GLAAD/LA Reports - October '93 Issue Carl Matthes, Editor (213) 254-2726 - FAX (213) 257-5878 Our 5th Anniversary issue Table of Contents On the facing page: Reminisce with us as we take a second look at a Madonna photo (upper right corner) donated to our 1993 Media Awards Silent Auction; Roseanne accepting her 1993 GLAAD Media Award (second photo upper left corner) followed by Cybil Shepherd participating in the March on Washington; lower left corner, three of our 1993 Visibility Award recipients Margerethe Cammermeyer, Perry Watkins and Dusty Pruitt followed by GLAAD/LA Executive Director Lee Werbel. Plus repros of some of our favorite magazine covers, ads, posters and images. Page 4 Co-Presidents Stephanie Farrington-Domingue and Dean Hansell talk of GLAAD/LA's unique identity. FILMS & TELEVISION Page 5 "And the Band Played On": GLAAD/LA attends premier of HBO's production of Randy Shilts' expose; "The Wedding Banquet," a must see. Page 6 "Man Without a Face" and "Interview with a Vampire": Stop me before I do it again; Hollywood renders homosexuality invisible. Page 8 "Joey Breaker": A light hearted heteromance that's inclusive of gay men, AIDS and racial diversity. Page 10 30th Anniversary of the original "March on Washington" for Civil Rights; A desperate shrill Lou Sheldon on "Larry King Live." Special 5th Anniversary features: Page 13 Richard Jennings, Executive Director of Hollywood Supports and founder and former Executive Director of GLAAD/LA writes about "GLAAD/LA's Early Years" Page 14 Jehan Agrama, GLAAD/LA Board Member Emeritus and immediate past Co-President of GLAAD/LA chronicles "GLAAD/LA Landmarks and Successes" Page 15 Peter M. Nardi, former GLAAD/LA Co-President, writes about "Five Years Later: Lesbian & Gay Images in the Media" Page 19 GLAAD/USA: Listing of GLAAD chapters nationwide RADIO & PRINT Page 24 Redbook contains some "Powerful Stuff;" TV Guide jeers "Melrose Place" Page 26 "Doonesbury" draws an "out-of-the-closet" experience; Allen Schindler remembered GLAAD NEWS Page 28 Hollywood Supports Update; 1994 Media Awards Nominations Page 30 GLAAD/LA Executive Director Lee Werbel; Project 21; Volunteers needed for 1994 Media Awards Page 31 Handy Media Guide GLAAD/LA's Early Years by Richard Jennings Executive Director Hollywood Supports In some ways, it is hard for me to believe that GLAAD/LA has been around for over five years. Some of the bruises of defeat and thrills of our first victories are still too fresh to me to be nearly five years old. On the other hand, many of us now take for granted that the media covers our issues and that gays and lesbians are being increasingly portrayed on the big and little screen. That was not true five years ago, when none of the major newsweeklies covered the '87 March on Washington. The work of the GLAAD chapters across the country has certainly played a key role in the greatly improved and increasing coverage of our community in the media since that time. GLAAD was founded in New York in 1985 by a group of writers, including Vito Russo and Larry Kramer. The group was inspired by a series of outrageously defamatory headlines that had appeared in the New York Post. A year or so after GLAAD formed, a contingent that wanted to focus exclusively on AIDS issues separated and started ACT UP. In Los Angeles, GLAAD's origins date back to 1988. I was inspired with the idea for a media watch/education project while attending the 1988 March on Sacramento in early May. That weekend I read an interview with then Assemblyman Art Agnos in which he said he was always there for the gay community but felt we had not always been there for him. He cited as a small example a cartoon that had run in the San Francisco Examiner showing Agnos being led by the nose by a fairy. He said he was surprised that no one from the lesbian and gay community ever responded to this cartoon. This criticism from a key supporter of lesbian and gay equal rights instantly made me realize there was a serious void in our movement: we had yet to organize an institution like the Jewish Anti-Defamation League or the media arm of the NAACP to monitor and respond in a systematic way to ongoing instances of defamation against lesbians and gay men. I returned to Los Angeles anxious to share this vision with fellow activists, especially lawyer friends whom I knew through Lawyers for Human Rights, the lesbian and gay bar association. A number of us activist lawyers who had been thinking of making change primarily through litigation were beginning to despair of making much progress with judges appointed primarily by Reagan and Deukmejian. We felt we might have an impact more quickly by educating media outlets on our issues, so that the media could then help us educate the public whose support would be needed to make lasting change through legislation. After initial brainstorming sessions on this project, I happened to be invited to a cocktail party July 6, 1988, at the home of Rich Llewellyn and Chris Caldwell to meet their friend Craig Davidson. Craig had recently been appointed the first executive director of GLAAD in New York. (Since I had been inquiring about media efforts around the country, I heard rumors about something called GLAAD in New York, but no one I talked to knew whether the group was still in existence.) Attending the gathering with me that night were many who would later play important roles in the establishment of the Los Angeles chapter, including Rand Schrader, David Bohnett and Dean Hansell. I was inspired by Craig's description of GLAAD, especially its phone trees and monthly bulletins listing names of media outlets to call or write. I spoke at the meeting about my intention to start a similar effort in Los Angeles, and collected names of those interested in being involved. We subsequently convened another meeting, to which I invited Carol Anderson, Karen Lash, Carmichael Smith-Low and others with whom I'd been talking about the need for a media watch organization. At that meeting we adopted several guiding principles that have since played a major role in GLAAD/LA's development: first, we decided we could not fully form the organization until we had done sufficient outreach to insure that our founding body was as representative as possible of the diversity of our community, and second, we committed to involving in the work as many other major organizations that already existed in our community as possible. As outreach continued at a furious pace, we began holding general meetings and committee meetings in September. In October, we decided to incorporate in California as a Los Angeles chapter of GLAAD -- so as to become the first national gay and lesbian organization with grass roots chapters on both coasts. While some of us were at first wary of joining with a group in New York that might have somewhat different goals and membership, the idea that such an alliance would give our community an unprecedented united effort based in the two major national media markets was ultimately most compelling. By this time we had also started monthly mailings to a growing list of interested volunteers and members -- the beginnings of what would soon be our monthly newsletter, GLAAD/LA Reports. We also acted quickly on Deb Bergman's suggestion that we write monthly media watch columns for the local papers. By the following year our columns, the first by any GLAAD chapter, were being published in Frontiers, the Lesbian News and the now-defunct Vanguard. By November, we were conducting GLAAD/LA committee meetings every week, and held a large town meeting at Plummer Park to introduce new members to Craig Davidson and to make policy decisions that were incorporated into our bylaws the following month. My calendar for December shows multiple GLAAD meetings -- the Outreach Committee, the Policy and Bylaws Committee, the Media Watch Committee, the Steering Committee -- as well as meetings of other groups, such as ACT UP, AGLA, Connexxus, Gay & Lesbian Latinos Unidos -- that we attended to introduce GLAAD and explore issues of common interest. (By January '89, Craig Davidson was in San Francisco advising a group of activists on starting a chapter there, and the GLAAD movement would soon be joined by GLAAD/San Francisco Bay Area and, within a year, six other chapters.) It was at one of those early meetings at Dean Hansell's home that I remember we were joined by several journalists and entertainment executives, including Deborah Bergman of the Los Angeles Times and Jehan Agrama, who was soon to play a major role in GLAAD/LA's development as a three-term Co-President. At this particular meeting, I remember we discussed the pros and cons of various tactics for responding to three defamatory editorials in a row by KCBS commentator Bill Stout. The station was refusing to meet with representatives of GLAAD to discuss the issue, and we were considering further action. The sophisticated level of discussion that night about the relative effectiveness of various tactics, including weighing the needs and concerns of journalists and media organizations, set the tone for the high level of brainstorming and tactical thinking that GLAAD/LA has tried to pursue ever since. I personally consider that my education as a media activist began that night with the insights and suggestions shared by many full-time media professionals. It took another full year before we started getting meetings with news media outlets and began to be taken seriously by the media and other civil rights organizations. The milestone that finally helped bring us national visibility was Andy Rooney's temporary suspension from "60 Minutes" for homophobic and racist remarks on and off camera. That story, and GLAAD's involvement in publicizing his comments and in meeting with CBS producers, led to a front-page View section article in the Los Angeles Times that really helped establish GLAAD's name in Los Angeles. Our next major milestone came in '91 with our first meetings with studio representatives, thanks to then-Councilman Michael Woo, who called to offer his support after seeing our full-page ads in the entertainment trades attacking film and television portrayals. It would then be another year before Barry Diller called to ask GLAAD to lend its expertise and resources to an industry-financed effort to educate the industry on AIDS and gay and lesbian issues. This Hollywood Supports project, of which I have been executive director for the past twenty months, has worked closely with GLAAD in designing programs for the industry and in promoting gay and lesbian employee groups and domestic partner benefits. Five years ago this close involvement and partnership with major entertainment companies was beyond our wildest dreams, but it has become a reality thanks to the thoughtful and effective work of GLAAD's many volunteers. What amazes me in retrospect is how quickly this ambitious effort took off after those initial meetings. Clearly, GLAAD was an idea whose time had come, in that a lot of people were beginning to see the media as not only a major source of stereotype-reinforcing images of gays and lesbians but also as a major potential ally in disseminating more accurate and enlightening portrayals of our lives. What we couldn't know back then was how crucial it would be, five years later, for our community to have an institution like GLAAD to counter the organized attacks and disinformation of well-financed, religious right wing forces who have declared war on the movement for gay and lesbian equal rights. GLAAD/LA Landmarks and Successes by Jehan Agrama GLAAD/LA Board Member Emeritus In five years GLAAD/LA has had a major impact on the way the media portrays lesbians and gay men. Not only are we covered accurately but coverage on our issues has been extensive. GLAAD has also achieved a high level of credibility with the media. Our reputation in the lesbian and gay community has been solid and we have been the recipients of many awards. GLAAD/LA has been featured in stories on the media's portrayal of lesbians and gay men and our issues. We have regular media-watch columns in Frontiers, Lesbian News and the Santa Barbara Gay and Lesbian Resource Center Newsletter. Some of the mainstream media in which we have appeared is CNN, "Entertainment Tonight," The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Examiner, Washington Post, Dallas Morning Herald, UPI, AP, TV Guide, Premiere Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, L.A. Weekly, California Magazine, "E! Entertainment," KFI, KLSX, KKLA, KCBS, KABC, KCAL, KTTV, KDOC, KNX, KGIL, KPFK and KROQ. The great strides we have made as an organization is thanks to the participation of our members and volunteers who have written letters, made phone calls, donated money and time. We have all participated in this struggle and should all share in the success. While what follows is by no means exhaustive (though at times was exhausting) here are some highlights of GLAAD/LA over the past 5 years. Sit back, be proud, and enjoy! 1988 - GLAAD/LA is incorporated in October. 1989 - Successful campaign to reverse Daily Variety's policy against listing survivors of same-sex couples in obituaries...Widespread airing of Bob Hope public service announcement for GLAAD/LA against anti-gay violence...Los Angeles Times adds a chapter to its style book about the use of derogatory terms one month after GLAAD meets its editors...First GLAAD/LA Board of Directors elections: Jehan Agrama and Richard Jennings elected as Co-Presidents. 1990 - Publication of full-page ads in Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety about gay-bashing by current Hollywood movies and the absence of lesbian and gay characters on television...Consulting on network television projects and films, including episodes of "Golden Girls," "Fanelli Boys" and "STAT," and a lesbian positive "Dear John" episode....CBS suspends Andy Rooney for homophobic and racist remarks...Pacific Bell agrees to include new section entitled "Gay & Lesbian Organizations" in their August 1990 Yellow Pages....GLAAD/LA "Media Watch" columns begin appearing in Frontiers and Lesbian News...GLAAD/LA's curriculum entitled "Homophobia: Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation" is approved for use in the Los Angeles Unified School District in connection with ADL's "World of Difference" program...Monthly General Membership Meetings move out of our living rooms and into Temple Beth Chayim Chadashim, 6000 West Pico Blvd...Speakers Bureau holds first training session...First successful Valentine's Day Project...GLAAD/LA members call local radio stations for same-gender love song dedications...Positive and prominent article on GLAAD in Los Angeles Times...First Annual GLAAD Media Awards...GLAAD/LA gives BEST IMPROVED COVERAGE award to Los Angeles Times...First Executive Director, Richard Jennings named...GLAAD/LA participates in formation of GLAAD/USA..GLAAD/LA joins the Media Image Coalition of Minorities and Women and takes a leadership position. 1991 - Second Annual GLAAD Media Awards: over 500 people attend...Successful, star studded bi-coastal GLAAD Media Awards for positive gay and lesbian images...GLAAD/LA creates and publishes "Bill of Wrongs," in response to 200th Anniversary of Bill of Rights...Sensitivity training sessions for creative teams at major studios, such as Universal Pictures and Disney/Touchstone, as well as popular radio stations, including KIIS-FM and KROQ...Installation of a Spanish-language hotline and media monitoring project, and appearance by GLAAD members on national Spanish-language talk show "Cara a Cara"...Improved local television coverage of the 1991 Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade following a report card on previous year's media coverage by GLAAD/LA Co-President and Sociology professor Peter Nardi...GLAAD/LA moves into our new offices at 7033 Sunset Boulevard....Major press and Hollywood attention for GLAAD's protest of negative stereotypes in major Hollywood films such as "Silence of the Lambs" and "Basic Instinct"...GLAAD calls for an end to PBS censorship and exclusion for decision to cancel airing of two films that address homophobia & AIDS...Hallmark Cards withdraws the word "lesbian" from their list of banned words...Hollywood Supports project to counter homophobia and AIDSphobia in the entertainment industry formed by industry leaders with joint assistance of GLAAD/LA and AIDS Project/LA. 1992 - GLAAD/LA hosts Third Annual Media Awards: over 650 attend...GLAAD organizes protest of censorship of lesbian high school student's art. Decision to drape nude painting overturned...Women of GLAAD forms...Entertainment Weekly names GLAAD/LA as one of the 100 most powerful entities in Hollywood...GLAAD/LA, with GLAAD/USA, conducts an exit poll during the 1992 General Election to assess how the lesbian and gay community voted; the Los Angeles Times lists the results. 1993 - GLAAD/LA hosts Fourth Annual Media Awards with over 900 in attendance...GLAAD/LA works with the local and national coalition to lift the military ban against lesbians and gay men; we are main distributor of "To Support and Defend," a video featuring lesbian and gay members of the Armed Forces; we produced "Willing To Fight" poster as part of the overall capaign...GLAAD/LA, in partnership with Hollywood Supports, initiates Sexual Orientation in the Workplace Seminars created for the Entertainment Industry...GLAAD/LA joins in coordinating "Day of Compassion," daytime television's day of dealing with people with HIV and AIDS...GLAAD/LA works in coalition with MANAA (Media Action Network for Asian Americans) to protest racism of film "Rising Sun." Five Years Later: Lesbian & Gay Images in the Media Peter M. Nardi, PhD Professor of Sociology, Pitzer College, Claremont When GLAAD/LA was in its formative years, the 1987 March on Washington was fresh in people's memories. Even stronger in their minds was how the March was ignored by the major newsmagazines. Almost six years later, however, the 1993 March on Washington generated banner headlines in newspapers and gay/lesbian topics were front cover stories in six different national magazines. While some of this attention can be traced to President Clinton's election promise of lifting the military ban against lesbians and gays, many of the reasons for increased media focus are traceable to the presence of GLAAD and its work during the past five years. There are several ways of analyzing how far we have come in such a short period of time. In general, gay and lesbian images in the media can be categorized in four ways: (1) overt homophobic and stereotypic characterizations (2) heterosexist and more subtle forms of stereotyping (3) invisibility and omission (4) accurate and balanced images. (1) Overt homophobia. The repeated use of epithets, such as "faggot," "dyke," "homo," and "fruit" -- while not used gratuitously as much as in the past -- does occur still in many media, especially in films. When they are used, they often signify a way of establishing evil or marginality about the character so labeled, although occasionally to demonstrate the ignorance of the person using them. These words often become a shorthand for indicating the villain or underlining the pathology of the character. Linking certain film characters with homosexuality through non-verbal cues is a common way of signalling their evilness, even when explicit epithets are not used. The battle over the movie "Basic Instinct" -- partly organized through GLAAD/LA's efforts -- centered on these issues, specifically in the depiction of lesbians and bisexual women as serial killers, using ice picks to murder their predominantly white, male, heterosexual victims, particularly in the absence of balancing positive images of lesbians. Another example of GLAAD's active protests was the debate over the serial killer in the 1991 Oscar-winning "The Silence of the Lamb" who is seen cross-dressing, petting a poodle named "Precious," and wearing make-up. An earlier reference to his male lover and the images used in the film are associated with being gay, even if the character was never directly called gay. The use of overtly homophobic expressions on television dramas and situation comedies, and by stand-up comics on variety or talk shows, has declined significantly over the past five years, although some radio personalities, like Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh, continue to depend on negative stereotypes in their shows. Perhaps the source of the most homophobic images comes from the religious right's media campaigns. Ads and videos -- created and marketed by religious right organizations fighting to overturn anti-gay discrimination ordinances and to pass repressive legislation against gays and lesbians -- depend primarily on presenting the most stereotypical images in sensational and distorted ways. By creating images of gays and lesbians as "other" or as foreign, the media perpetuate and contribute to people's homophobia. The media have come a long way from the pre-GLAAD years' characterizations of homosexuals, despite some remnants of distorted depictions. (2) Heterosexist and the more Subtle Stereotyping. When the media do include gay and lesbian voices and perspectives, there are techniques and words often used that end up reinforcing the dominance of the heterosexual perspective and the outside status of the gay and lesbian viewpoint. So, for example, calling a gay person an "avowed homosexual" or non-gay people as the "general population" perpetuates the "otherness" of the gay person without using traditionally negative stereotypes. Continually referring to a "gay lifestyle" rather than acknowledging that we have "lives," the media create a false and simplified image. While these phrases are not overtly homophobic, note that certain assumptions are clearly indicated by them. GLAAD has been instrumental in the past five years in getting the media to use suggested phrases and language when describing lesbians and gay men that don't perpetuate the more subtle messages of stigma. In addition to language, other forms of heterosexual dominance can be seen in the ways gays and lesbians are depicted, even positively. The images are almost exclusively white, middle or upper class, and male. The 1982 film, "Making Love," "Longtime Companion," TV movies such as "An Early Frost," "Doing Time on Maple Drive," and "The Lost Language of Cranes" are all examples of the perpetuation of "acceptable" images and the exclusion of gay (and especially, lesbian) characters of other races and social classes. Many gay and lesbian characters also appear in sitcoms usually separate from other relationships, thereby reinforcing some stereotypes about gay people being alone or separate from the ways others lead lives embedded in networks of family and friends. Gay couples are shown less frequently, and rarely is physical affection displayed. Usually gay or lesbian characters appear when the topic is a gay one; scarce are the times they are just part of the on-going cast of characters. Sexuality, political issues of oppression and marginalization, and other complexities of gay and lesbian lives are virtually eliminated or severely trivialized. While we have gained during the past five years in being more visible in TV shows, it has been primarily from a heterosexual perspective of acceptable, one-dimensional main- stream images. (3) Invisibility and Omission. In 1990, the largest amateur, non-Olympic sports games event in the world (larger than either the Commonwealth Games or the Goodwill Games) went unreported by most major newspapers and almost all television and radio sports shows. The Gay Games in Vancouver were ignored as not of interest to local sports fans, even in cities which sent large delegations, like Los Angeles and New York. Unless it is a special, exotic topic on one of the talk shows ("Women married to gay men" or "Lesbians who left their husbands"), or the result of some national crisis (such as President Clinton's call for lifting the military ban against homosexuals), gays and lesbians are rarely part of the ongoing depiction of urban life usually portrayed in most movies, TV shows, or newspaper articles. How the Gay Games in New York will be covered in 1994 should indicate how far we have come during the past several years. Numerous examples of invisibility abound, as documented in the monthly GLAAD/LA Reports. Articles about women in combat and in the military rarely discuss lesbians; a newspaper's travel section reports on tourism in Key West and ignores the large gay business trade; an article about teenage suicide overlooks the high rate among gay teenagers; and a profile of growing old in America fails to describe elderly lesbians or gay men. Unless it's a gay topic, we are left out of the everyday issues of real life. With few exceptions, there are no continuing gay or lesbian characters on American prime-time TV shows. ABC-TV's "Roseanne" and FOX-TV's "Melrose Place" were the only shows with regular lesbian or gay characters in the 1992-1993 season. While appearances of gay characters have occurred on such shows as "Northern Exposure," "Law and Order," "Quantum Leap," "Murphy Brown," "Designing Women," "Coach" and "Seinfeld," they either have appeared only once or irregularly, thereby emphasizing their invisibility throughout the rest of the series' shows. News shows don't fare any much better. Too often news and other public affairs radio and TV shows present a view of the world that underrepresents the disenfranchised and powerless. Even when the issue is of concern to the marginalized group, representatives from that group do not often appear as the spokespeople. A study released Aug. 23, 1993 by Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), confirms that in the period studied (first six months of 1992), no gay or lesbian was interviewed on any public affairs programs of 15 public-TV stations. (4) Accurate and Balanced Portrayals. Although invisibility continues to characterize much of the media images, there has been a relative increase in the representation of gays and lesbians in the past five years and a trend toward more accurate and balanced portrayals. Some of this is due to an increase in the production of media by gays and lesbians, such as the many gay and lesbian film festivals regularly held in many major cities, gay newspapers and magazines which are attracting more mainstream advertisers, and gay public access television. But non-gay media are also increasingly devoting more attention to gay images and doing so with increasing accuracy and balance. One of the best examples is the lesbian character played by Sandra Bernhard on ABC-TV's "Roseanne."While the first show or two was dedicated to the other characters' reactions to her being lesbian, her involvement in the series makes her sexual orientation an integrated aspect of her portrayal without problematizing it. With the exception of Jonathan Demme's upcoming "Philadelphia," there has not been any major studio feature film with gay characters or themes as the central focus in the past few years. While a gay character appeared in "Frankie and Johnny" and another in "Prince of Tides," they both were kindly, good supportive neighbors (male, white, and middle class, of course) of the lead female character, not too dissimilar to the traditional depictions of the effeminate best friend in the 1930s movies, only more openly acknowledging and stating they are gay. However,several independent films have had gay or lesbian characters in central roles, in particular "The Crying Game," "Claire of the Moon," "My Own Private Idaho," The Wedding Banquet" and "For a Lost Soldier." A few TV movies (primarily thanks to British TV), including the upcoming "Tales of the City," "And the Band Played On," and last year's "The Lost Language of Cranes," have also focused on gay characters (again, white, middle class, men). Some of the explanation for an increase in balanced and accurate depictions of gays and lesbians in a variety of media can be traced to an increase in openly gay people in positions of power to produce and regulate images. It is also a result of socio-political forces, such as the attention to gay issues generated in the 1992 presidential conventions and election. And, of course, the increasing visibility and power of media watchdog groups like GLAAD over the past five years have contributed to these changes. GLAAD's fight for accuracy and representation in the media, free of discrimination and defamation, needs to continue. There is strong evidence that change has occurred, but that the change has only just started. Fifth Anniversary Message Co-President's Column by Stephanie Farrington-Domingue & Dean Hansell As GLAAD/LA begins its second half-decade, we thought it useful to attempt to articulate the idea that lead to GLAAD's formation and identify where GLAAD differs from other lesbian and gay organizations. In contrast to other lesbian and gay civil rights organizations that work through the legal and political systems, GLAAD is the only national lesbian and gay group whose focus is cultural advocacy. The late Craig Davidson, GLAAD/New York's first Executive Director, defined "cultural advocacy" in this way: "Cultural Advocacy is a group of activities including media reform, educational curricular reform and religious reform that has the common goal of full integration of the lesbian and gay community into 'mainstream' society (i.e., non-gay and non-lesbian) through strategies that generally do not involve the legal or legislative process." GLAAD is the one national lesbian and gay organization that focuses on the media and other cultural institutions. It was created both to respond to our invisibility in the media and to fight defamation. GLAAD is not the first organization to appreciate the importance of popular culture in shaping society's perceptions (and misperceptions) about a people. The NAACP has long been hard at work fighting defamation and the invisibility of African-Americans within our cultural institutions. Similarly, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has combatted anti-semitism and other forms of discrimination within our culture ever since a Jewish industrialist in the South, Leo Frank, was wrongfully tried and convicted of killing one of his employees. He was lynched by a crowd whipped into hysteria by bigoted press stories. Through the advocacy of GLAAD, lesbians and gay men are now able to take their seat at the table along with other civil rights groups dedicated to combatting discrimination within our popular culture. As advertisers, which are willing to spend millions of dollars on national television have long ago discovered, the media and other cultural institutions have a powerful but often subtle impact on the way a person, a groups or a product is perceived. Gay rights laws alone cannot change public perception about who we are. Moreover, it will be extremely difficult to get national gay rights legislation until public perception changes. Other articles in this 5th Anniversary issue of GLAAD/LA Reports chronicle our successes, our history and our media impact over the past five years. The cultural advocacy work of GLAAD/LA has been important work that needed to be done when we began in 1988. It is work that remains just as critical today. Your service to GLAAD/LA, your financial contributions, your letters of protest and praise about the portrayals and invisibility of lesbians and gay men, are just as essential today as they were during our first five years. With your help GLAAD can bring about an end to discrimination against lesbians and gay men and an end to our invisibility in the popular culture. Film and Television "And the Band Played On" GLAAD/LA was well represented at the premiere of HBO's "And the Band Played On," based on Randy Shilts' bestseller about the early years of the AIDS epidemic. (The film debuted on HBO September 11.) Over 1,600 people showed up for the premiere at the Motion Picture Academy Theater on August 31, which was covered by Los Angeles Times' writer, Bill Higgins. Many of the stars of the film were in attendance, including Lily Tomlin, Matthew Modine, Swoozie Kurtz, Sir Ian McKellen, Angelica Huston, Richard Mazur and Bud Cort. Higgins quotes Shilts' repsonse to the film: "I might have done some things differently, but they took my feedback, so I'd be petulant to complain." Shilts told GLAAD/LA Board Member Dr. Sylvia Rhue that he "wished the film had been gayer." The heroes are straight white males, with the exception of a sterling performance by Lily Tomlin. Alan Alda's self-serving Dr. Robert Gallo and Tomlin's portrayal of Selma Doritz should earn them Emmy nominations. "And the Band Played On" is a must see for anyone interested in the forces of fear and homophobia and their impact on our lives and the culture. A reception followed with other stars and supporters attending, including Sandra Bernhard, producer Midge Sanford, Branford Marsalis, Luke Perry, Sharon Gless, Lou Pitl, Dana Delaney, Zev Yaroslavsky and, of course, Randy Shilts. Your comments may be directed to: Aaron Spelling and E. Duke Vincent, Exectuive Producers, "And the Band Played On," HBO Pictures, 1100 Avenue of the Americas, New York, 10036. Images and invisibility in films... "Without a Face " & "Vampire" "The Man Without a Face" "The film would have been a lot more challenging if it had been faithful to its source, Isabelle Holland's young-adult novel, in which McLeod (Mel Gibson) was also homosexual. Gibson elects to play it safe." David Ansen, Newsweek About 25 people from ACT UP and GLAAD/LA protested the honoring of Mel Gibson, who was about to have his hand and foot prints enshrined in cement in front of Mann's Chinese Theater. The protest was against Gibson's reported homophobic and sexist remarks. "They take it up the ass. This is only for taking a shit." (Gibson getting up from a chair and pointing to his rear.) And then to dispel any thoughts that he might be gay, MG reportedly said, "I became an actor despite that. But with this look, who's going to think I'm gay? It would be hard to take me for someone like that." Maybe the best part of Mel was passed over for the cement tribute ("Hollywood's ultimate honor," says Frontiers). Has anybody ever sat in it? Mr. Mel Gibson, c/o Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. "Interview with the Vampire" "Hot on the heels of almost everybody in the world -- except Warner Bros. stockholders -- objecting to Tom Cruise being cast as Lestat in (the film) "Interview with the Vampire,"...a rumor is rampant that Cruise has insisted that every trace of homoeroticism be written out of the script." Liz Smith, Los Angeles Times, syndicated columnist "Ridiculous...Look, Tom agreed to do this movie and to perform the script as written...It has not been altered. Any homoerotic elements that were in the original script remain. Maybe not as many as Anne Rice's (the author of "Interview with the Vampire") -- or Tom's -- gay fans would like, or as many as were in the book, but I can assure you Tom has made no demands in this area. He has placed himself in (director) Neil Jordan's hands ("The Crying Game") and will follow Jordan's script." Pat Kingsly, publicist for Tom Cruise. An interview with Anne Rice, carried in the Los Angeles Times' Calendar ("Interview With the Vampire's Picky Creator," Film Clips, August 22), presented Ms. Rice's views toward the casting of Tom Cruise as Vampire Lestat and the resultant suspicion that any traces of the book's homoerotic material will eventually be eradicated when translated to film. She's not happy. Mr. Neil Jordan, Director, "Interview With the Vampire," c/o Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. Unable to learn from such films as "The Wedding Banquet" and "The Crying Game," some in Hollywood still don't understand that the portrayal of homosexual or homoerotic material - in its full breadth, diversity and complexity - can only mean success at the box office. Helms Stopped, For Now United States Senate backers of federal aid to the arts blocked an attempt by conservatives, led by Senator Jesse Helms (R, North Carolina), to end funding of grants to individual artists through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). In the latest manuevering by the resilient right wing, supporters in the Senate managed a lopsided vote of 65 to 30 to defeat a motion to limit grants only to non-profit organizations. Also killed, by a vote of 57 to 38, was an attempt to require that "no less than 70% of NEA funds be sent to the states for redistribution by local officials." Said Senator Barbara Boxer (D, California), "I am not an art critic. The senator from North Carolina is not an art critic. We will make mistakes, yes, but give Jane Alexander (President Clinton's nominee to head the NEA) a chance." "Charlie Rose": No Thorns Here Ever tire of stomach-churning, mind-numbing homophobic "talk" TV? If you're weary of exclusion, imagine a guest list including Larry Kramer, U.S. Representative Pat Schroeder, Alice Walker, Tony Kushner, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Anna Quindlen, Randy Shilts, Paul Rudnick, Patricia Ireland and Kristine Gebbie. Imagine panel discussions like "AIDS: The Second Decade," with international health workers. Imagine a discussion on "The Crying Game," with Oscar winning writer/director Neil Jordan and cast, imagine assorted opera divas, Broadway legends, non-generic movie stars, politicians and artists. These are some of the guests on this season's "Charlie Rose." (Seen in Los Angeles on KCET-TV (PBS), Monday through Thursday at 11:00 pm, Friday at 12 midnight.) Rose, who was recently profiled by The New Yorker, is one of television's most erudite journalists. Formerly the anchor on "CBS News Overnight," he was wooed and won by PBS to host his own hour conversation show in New York. He consistently hosts those who give voice to our community, and the talk is not a rant, but rather thoughtful dialogue. Write KCET-TV and encourage them to present more of this type of programming. Contact: William Kobin, President, KCET-TV, 4401 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028. "The Wedding Banquet" If you haven't seen this film, make plans to see it now. An excellent cast of characters, a well developed storyline full of logical interest and depth, and gay men portrayed with a sense of honesty and wit. This Ang Lee film easily combines elements of today's diverse society and does it with flair, assuredness and imagination. That a story revolving around a gay Asian/Caucasian couple's attempt to fake a hetero-marriage is finding wide appeal - and impressive box office bucks - adds credence, and should provide impetus, to presenting lesbians and gays as whole human beings. Your comments to: The Samuel Goldwyn Co., "The Wedding Banquet," 10203 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 90067. "Joey Breaker" Another must see would be "Joey Breaker." Written, produced and directed by Steven Starr, this light hearted heteromance also finds a way to deal with gay men and AIDS in an inclusive and non-exploitive way. Capturing kudos as well for its diversity, "Breaker" tells the story of a New York agent (Richard Edson) who will do and say anything to make a deal - a New York answer to Tim Robbin's "The Player." Along the way he meets Cyan (Cedella Marley), finds himself falling in love with her, and, when he accompanies a co-worker on her way to share lunch with a gay man (Fred Fondren) who has AIDS, he senses some humanity and gets a glimpse of life's realities. As his love affair blooms, he is trying to sign a cutting edge black comic, Hip Hop Hank (Erik King), who happens to be gay. Hip Hop declines signing a multi-year sitcom contract, partly because it would mean he would have to take a thorough health exam possibly discovering that he is HIV positive. The on-screen affection between Hip Hop and his lover is effectively portrayed. An ingratiating film. Comments to: Steven Starr, c/o Fredell Pogodin & Associates, 8271 Melrose Avenue, #102, Los Angeles 90046. Cable Thirtieth Anniversary... March on Washington On August 28, C-SPAN broadcast the March on Washington's 30th Anniversary Memorial of the 1963 Historical March on Washington for Civil Rights. After much negotiation, Phill Wilson, founder of the Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum, spoke on justice for people with AIDS and Black lesbians and gays. He was introduced by Torie Osborn, Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF). The crowd was estimated to be from 70,000 to 100,000 but Torie and Phill were the last speakers and the crowd had dwindled to less than 100 people. Ten years ago, at the 20th Anniversary of the March on Washington, Audre Lourde spoke, marking the first time in history an openly gay person was allowed to address a major civil rights event. When it looked like Osborn and Wilson were not going to get to address the crowd, Coretta Scott King insisted that they be included. C-SPAN's practice of televising an entire event, without commentary, continues to serve its cable audience in a unique and attractive way. Comments to: Mr. Brian Lamb, Chairman/CEO, C-SPAN, 400 N. Capitol NW, #650, Washington, D.C. 20001. "Why Am I Gay?" HBO's "Why Am I Gay?" was generally disappointing. It featured a lesbian couple, a gay cop and his lover, a gay man with AIDS who sings with the Flirtations, and a gay man who needs 24 hour surveillance in a "change ministry" home to stamp out his homosexuality. In spite of the possible story lines, no new ground was broken and no one seemed to know how to make the show interesting or answer the question posed in the title. Comments to: "Why Am I Gay?", c/o HBO Pictures, 1100 Avenue of the Americas, New York, 10036. "Larry King" Features Mel White and Lou Sheldon On August 13, "Larry King Live" (CNN, weekdays, 6:00 pm) interviewed the Reverend Mel White, the ghost writer for Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Billy Graham. He came out of the closet because "I couldn't live with the silence any loner...this (being gay) is a gift from God." His coming out has shaken his old friends and he is exposing how "they use gays to raise money." Lou Sheldon, leader of the Traditional Values Coalition, came on with a string of vituperative distortions of lesbian and gay reality. He said gays were only 1% of the population. Larry King asked Sheldon, "How can only 1% terrorize 99%?" Sheldon: "Very cleverly." White, Sheldon and King went back and forth with Sheldon getting more desperate. King's next segment featured Sandra Bernhard who was visibly upset over Sheldon's statements. She called Sheldon "evil." Write Larry King and suggest that invited guests, who present opposite views on a subject, be encouraged to have legitimate facts and figures to make a convincing argument. Write: "Larry King Live," CNN, 1 CNN Center, Atlanta, GA 30348-5466. Radio and Print Redbook ... Powerful Stuff The September issue of Redbook magazine had two terrific articles: "Are You a Moral Wimp?" and "The Secret Life of Bisexual Husbands." Author Judith Vorst reminds people that "Not speaking up may be easy and safe, but there's a price to pay for your silence." Vorst quotes a gay man who explains, "Whenever you don't speak out against a gay-bashing crack, you ally yourself with those guys who literally bash us." Vorst writes, "If we keep failing to do the right thing - because it's hard, inconvenient or possibly risky - we chip away at our moral code, corrode our self respect (and) become smaller people." Excellent article. Vorst and Redbook should be applauded for speaking out against racism and homophobia. The companion piece, "The Secret Life of Bisexual Husbands," is an illuminating, non-judgemental look at bisexual men. Often the wife is the last to know about her husband; "they love their wives and their male lovers." Author Esther Davidowitz says that research indicates that 2/3 of bisexual men - from an estimated total of six million - are married men. William Weden, Ph.D, a pyschologist and director of the Bisexual Information and Counseling Service in New York City, believes that one in every six males is bisexual. "It may be one of the best kept secrets in America," according to Davidowitz. Dr. Weden stated, "Men are a lot more homophobic than women are...women tend to react to the fact that their partner has been unfaithful rather than to the fact that their partner has been having sex with a man." To encourage more articles that are intelligent, well-researched and factual, send your comments to: Diane Salvatori and Sally Lee, Redbook, 224 W. 57th Street, New York 10019. TV Guide On Target "Melrose Place," (KTTV-TV, ch. 11, Wed., 9:00 pm) which has had several false starts in its attempt to present realistic sexual and racial diversity, received a "Jeer" in the August 7 "Cheers 'n' Jeers" column of TV Guide. To its credit Guide took "Place" to task for "creating - then blowing - an excellent opportunity. The straight white types, typical of most prime-time ensemble casts, were joined by Rhonda (Vanessa Williams), a black fitness instructor, and Matt (Doug Savant), a gay social worker. Producers reduced them to tokens, though, never exploiting their potential for socially relevant stories." Advanced word on future storylines indicates Matt gaining a love interest in the new season. When and how this is accomplished will be of interest. To encourage TV Guide to continue asking about the presentation of the diverse elements in America write: Mr. Barry Golsun, Editor, TV Guide, P.O. Box 900, Radnor, PA 19088; copy to Althea Disney, same address. To help encourage the producers of "Melrose Place" to depict the fullness of human diversity and then not marginalize its presentation, write: Ms. Lucie Salhany, President, Fox Broadcasting, P.O. Box 900, Beverly Hills 90213; and Darren Star, Executive Producer, "Melrose Place," Spelling Enterprises, 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90036. Coming-out in the comics... "Doonesbury" After nearly 25 years in the cartoon strip "Doonesbury," campus radical and public radio host Mark Slackmeyer came out of the closet in the pages of America's newspapers. The coming-out storyline is a clever, intelligently handled development for Mark, one of the strip's main characters. Mark, the messy-haired, mustachioed deejay, was actually one of the 3 original characters created by cartoonist Garry Trudeau in 1970, along with advertising man Michael Doonesbury and football player/agent B.D. The trio were college buddies at Waldon Pond back when the cartoon parodied Trudeau's Yale University experiences during the 1960s. In the first week of the gay storyline, Mark Slackmeyer falls asleep and receives a dream visit from Andy, one of the strip's character who died from complications of AIDS. After Andy points out that Mark doesn't "have a life," hasn't had a girlfriend in years and has been losing himself in work, Mark plunges headfirst into his coming-out crisis. He visits Doonesbury in the middle of the night and tells him that he's not ready to be a "nearsighted, loudmouthed, middle-aged radical gay dj." Mike Doonesbury's wife J.J. reminds Mark that she has many gay friends who are happy, which opens the door to more gay characters in the cartoon strip in the future. Encourage Mr. Trudeau to add J.J.'s friends to the cast and explore Mark's coming-out process further. Comments to: Gary Trudeau, "Doonesbury," Universal Press Syndicate, 4900 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64112. Asian American Mag... Transpacific Features Gay Man The July/August issue of Transpacific, an Asian American magazine, includes an article ("Gay and Angry Solo Satirist") on performer Patrick Lee. The interview addressed Lee's experiences as an "immigrant-Asian-gay" from personal, political and professional perspectives. For more information contact: Tom Kagy, Publisher/Editor, Transpacific, 23715 W. Malibu Road, #390, Malibu, CA 90265; FAX (310) 456-3724. Remembering Schindler The tragedy of Allen Schindler, the Navy sailor who was brutally beaten to death by two shipmates because he is gay, may have ended after his killer received a guilty verdict, but a year after the vicious killing, the September 12 New York Times Sunday Magazine offered a 5-page profile of Schindler's mother Dorothy Hadjys, the Salvation Army bookkeeper who battled the Navy to find out the truth about her son's murder. Author Jesse Green chronicled Hadjys' journey as she educated herself on her son's homosexuality, befriend gay activists and made a passionate plea at the March on Washington in late April. The tale is chilling, detailing a beating that a coroner described as worse than a high speed car or plane crash and a mother who did not come to terms with her son's homosexuality until it was too late. Yet the tale is also inspiring. Hadjys took on the military and told her son's story to journalists, civil rights marchers, even the Illinois legislature as it considered a gay rights bill. "If there's a place in the Guinness book for the woman kissed most by gay men, I'm it," she says. Comments to: Mr. Max Frankel, Editor, New York Times, 229 W. 43rd Street, New York 10036. ADVERTISING Out Advertisers In response to GLAAD/LA's advertising watch, Out magazine, a magazine for the gay and lesbian community, has sent GLAAD a list of its clients who have "recognized that the Gay and Lesbian market is strong and buying products of all kinds." The list is as follows: Apple Computer, Anne Winkler, 20525 Mariani, Cupertino, CA 95074; Asahi Beer, Robert Kapeller, 707 Wilshire Blvd., #4350, Los Angeles 90017; Italian Country, Alice Romano, 8784 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles 90048; L.A. Eyeworks, Ruth Handle, 7407 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles 90046; NANA Clothing, John Curry, 1228 3rd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401; New Line Home Video, Patti Bodner, 116 N. Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles 90048. Comments to: Kelly Daugherty, Out Magazine, 8205 Santa Monica Blvd., #1-183, West Hollywood, CA 90046. Tracking the Ads The Media Outreach Comittee 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/LA Hotlines: English (213) 931-9429; Spanish (213) 463-4673. 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, call us. Any information will be treated in confidence. GLAAD NEWS Hollywood Supports Update The first training for facilitators to deliver the new GLAAD/Hollywood Supports "Sexual Orientation in the Workplace" seminars for the entertainment industry will be Oct. 2 & 3. After that we plan to help GLAAD market the seminar aggressively to industry workplaces. Employee support groups at Disney and NBC, and human resources and diversity personnel at MCA, Sony and Fox participated in a series of focus groups on Aug. 20 to help us with issues and approaches that should be included in the training. Hollywood Supports has now delivered over 400 "AIDS in the Workplace" seminars to entertainment workplaces nationwide, including over 100 sessions this month in New York, Philadelphia and Boston. There are now four companies in the industry that have adopted the Hollywood Supports model documents for extending health coverge to employees' same-sex partners: MCA, INC.; Viacom, Inc.; Home Box Office; and Warner Bros. We are hopeful that by the time you read this our first industry union health plan, the Writers Guild-Industry Health Fund, will also have adopted the coverage for members of the Writers Guild. We are looking forward to "Out and Equal in the '90's," the Third Annual Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Workplace Issues Conference at Stanford University on Oct. 16 & 17. We expect to have a sizable industry contingent there this year, and Hollywood Supports is participating in several of the workshops. For more information on this conference, the seminars or domestic partnership benefits, contact Hollywood Supports at (213) 962-3118. UCLA Extension... "The Lavender Ceiling" "Sexual Orientation in the Workplace: The Lavender Ceiling" is the subject for one of the fall quarter meetings sponsored by a new UCLA Extension "breakfast briefing" program. Scheduled for October 13, from 7:30 to 10:30 am, at the UCLA Extension's facilities in the World Trade Center, 350 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown Los Angeles, will feature, among others, GLAAD/LA Founder and Board Member Carol Anderson. For details on cost and other information call: UCLA Extension (310) 825-2012. Media Awards Nominations It's time again to start preparing for the 1994 GLAAD/LA Media Awards. Next year's gala awards event will take place on Saturday, March 19 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. Nominations are now open and GLAAD/LA is accepting names of possible award nominees from the following areas: Television and Radio Programming and News; the Recording Industry; the Print Media; Film and Advertising. The primary criteria for submissions in news is that the work includes fair and comprehensive coverage of lesbians, bisexuals and gay men. For the entertainment media, the primary criteria is that the work portray gay, lesbian and bisexual characters as complete human beings rather than one dimensional stereotypes. To qualify, the material must have been first published, broadcast or released in the United States between January 1, 1993 and December 31, 1993. To submit your nominee, simply write legibly or type the name, topic, storyline or title, date and other pertinent information and include a brief blurb on why you feel an award is deserved. Please include your name and phone number in case there are any questions and send to: Media Awards Nominating Committee, GLAAD/LA, 7033 Sunset Blvd., Suite 304, Hollywood, 90028. Questions can be directed to: GLAAD/LA Office at (213) 463-3632. Great chance for volunteers... 1994 Media Awards The first volunteer orientation and planning meeting for the Media Awards '94 took place at GLAAD/LA's August general meeting on August 24. A myriad of involvement opportunities were announced and explained. If you like to schmooze, there's the Celebrity Committee and the various sales committees - corporate, community, program book and table sponsor. If you are a collector, consider joining the Silent Auction Committee. For writers and creative people, there's the program book and show production committees. Also announced during the meeting was the GLAAD/LA mentoring plan, which is called the Understudy Program. Basically a two-year commitment; in the first year a volunteer would understudy an experienced committee chair, and the following year chair the committee itself. For more information contact: Carmichael Smith-Low or Will Halm, co-chairs, Media Awards, (213) 463-3632. "Breaking the Censorship Cycle"... Project 21 In our nation's public classrooms information about sexual orientation has long been censored. Children are deprived of accurate information regarding the historial and contemporary contributions of lesbian, gay and bisexual people. To break that cycle, Project 21 - an educational equity campaign based in GLAAD's San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (SFBA) - is proud to announce a new poster that may be hung in classrooms and living rooms across our country. Created by Project 21's Mid-American Coordinator, Rob Birle, this elegant, full-color poster includes images and events covering the last 2,600 years. See the full page ad in this issue of GLAAD/LA Reports for detailed information. Comments to: GLAAD/SFBA, 514 Castro Street, Suite B, San Francisco 94114. Executive Director's Column by Lee Werbel This is a special issue of GLAAD/LA Reports. GLAAD/LA marks its 5th Anniversary this month. Five years filled with victories and also defeats. In this issue, Richard Jennings, founder, former Co-President and former Executive Director of GLAAD/LA, reflects on GLAAD/LA's early years; Peter M. Nardi, PhD., former Co-President, writes about lesbian and gay images in the media -- then and now; and former GLAAD/LA Co-President Jehan Agrama outlines GLAAD/LA's landmark events. If you are reading this publication, and are not yet a member, this is the month to join. The first 100 new members to join GLAAD/LA during October will receive the GLAAD/LA t-shirt. GLAAD/LA is the only lesbian and gay community organization dedicated solely to sensitizing the media. In addition to lobbying for more openly gay and lesbian characters in television and film, GLAAD also works towards more appropriate inclusion of gay and lesbian issues in all aspects of the media. This work is accomplished through big activations, small activations, taking a meeting with a news director, and all types of contributions including letters. Currently, GLAAD/LA, in partnership with Hollywood Supports, is preparing the first ever "Sexual Orientation in the Workplace" seminars designed especially for the entertainment industry. The seminars and related written materials dealing with the workplace needs of lesbians and gay men will be available for delivery by mid-fall. The seminar is being designed to work either as a stand-alone session or as a component of an overall workplace diversity program. We invite you to participate in making the next five years as significant as the first five years in combating homophobia in the media. SIDE COLUMNS 5th Anniversary General Meeting: October 26 You are invited to participate in the celebration of our 5th Anniversary during our October General Meeting on October 26. Join us for an exciting panel discussion focusing on "How Far Have We Come, Where Are We Going: Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Images in Film and Television." Join us as we greet prominent industry speakers. The meeting will start at 7:00 pm and will be held at Temple Beth Chayim Chadashim, 6000 W. Pico Blvd. (just east of Crescent Heights). Guests are welcomed; refreshments. Andrew, Thank You Thank you to Andrew Rakos of the eatery Who's on Third (8369 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles) for donating the food for the joint GLAAD/LA and GLAAD/NY retreat held in Los Angeles the last weekend of August. Women of GLAAD/LA... "BATON" Women of GLAAD is co-sponsoring "BATON," a lesbian mentoring project, along with the Community Outreach and Education Project at The Center. An orientation will be held October 13, 1993, from 8 to 10:00 pm in the Board Room at The Center, 1625 North Hudson Avenue, Hollywood. Anyone interested in being a mentor or mentee may attend. Please call The Center at (213) 993-7443 for additional information. Film Submissions Sought The National Asian American Telecommunications Associations (NAATA) is seeking submissions for its 12th annual San Francisco Asian American International Film Festival. Applications and guidelines may be obtained by contacting: Paul Mayeda Berges, Director, NAATA, 346 9th Street, 2nd Fl., San Francisco 94103; (415) 863-0814; FAX (415) 863-7428. Queer Television Network Century Cable will be broadcasting "Tinseltown Queer" (hosted by Nicholas Snow) on Oct. 2 (12:30 pm), Oct. 9 (Noon), Oct. 13 (11:30 pm) and Oct. 20 and 27 at 11:00 pm. Also, "Gay and Lesbian News Magazine" (hosted by Bob LaFont) on Tuesdays at 9:30 pm; and "The Fresca Vinyl Show" on Oct. 14 at 8:30 pm. NEA Publishes G/L Booklet The National Education Association (NEA) has published "Teaching and Counseling Gay and Lesbian Students" as part of its "Human & Civil Rights Action Sheet" series. The booklet contains information about homosexuality, homophobia and educational equity and a list of resource organizations. Contact: National Education Association, 1201 16th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036-3290. Letter Writing; Send GLAAD/LA a Copy The need for continual gay and lesbian reaction to the events that are shaping our lives and our future is important. One of the most effective tools we can use is letter writing. When you write a letter, please send a copy of your correspondence, and any reply, to us for our files. Send to: GLAAD/LA, P.O. Box 931763, Hollywood 90093-7033. GLAAD/USA An organization representative of its chapters to confront public expressions of homophobia or heterosexism and promote the fullest possible understanding of the breadth and diversity of gay and lesbian lives by facilitating national activations. GLAAD/USA Chapters: GLAAD/Atlanta (404) 876-1398; FAX (404) 876-4051 GLAAD/Dallas (214) 521-5342, ext. 816; (214) 522-4604 GLAAD/Denver (303) 331-2773; FAX (303) 494-7216 GLAAD/Kansas City (816) 374-5927; FAX (816) 756-1760 GLAAD/Los Angeles (213) 463-3632; FAX (213) 463-4923 GLAAD/National Capitol Area (202) 429-9500; (202) 857-0077 GLAAD/San Diego (619) 543-8914; (619) 265-6417 GLAAD/San Francisco Bay Area (415) 861-4588; FAX (415) 861-4893 GLAAD/LA Committee Information Media Outreach Committee The Media Outreach Committee will be meeting the third Tues. of each month at 7:00 pm at the GLAAD/LA office, 7033 Sunset Blvd., Suite 304, one block east of La Brea in Hollywood. Media Outreach works in a variety of ways to educate people in the media about homophobia and about GLAAD/LA. Our activities are designed for the film, television, radio, music and print media. Interested people may call: Michael B. Keegan or Jehan Agrama, Media Outreach Committee, Co-Chairs, (213) 463-3632. Monitor/Response Committee This committee watches (monitors) what's happening in the media and writes letters, makes phone calls and produces articles for the GLAAD/LA newsletter. How do you get involved? Do you own a television or a video cassette recorder? Do you subscribe to any publications or attend movies? Then you already are in a position to help the Monitor/Response committee. Please join us. Meetings in October are on the 14th and 28th at 7:30 pm at the GLAAD/LA office, 7033 Sunset Blvd, Suite 304, Hollywood; (213) 463-3632. Anne Dutton, Chair. Newsletter Advisory Committee The deadline for submitting material for GLAAD/LA Reports is the first of each month for the following month's newsletter. For the December newsletter all material needs to be submitted on or before November 1. Your comments, articles, letters or other submissions may be sent to: GLAAD/LA Reports, c/o GLAAD/LA, P.O. Box 931763, Hollywood 90093; FAX (213) 463-4923; or directly to the Editor, Carl Matthes, FAX (213) 257-5878. Women of GLAAD If you would like to be a part of the lesbian voice in GLAAD/LA's affairs, come and join us for our monthly informal gathering to discuss ways in which we can become more visible in our community. Our purpose is to encourage the participation of lesbians on the GLAAD/LA board and on GLAAD's committees, and to ensure that GLAAD continues to fight for lesbian visibility in all areas of the media. The Women of GLAAD Caucus meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm at the GLAAD office, 7033 Sunset Blvd., Suite 304; (213) 463-3632. Tracy Stern, Chair. We Need Volunteers: Archives Volunteers are needed to enter dates on our computers for our video archives. Please contact the GLAAD/LA Please contact the GLAAD office at (213) 463-3632 and leave a message for Sylvia. GLAAD/LA Reference File GLAAD/LA is continually updating its reference file of clippings and articles so that the actual statements of anyone who is practicing defamation, or voicing support for our human rights, can be easily documented. Can you, or someone you know, start watching and clipping the Orange County Register, L.A. Weekly, L.A. Reader, La Opinion, or the Daily News? In addition, if you read something in a magazine, periodical, newsletter, etc., that relates to gay and lesbian issues, clip and send it to: GLAAD/LA, P.O. Box 931763, Hollywood 90093-1763; FAX (213) 463-4923; or call the hotlines, English (213) 931-9429; Spanish (213) 463-4673 and report it. Office Help GLAAD/LA is seeking sharp, reliable, enthusiastic and motivated individuals to volunteer in our friendly, relaxed and very busy office. There is a vast array of general office duties which provide information relevant to monitoring the media. The work done by GLAAD/LA is only possible because of the volunteer spirit within the lesbian, gay and bisexual community. We encourage you to contact the GLAAD office at (213) 463-3632 if you have time to volunteer. You will receive genuine satisfaction as a result of your experiences, and will give a significant contribution to the community. GLAAD/LA Wish List Donations of any of the following items would be greatly appreciated: A multi-line phone system and phones A laser printer A new copying machine A telephone answering machine A conference table with chairs for ten or more Blank video and audiocassettes General office supplies, i.e. copy paper, scissors, staplers, file folders, etc. Office desks Donors, please call the GLAAD/LA office at (213) 463-3632. GLAAD/LA Reports Advertising Information GLAAD/LA Reports is mailed to members and supporters informing them about local and national media coverage and treatment of lesbian and gay issues. It provides an effective and proven way to reach thousands of concerned, responsible lesbian and gay community members -- the friends of GLAAD/LA. For information call: Margo Strik at (213) 259-9208. Policy Founded in 1985, it is the mission of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to counter stereotypes and misinformation about lesbians and gay men, to promote the fullest possible understanding of the breadth and diversity of lesbian and gay lives, and to counter all public expression of bigotry of any kind. It is the policy of GLAAD/LA to accept for its newsletter all advertising which is not inimical to its mission. GLAAD/LA nonetheless reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any advertising which it deems unacceptable on any grounds. The acceptance of, and publication by, GLAAD/LA of an advertisement in its newsletter shall not be construed as an endorsement by GLAAD/LA of any such event, product, company, organization, person, service or thing. Calendar dates: Oct 1 Friday Deadline for November GLAAD/LA Reports Oct 5 Tuesday Women of GLAAD, 7:00pm 7033 Sunset 304 Oct 6 Wednesday Community Outreach (Speakers) 7:30pm 7033 Sunset 304 Oct 12 Tuesday GLAAD/LA Board Meeting 7:30pm 7033 Sunset 304 Oct 14 Thursday Monitor/Response Committee 7:30pm 7033 Sunset 304 Oct 19 Tuesday Media Outreach 7:00pm 7033 Sunset 304 Oct 26 Tuesday General Meeting 7:00pm 6000 Pico Oct 28 Thursday Monitor/Response Committee 7:30pm 7033 Sunset 304 November Dates: Nov 1 Monday Deadline for December GLAAD/LA Reports Nov 2 Tuesday Women of GLAAD, 7:00pm 7033 Sunset 304 Nov 3 Wednesday Community Outreach (Speakers) 7:30pm 7033 Sunset 304 The Editorial Staff of GLAAD/LA Reports reserves the right to edit all material for brevity, clarity and consistency with the goals and purposes of GLAAD/LA. Editor Carl Matthes FAX (213) 257-5878 Assistant Editor David Zahniser Graphics Carl Daugenti Research & Editing Assistance Garrett Glaser Advertising Rep Margo Strik (213) 259-9208 Contributors: Jehan Agrama, Veronica Davis, GLAAD/SFBA, Rich Jennings, Al Kielwasser, Carl Matthes, Peter Nardi, Nancy Perez, Sylvia Rhue, Lee Werbel.