The GLAADAlert is the weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Table of Contents 1. GLAADAlert Follow-Up--Enough Is Enough Says "Enough" (Enough Is Enough (Anti-Pornography Internet Organization)) 2. Hard Copy Pits "God vs. Gay" (Hard Copy (television tabloid)) 3. Black Gay HIV+ Youth Stars in 413 Hope St. (413 Hope St. (television drama), Fox Broadcasting Company (television network)) 4. Mystery Gender-Bender on One Life to Live (One Life To Live (television soap opera), ABC Daytime (television daytime programming)) 5. Oakland Post's Bias Smears Gay People (Oakland Post (newspaper)) 6. LA Times Tackles Gay Cruising Topic (Los Angeles Times (newspaper)) 7. Hooray for Halsted Street (Chicago Tribune (newspaper)) 8. Erratum 1. GLAADAlert Follow-Up--Enough Is Enough Says "Enough" In last week's GLAADAlert ("The Quest for Fairness on the 'Net"), the Web site of the anti-pornography group Enough is Enough was criticized for its inclusion of a "victim testimonial" from a man who described himself as "ex-gay." After receiving numerous e-mails from GLAADAlert readers, Shyla Welch, director of communications for Enough is Enough, contacted GLAAD to discuss the issues raised in the Alert item. After a constructive dialogue, Welch and Enough is Enough agreed to remove the testimonial from their Web site. GLAAD applauds GLAADAlert readers for contacting the group with their concerns. We ask now that you thank Enough is Enough for listening to the lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender community, and for taking the time to begin a dialogue about homophobia. Contact: Dee Jepsen, President, Enough Is Enough, 3000 West MacArthur - Suite 424, Santa Ana, CA 92704, e-mail: dj@enough.org. 2. Hard Copy Pits "God vs. Gay" The August 20 edition of the tabloid television news show Hard Copy featured a story on the so-called "ex-gay" group Exodus entitled "God or Gay?" The graphic for the introduction was a photo of Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche in the forefront and a picture of a cross in the background. "Now the separation of church and state has been debated for years," the host says. "Tonight the question is, what role should religion play in sexual preferences? Jody Baskerville reports on the gay or God debate." While several countering viewpoints are shown, including a psychologist who explains that with so-called "ex-gays" behavior, not orientation, changes, Hard Copy sensationalizes the story and misleads viewers with the false dichotomy between "God" and "gay." Painting Christian faith and homosexuality as mutually exclusive, the show fuels the propaganda of anti-gay radical religious groups and ignores the millions of lesbians and gay men of faith in America, as well as the growing number of Christian denominations that welcome lesbian and gay worshipers. Finally, Hard Copy's use of the misnomer "sexual preference" further clouds the issue. Let Hard Copy know that even in the realm of sensational journalism, it should not allow itself to serve as a mouthpiece for a radical religious group's anti-gay agenda. Contact: Lisa Gregorisch, Executive Producer, Hard Copy, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038, fax: 213.862.1940, e-mail: hard_copy@pde.paramount.com. 3. Black Gay HIV+ Youth Stars in 413 Hope St. On Thursday, September 11 from 9:00-10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) Fox will premiere 413 Hope St., a new ensemble-cast drama in which one of the main characters is a black gay HIV-positive young man. The show revolves around an inner city teen crisis center in New York City and, according to the press packet, "focuses on the power of strong relationships, the impact of positive role models and the struggles of misguided youth, with a sometimes heart-tugging and other times heartwarming message of hope." Melvin Todd (Karim Prince) is "a young gay man whose unique take on life puts a smile on everyone's face." Flamboyant, fierce and compassionate in the premiere episode, Melvin helps a homophobic and hostile HIV-positive young man, Quentin (Stephen Berra), come to terms with himself and the need for support. Show creator and executive producer Damon Wayans, who also played one of the two snap queen characters on the "Men on Film" segment of Fox's In Living Color and was in the abysmally homophobic movie Bulletproof (see GLAADAlert, 9/13/96), has managed to create a character that embodies the fabulousness of the "Men on Film" characters but has a greater sense of dignity and humanity, moving far beyond stereotypes. Melvin promises to be one of the most engaging gay characters on network television this year. Check out 413 Hope St. and commend Fox for developing Melvin as a strong and compelling character. Contact: Brett King, Program Director, Fox Broadcasting Company, PO Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213, fax: 310.369.1433, e-mail: askFox@Foxinc.com. 4. Mystery Gender-Bender on One Life to Live On August 20, a new potentially transgender character showed up on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. The character, Wendy Mercury, is a bartender at the wild Club Indigo, which is co-owned by RJ Gannon, who has "underworld" ties. In Wendy's first episode, RJ identifies the character as a man, but no one makes a big deal about Wendy's female attire. Meanwhile, Wendy seems to potentially romantically interested in district attorney Hank Gannon (RJ's brother). Wendy is something of a gender enigma, both on the show and to spokespeople from ABC daytime. When GLAAD inquired as to whether Wendy was a transsexual, a transvestite or a drag queen, we found out the character is played by "gender illusionist" Shequida (a.k.a Garry Hall), who performs at Lucky Chang's in New York. The spokesperson for ABC Daytime was unsure whether "Wendy" was a drag name for a male character or if Wendy was always Wendy, even when not working at the nightclub. When asked, the spokesperson said no decisions had been made about Wendy's sexual orientation. Whatever the case, the fact that daytime television now features a recurring character played by a "gender illusionist" of color is noteworthy, and One Life to Live has taken a bold move by choosing to include Wendy without sensationalizing the character. Commend One Life to Live for introducing a trans-character of color, and encourage ABC Daytime to develop both Wendy's gender and sexual identity. Contact: Pat Filikrushel, President, ABC Daytime, 77 W. 66th Street, New York, NY 10023-6201, fax: 212.456.2381, e-mail: daytime@abc.com. 5. Oakland Post's Bias Smears Gay People The August 24 issue of the Oakland Post employed biased journalism and design tactics to promote anti-gay propaganda as hard news. A news item headlined "Outrage Over Gay Agenda" began, "Three hundred black citizens joined last Tuesday with civil-rights leader Alveda Celeste King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at the State Capitol to express their outrage over state legislation that equates sexual preference with skin color, and other bills that are part of the gay legislative agenda." After quoting Alveda King, who the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum (NBLGLF) describes as "bought and paid for by right-wing zealots of the religious right," the Post states, "Ms. King pointed out that true civil rights are based on non-changeable, immutable characteristics such as race, sex, ethnicity and nationality" The Post adds, "Ms. King pointed out that is homosexuality is declared a 'civil right,' children in public schools would have to be taught about homosexuality because the Education Code currently requires school children to be taught about civil rights." In a box under the "Gay Agenda" headline, next to the story, is a photo of Martin Luther King, Jr. with the subhead 'Save the Dream.' While the caption for the photo notes that "Save the Dream" is the theme of a rally in San Francisco orchestrated by Rev. Jesse Jackson in opposition to the anti-affirmative action Proposition 209, at a more casual glance it would appear to accompany Alveda King's attacks on lesbian and gay civil rights. The Post story on Alveda King did not put the term "gay agenda" in quotes, but rather used it in the headline as if it was a valid term for the struggle for civil rights on the basis of sexual orientation. The story failed to mention the countless African-American civil rights leaders and organizations--straight, gay or toherwise--who oppose Alveda's narrow-minded vision and stand with lesbians and gay men in seeking equality and freedom for all: Along with the NBLGLF, many who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized the need for civil rights protections on the basis of sexual orientation, including his widow Corretta Scott King, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Dr. Joseph Lowery, who succeeded Dr. King as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Instead, the Post chose to take Alveda's dubious word on it that "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would turn over in [his] grave if [civil rights bills protecting lesbians and gay men from discrimination] passed." Let the Oakland Post know that their aggressive anti-gay bias posing as hard news cheapens their credibility as a serious newspaper and does a disservice to the legacy of equality Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought and died for. Contact: Gill Berkley, Editor, Oakland Post, 630 20th Street, Oakland, CA 94612, fax: 510.763.9670 6. LA Times Tackles Gay Cruising Topic The August 27 issues of the Los Angeles Times featured an intelligent and thorough article on cruising and public sex between men that could well serve as a model for other media outlets seeking to cover this thorny issue. In "Neighbors Tackle Gay Cruising," Bettina Boxall notes that in the Silver Lake community of Los Angeles, "Weary of seeing more than they cared to in the shrubbery, of being propositioned on the street, of having to clean up used condoms, residents demanded something be done. A police crackdown ensued, largely quieting the scene--but also stirring dissension and complaints that authorities overreacted." Boxall notes that residents were harassed by police "in various ways, none of them pleasant," regardless of what they were doing. "Once again, complaints were voiced about enforcement of lewd conduct laws, an issue with a long history," she says. "And beyond that, the controversy spotlighted the centuries-old culture of gay men who are drawn to sexual adventure outside the bedroom." She discusses the historical need for public sexual encounters as a place of community in a time before public social spaces for gay people existed, as well as interviewing a number of men as to why they are drawn to public sex today. She highlights the curious nature of the police practice of using undercover vice officers as decoys to draw men into sex rather than "simply arrest[ing] people they find engaging in [it]." Boxall also notes that enforcement is allegedly selective, that "a heterosexual lovers' lane is largely ignored." Discussing the diversity of men who cruise for public sex, she notes that many are men over 50, "torn between homosexual yearnings they can barely acknowledges and straight family life that is the foundation of their personal identity." Others are sexual compulsives, and some do it just for fun. Rational and objective, Boxall interviewed historians, anthropologists, long-time gay activists, lawyers, neighborhood people, and police to flesh out a comprehensive and engaging story about a topic normally highly sensationalized. In doing so, she brings discussion of the issue to public light and articulates that there are many complex factors leading to why public sex exists, why public sex between men is more criticized and attacked by our society, and some of the challenges facing law enforcement in trying to address public sex and cruising while not selectively targeting gay men or denying those under investigation basic rights against harassment and entrapment. Commend the Los Angeles Times for a truly fair, accurate and inclusive article on a challenging topic. Contact: Shelby Coffey, Editor-In-Chief, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA 90053, fax: 213.237.4712, e-mail: letters@latimes.com. 7. Hooray for Halsted Street An August 19 Chicago Tribune editorial recognized and applauded recent efforts by the City of Chicago to invest $3.2 million in the town's gay district. "Of all the projects on which the City of Chicago invests taxpayer dollars, some of the highest returns have been achieved from improvements to neighborhood commercial districts...Why is such a ruckus being raised over the city's [Halsted Street] plan? The answer is that the organizing theme isn't one of ethnicity, as in Greektown, or of some historical presence, as in Wrigleyville," the editors write. "On North Halsted the theme will be sexual diversity, or, more specifically, the recognition of that area's thriving gay and lesbian community." After noting that most of the funding will go to basic things like street lights, trees and bigger sidewalks, the editorial points out that the most controversial part are gateway structures with a gay pride rainbow motif. "Some argue the city is crossing a terrible line here. It's one thing to hang banners over the public way celebrating ethnic and religious themes, they say, but quite another to salute an alternative sexual orientation. At the end of the day, though, it must be remembers that Chicago's gay and lesbian community has made an enormous contribution--both economic and cultural--to the urban renaissance now taking place," it says. "Now this community wants some of the same recognition that City Hall has bestowed on other, more traditional, enclaves. Those who condemn that recognition on moral or religious grounds are entitled to their views. That, after all, is one of the great things about America. And especially about cities like Chicago." Please relay your appreciation for the Chicago Tribune's celebration of our community as part of the mosaic of a diverse and thriving city. Contact: Ann Marie Lipinski, Managing Editor, Chicago Tribune, PO Box 4041, Chicago, IL 60611-4041, fax: 312.222.4760, e-mail: tribletter@aol.com. ERRATUM: The August 22 GLAADAlert ("Anti-Gay Editors At Their Worst") incorrectly identified the contact person for the Augusta Chronicle as Managing Editor John Fish. The person directly responsible for the anti-gay For Better or For Worse editorial is: Phil Kent, Editorial Page Editor, Augusta Chronicle, P.O. Box 1928, Augusta, GA 30903, fax: 706.722.7403, e-mail: letters@augustachroncile.com. GLAAD regrets any confusion this may have caused. The GLAADAlert is the weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive media representation as a means of challenging homophobia and 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), 415.861.2244 (San Francisco), 202.986.1360 (Washington, DC), 404.607.1204 (Atlanta) and 816.374.5927 (Kansas City) 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.org00FF,00FF,00FF "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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