Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 10:31:47 -0400 From: "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)" Subject: GLAADAlert - October 28, 1999 GLAADAlert - October 28, 1999 The GLAADAlert is the bi-weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation GLAADAlert Index: 1) Real-Life Families 2) Los Beltr=E1n: Gay TV Representations Break New Ground in Spanish 3) Lynchburg Meeting Coverage Round-Up 4) Philadelphia Daily News Takes a Stand Against Youth Hate 5) Latina Magazine's Sound Advice on Gay Kids 1) Real-Life Families In its November examination of the "The American Family," Life Magazine displays a rich tapestry of multigenerational, interracial, in vitro, adoptive and same-sex families as it looks to the 21st century. Included among the five families profiled (and photographed) are the Brodoffs and the Grotskys - a Olympia, Wash., family consisting of a 12-year-old boy, a 9-year-old girl, and their two devoted mothers. The children, among the first in the nation to be legally adopted by their other mother (Brodoff gave birth to both children, and Grotsky was granted adoptive rights after a two-year court battle), also count among their family a male couple affectionately known as their "two dads." The sensitive, well-developed inclusion of the Brodoff Grotsky family in this important feature reflects the diversity of families where love - not narrow restrictions - are the criteria for what makes a family. Please thank Life for this picture of true family values. Contact: Ms. Isolde Motley, Managing Editor, Life Magazine, Time and Life Building, Rockefeller Center, New York, NY 10020-1393, e-mail: lifeedit@life.tineinc.com 2) Los Beltr=E1n: Gay TV Representations Break New Ground in Spanish On Oct. 17, Florida-based Spanish television network Telemundo premiered Los Beltr=E1n, a comedy series which introduced the first recurring gay couple on a U.S. Spanish-language television program. The series revolves around la familia Beltr=E1n, a Cuban-American family that owns a small grocery store and that has just bought a duplex in Burbank, Calif., one-half of which is soon rented by a gay couple, Fernandito and Manny. While the first episode only introduced the characters, The Advocate reports that Fernandito and Kevin will appear in 12 of the season's 22 episodes. Please thank Telemundo for making this groundbreaking move, and encourage them to continue to develop these characters in fair, accurate and honest ways. Contact: Jim McNamara, President and CEO, and Nely Gal=E1n, President of Entertainment, Telemundo, 2470 West 8th Avenue, Hialeah, FL 33010; e-mail via Internet feedback form: http://www.telemundo.com/feedback.asp?lang=3D2&show=3D19 3) Lynchburg Meeting Coverage Round-Up The historic Lynchburg, Va., meeting between the Rev. Jerry Falwell and the Rev. Mel White drew a tremendous amount of media attention. Four outlets' coverage of the meeting warrant special mention: News & Advance: Quality Local Coverage Throughout the weekend, the (Lynchburg) News & Advance provided high-quality news coverage of the event. An Oct. 23 feature, "Gay Activists Prepare for Meeting with Falwell Today," provided powerful stories from participants on both sides of the debate, including the experience of an Evangelical Christian woman whose daughter broke off family ties and eventually killed herself after being told by her mother that she loved her, but would never accept her. Also significant were a balanced, comprehensive Oct. 24 article discussing the meeting itself, and an Oct. 25 article, "Disagreeing Agreeably: Church Service Changes Perceptions," recounting a joint worship service between the two attending groups after the meeting. The News & Advance is to be commended for its commitment to strong local coverage. Contact: Mr. Joe Stinett, Editor, News & Advance, 101 Wyndale Dr., Lynchburg, VA 24501 Good Morning America's Tough, Balanced Interviewing While a number of television news shows covered the meeting, ABC's Good Morning America and its anchor Diane Sawyer excelled with their hard-hitting questions that expanded the discussion substantially. On =46riday, Oct. 22 - the day before the meeting - Sawyer asked Falwell: "I want to look at a fundraising letter that you have sent out in the past. I want to know what you repudiate or apologize for in this letter," quoting portions describing members of the lesbian and gay community as "deviants"= =20 and as "dangerous." While Falwell was largely apologetic, he characterized the letter as an old mailing which was being revisited unfairly, to which Sawyer retorted that it was currently posted on his Web site. Sawyer also asked the Rev. Mel White to address concerns from members of the lesbian and gay community who considered the meeting a waste of time, given =46alwell's history of hostility toward the lesbian and gay community. Pleas= e thank Good Morning America for this probing, incisive discussion. Contact: Shelley Ross, Executive Producer, Good Morning America, ABC Television Network, 147 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10023, e-mail via Internet feedback form: http://www.abcnews.go.com/onair/GoodMorningAmerica/GMA_email_form.html New York Times on Falwell's Incomplete "Break from Bigotry"=20 In its Oct. 26 editorial, the New York Times thoughtfully examined the implications of the meeting. "Mr. Falwell's willingness to dispense with anti-gay vitriol is a measure of how far the gay rights movement has progressed toward cultural acceptance," the Times noted, applauding =46alwell's willingness to confront the danger such anti-gay rhetoric poses to real people. However, the Times was tempered in its enthusiasm over the meeting. "While Mr. Falwell has agreed to tone himself down, he remains opposed to measures designed to end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. His stance continues to send a damaging message that gay people are second-class citizens and lesser human beings." The Times' critical evaluation of the Falwell/White meeting is commendable, as is its desire to keep both parties involved accountable for their promise of progress. Contact: Mr. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Publisher, New York Times, 229 West 43rd St., New York, NY 10036-3913, e-mail: letters@nytimes.com The Record: Falwell Sets a Good Example The (Bergen, NJ) Record's Oct. 26 editorial, "Falwell's welcome apology," helped conclude the coverage of the meeting on a hopeful, optimistic note. "Mr. Falwell is being intensely criticized by some evangelical leaders," the Record noted. "It took courage for him to acknowledge his adversarial tactics and to say he would reach out to those he disagrees with. In doing so, he sets a good example for people of all faiths and persuasions." The Record's editorial eloquently complements the critical tone of the New York Times editorial, and helps reflect the tension felt by many observers of this historic meeting. Contact: Ms. Vivian Waixel, Editor, The Record, 150 River St., Hackensack, NJ 07601-7110, fax: 201-646-4135=20 4) Philadelphia Daily News Takes a Stand Against Youth Hate Set against the backdrop of the Matthew Shepard and Columbine tragedies, the Oct. 14 Philadelphia Daily News ran a lengthy, powerful editorial looking at hate crimes and school-age youth.=20 "The labels 'queer,' 'faggot' or 'dyke' are the weapons of choice these days in the never-ending bullying of students in schools across the nation," the editorial read, calling on parents take charge of educating their children. "Talk to your kids about anti-gay prejudice. Just as you wouldn't tolerate racial or religious slurs from your children, don't ignore them when they use the word 'gay' to be synonymous with 'uncool.'=20 Model behavior that affirms the right of every person to be accepted on his or her own terms." Also noteworthy were the editorial's smart use of statistics surrounding anti-gay hate among students, and its reference to California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Connecticut as the only states that protect students from harassment because of sexual orientation.=20 Please thank the Philadelphia Daily News for this crucial editorial. Contact: Mr. Zachary Stalberg, Editor, Philadelphia Daily News, 400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130, fax: 215.854.5691, e-mail: dailynews.opinion@phillynews.com 5) Latina Magazine's Sound Advice on Gay Kids In the November issue of Latina magazine, writer Leila Cobo-Hanlon tackles the question "My Child is Gay, Que Hago? [What do I do?]" Cobo-Hanlon sensitively discusses the tumult of coming out at a young age in Latino families and offers invaluable resources to parents. "An increasing number of teens are coming out, yet few parents are prepared to handle the news with love and understanding," Cobo-Hanlon writes.=20 "Within Latino families, coming out can be especially problematic because of deeply rooted religious beliefs, the strong foothold of machismo, and vast support for traditional gender roles, along with the mistaken belief that homosexuality is a disease. That's a lot for any family member to face serenely." Cobo-Hanlon proceeds to share with her readers several touching, true stories of parents and children coping with the challenges of coming out, and encourages families to turn to groups such as Parents, =46amilies and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and the Gay, Lesbian and Straigh= t Education Network for support and resources. Please write Latina magazine. Thank them for addressing the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth coming out in Latino families, and encourage them to do more stories like this in the future. Contact: Sylvia A. Martinez, Executive Editor, Latina, 1500 Broadway, Suite 600, New York, NY 10036 The GLAADAlert is the bi-weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. GLAAD is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Contact GLAAD by e-mail at glaad@glaad.org or by phone at 323.658.6775 (LA), 212.807.1700 (NY), 415.861.2244 (SF), 202.986.1360 (DC), 404.876.1398 (Atlanta) and 816.756.5991 (Kansas City) =46eel free to pass GLAADAlert on to friends, family and associates! Report defamation in the media and breaking news of interest to the LGBT community by calling GLAAD's Toll-Free AlertLine! 1-800-GAY-MEDIA (1-800-429-6334) Visit GLAAD Online at http://www.glaad.org "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. GLAADAlert may be freely distributed and reprinted in all forms of media under the condition that any text used carry the full attribution of "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)." __________________________________________________________________________ Wonbo Woo Communications Manager Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) (212) 807-1700 x24 email: woo@glaad.org Visit GLAAD Online at: http://www.glaad.org To report defamation, call our toll-free Alertline at: (800) GAY-MEDIA or visit our website Vote for "The 20 Best Lesbian & Gay Films of the 20th Century" at www.glaad.org __________________________________________________________________________ The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. __________________________________________________________________________ 'GLAAD' and 'Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation' are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. __________________________________________________________________________