GLAAD/LA Reports - May Issue Carl Matthes, Editor (213) 254-2726 - FAX (213) 257-5878 Helping the Campaign for Military Service... GLAAD/LA Visibility Award Salutes the Openly Gay and Lesbian Members of the U.S. Military On March 29, U.S. Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA) gaveled to order the Senate Armed Services Committee hearings on lifting the ban of openly gay and lesbian American citizens to serve in the U.S. Military. It came one day after the Los Angeles Coalition for Military Service sponsored a memorial march for Allen Schindler, the young sailor who was gay-bashed to death in Japan. Sen. Nunn, despite his calm and reasoned demeanor on many recent television news programs, has assembled a committee agenda which seems to preclude hearings that will be unbiased, balanced and reasonable. Meanwhile, the Campaign for Military Service (CMS), the broad-based national effort to support President Clinton's proposal to lift the ban against gays and lesbians in the military, officially opened its national grassroots headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Apr. 8. Heading the Campaign's communications is GLAAD/LA's Executive Director, David M. Smith. The CMS is currently sponsoring a "Tour of Duty" bus trip through 24 states featuring several nationally known gay and lesbian veterans including Tanya L. Domi, Alan George Stephens, Scott D. Boykins, Herb King and Miriam Ben-Shalom. Their mission is to expand public and congressional support for President Clinton's proposal to lift the ban. In addition, CMS has developed "talking points" around some of the questions being asked over lifting the ban. For example: Military leadership is the single most important component in unit cohesion. Openly gay men, lesbians and bisexuals can be effectively integrated into units with strong military leadership. Strong military leaders do not allow personal prejudices or intolerance of individual members of the unit destroy the cohesion of the unit. Strong leadership is what has been used to integrate African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and women into units - even when they may have not been initially accepted. For members of the U.S. Senate to imply that it is impossible to integrate gay and lesbian Americans into our Armed Forces is essentially to insult the effectiveness of our military leaders. Contrary to current assumptions, in many cases gay and lesbians are known to their fellow service members and there has been no disruption of the unit. Other countries have lifted the ban against homosexuals in the military and have maintained effective armed forces. Campaign for Military Service, 2027 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20036; (202) 265-6666; FAX (202) 265-7393. As reported on the Apr. 7 edition of "48 Hrs," (CBS-TV, 10:00 pm) the lobbying and public relations efforts of organizations both supporting and opposing lifting the ban are swinging into high gear. Individual efforts to call and let the government know where you stand are very important. Call to: President Bill Clinton, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20500, Phone: (202) 456-1111,FAX: (202 456-2461; General Colin Powell, Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301-5000, Phone: (703) 697-9121, FAX: (703) 697-8758; Senator Sam Nunn, Dirksen Senate Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20504, Phone: (202) 224-3521, FAX: (202) 224-0072. "Willing to Fight - Lift the Ban" Poster Available... To help focus attention on lifting the ban and demanding equal rights for all Amercians, GLAAD/LA is proud to offer a lift the ban poster. The poster, in full color and suitable for framing, can be yours free by sending your $35.00 membership fee to GLAAD/LA before May 31. Or, you can order the poster for $5.00 each, plus $2.75 postage and handling. Send your check to: GLAAD/LA, 7033 Sunset Blvd., #304, Hollywood 90028; (213) 463-3632. Co-President's Column by Stephanie Farrington-Domingue "In Search of the Lesbian Agenda" As we approach the mid-point of the second quarter of 1993, we can already reflect on a host of events that have given us cause for celebration and or concern. Without a doubt, the inauguration of a new administration that actually includes us and affords us visibility via appointments, is a powerful positive. The strong presence we made in Washington as a national community, as well as in our local communities surrounding the push to lift the military ban, is cause for celebration. Although I do hear a lot of grumbling in our community - "Clinton's not acting fast enough; he should have done this first; why didn't he do that?" Give the guy a break! Let's be there for him, but let him do his job. Hold him accountable, but let him do his job. Let's not second guess his every breath. We trusted him enough to lend our money and support to get him elected, now let's give him room to do his job. It's rewarding to see that some in entertainment and the news media are beginning to foster a genuine desire to raise our images and issues in an honest light. In March, we hosted over 900 attendees at our annual Media Awards dinner which was, once again, one of the most empowering evenings I've ever attended. But with all this going on, there are three words I haven't heard any opinions or dialogues on. No meetings or rallys have been held, and not a penny have been raised for...The Lesbian Agenda. What is it? Where is it? Did it fall into the well of "lesbian invisibility"? Not since the onset of AIDS and the closing of Connexus have we heard anything about the Lesbian Agenda. When I consider the woman-spirit within our community that rallies for all other causes, I wonder how we might redirect or channel a portion of that energy toward lesbian concerns. Women as caregivers and nurturers have a tendency to take care of everything and everyone but ourselves. When I think of the wealth of feminine movers and shakers in our community, movin' and shakin' for everything other than any of our lesbian issues, I can't help but feel that a new list of priorities must emerge. A priority that takes lesbian issues off of the back burner, and incorporates them into the important issues at hand - that puts them back on the "A" list. This won't happen without an effort, but I am willing to initiate this effort. In the not too distant future, I will be inviting these movers and shakers to join me in a discussion of what our options might be in developing our Lesbian Agenda, and how we might combine the work we need to do with the work we are doing. So, by fellow (or fella) activist, look to hear from me. Any by the way, if you're still reading this newsletter and are not a member of GLAAD/LA yet, may I suggest that you change that ASAP? We need your support. FILM AND TELEVISION "Falling Down" Takes a Tumble Warner Bros.' story of straight white male angst "Falling Down," a Joel Schumacher directed film, features a scene in which urban rebel Michael Douglas enters an army surplus store to buy a pair of combat boots. The homophobic owner, visually upset by the fact that two gay men are shopping in the store, vebally abuses the two while showing Douglas his boots. After several "faggot" and "pansy" slurs, the two gay men confront the owner's hateful attitude. They are forced to leave after the owner brandishes a pistol. Later, Douglas finds out the owner is quite mentally sick (turns out he is a big fan of Hitler among other things). In the end the owner gets his dues. The film is being protested by the Korean-American Coalition and Korean-American Grocers of Southern California for a negative depiction of a Korean grocer in the film. Juan Rodriguez Flores, film critic for La Opinion, was upset by the portraits of Latinos in the film. "Anglo movie watchers may start thinking that most of the problems in the city are because we have been invaded by Latino people," said Flores. Warner Bros. spokesperson Robert Friedman rejected all the protests as "missing the point." "The film is a wake-up call," Friedman said. Your comments about missing points can be directed to: Robert Friedman, 4000 Warner Blvd., Bldg. 154, Room 202, Burbank, CA 91522; Joel Schumacher, "Falling Down," c/o Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank CA 91522. "Joey Breaker" The new film "Joey Breaker," written, produced and directed by Steven Starr, deals 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 gets a glimpse of humanity and life's realities. As his love affair blooms, he is in the midst of 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 portrayed openly and honestly. The film, which opens first in Los Angeles and New York, has a well-paced, natural quality that is ingratiating. Comments to: Steven Starr, c/o Fredell Pogodin & Associates, 8271 Melrose Avenue, #102, Los Angeles 90046. "Three of Hearts" A first-run feature lesbian movie? Not exactly. New Line Cinema's May release, "Three of Hearts," features a story line where a man and a woman compete for a second woman's affection. It's a romantic comedy involving a lesbian couple, Ellen (Sherilyn Fenn) and Connie (Kelly Lynch), who break up just as the film begins. William Baldwin, portraying Joe, the street-smart male escort, stars as the non-homophobic male lead. The matter-of-fact treatment of sexual orientation in "Three" is commendable. The lesbians are generally not stereotypical, though there is one scene where Connie is getting ready for a wedding and acts uncomfortable and insecure in a dress, as if she's in female drag. In another scene, Ellen's sister is uncomfortable with her sibling's lesbianism. It is a bit of well-intentioned consciousness raising that is too overdone to ring entirely true. A recent article in Adweek (Mar. 8, '93) outlining the challenges studios face in marketing gay/lesbian films, claims New Line deliberately avoided using the terms "gay, lesbian or homosexual" in the ad campaign "...in order not to handicap the film." New Line wanted consumers to "...discover the idea without slapping them in the face." There's a bit of charm and a lot of hype to "Three," but it is a step in the right direction. And as something to watch, there may be more to say about the way the film is marketed than about the film itself. Send your comments to: "Three of Hearts," David Permut, Executive Producer, c/o New Line Cinema, 116 N. Robertson Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles 90048. "Silverlake Life: The View from Here" "Silverlake Life: The View from Here" has found a local screen at the Laemmle Sunset 5. The film is the story of two HIV positive men, Tom Joslin and Mark Massi, - lovers for almost 22 years - who are fighting the opportunistic infections that finally claim both their lives. Strikingly intimate and tragically personal, "Silverlake," finished by friend Peter Friedman after the death of both Tom and Mark, was made by simply turning on a video camera and allowing it to capture daily realities: the men's fight for dignity and life, the reactions of family and friends, their devotion to each other and the death of Tom. AFA & CLeaR-TV... Homophobe Heaven Two well-financed national hate groups - the American Family Association (AFA) and Christian Leaders for Responsible Television (CLeaR-TV) - have launched a major assault on the S.C. Johnson Wax Company. Johnson Wax, makers of Agree shampoo, Glade and Windex, has been targeted because it "sponsors filth," i.e. programs that include any reference to gays or lesbians. On the hit list is "Golden Palace" for its "lesbian innuendo." Encourage Johnson Wax to resist these hateful homophobes by writing: Samuel C. Johnson, Chair, S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., 1525 Howe Street, Racine, WI 53403. Kodak Under Attack... The American Family Association (AFA) has begun a campaign to have the Eastman Kodak Company un-endorse Lambda, the gay and lesbian employee network at Kodak. The phones have not stopped ringing at Kodak since the Wanderer, a religious magazine of the Catholic Church, carried an article about Lambda. Unfortunately the Wanderer article was highly inaccurate because it erroneously associated NAMBLA (The North American Man-Boy Love Association) with Lambda. Lambda or Kodak do not support, endorse or associate in any way with NAMBLA. As of late March, Kodak has stood firm, and callers have been told that the "management would be advised." You can help this situation by calling the customer service line at (800) 242-2424 or write to: Eastman Kodak Company, 343 State Street, Rochester, N.Y. 14650. GLAAD/LA: Mounting a Counter-Attack The Media Outreach Committee has started a special project to research companies that are sponsoring gay and lesbian positive television and radio - and those that are not - through advertising. As Howard Rosenberg condemned in his Mar. 15 Los Angeles Times column, the Rev.Donald E. Wildmon urges his American Family Association (AFA) members to boycott the products of advertisers on shows such as "Golden Palace" and "Northern Exposure" because they contain "sex, violence, profanity and anti-Christian bigotry." In order to initiate an educational program aimed at advertisers - and counter the fear and hate tactics of AFA and others - we need volunteers to report the names of sponsors of programs with positive or negative lesbian and gay content. The next time you watch television keep a pencil and paper handy. If there is such content, jot down the name of the show, its sponsors and products. Then call this information into the GLAAD/LA Hotlines: English (213) 931-9429; Spanish (213) 463-4673. If you are interested in learning more about the Advertising Project of the Media Outreach Committee, come to the next monthly meeting, Tues., May 20, 7:00 pm at the GLAAD/LA office, 7033 Sunset Blvd. Chairs are Michael Keegan and Jehan Agrama. Lift the Ban Former U.S. Senator John Tunney supports lifting the ban on openly gay and lesbian citizens serving in the military. In his Mar. 30 Commentary on KABC's "Eyewitness News," Tunney remarked "There are two main issues: Is it Constitutional to keep homosexuals out of the military, and will lesbians and gays affect combat readiness?" Tunney pointed out that the ban conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, and, since gays and lesbians have served with distinction all along in the military, their open inclusion now would not harm combat readiness. Said Tunney, "The key issue is conduct, whether it be heterosexual or homosexual...The problem is not the sexual orientation of the few, but the closed minds of the many." Comments to: Terry Crofoot, General Manager, KABC-TV, 4151 Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles 90027; carbon copy to Senator John Tunney and Roger Bell, News Director, same address. Blockbuster Video: We Need Your Help GLAAD Chapters nationwide are urging lesbian and gay consumers to contact their local Blockbuster Video store to let management know that they are interested in renting "Lost Language of Cranes." This highly acclaimed film, which chronicles a family facing crisis after both the father and son come out of the closet, will be made available by CBS/Fox Video on June 2. Family issues as portrayed in the film are critical ones and CBS/Fox has announced a "national mobilization campaign" to market this film to our community. GLAAD is joining this effort. We urge you to pay a visit to your local Blockbuster store and request "Cranes" for rental on June 2. PRINT AND RADIO Coming Out in the Comics "For Better or For Worse" A Mar. 27 Associated Press story, which was picked-up by news organizations around the country, dealt with the decision by some newspapers not to run the syndicated "For Better or For Worse" comic strip in which a teenager reveals he is gay. (The coming out episode began Mar. 26 in the Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register.) The strip, which is authored by Canadian cartoonist Lynn Johnston, depicts a 17-year old agonizing over how to tell his parents that he is gay. The parents first react by kicking him out of their home, but then ask him to return, saying that they will try to accept his homosexuality. Some newspapers declined to run the strip, among them the Las Vegas Review-Journal & Sun, saying it went too far for a comic strip. The paper's editor remarked, "It's not offensive at all, but it was condoning homosexuality almost to the point of advocacy." Among teenagers, suicide is the second leading cause of death (after automobile fatalities), and some experts believe a significant portion of these suicides result from confusion over sexual orientation. By not carrying the series, newspapers are saying that teenage confusion about sexual orientation is offensive subject matter not to be discussed. Further, they may well be discarding a lifeline being tossed to teenagers and their families by Ms. Johnston. To support the continued availability of the strip, write to Lee Salem, Editorial Director, Universal Press Syndicate, 4900 Main Street, Ninth Floor, Kansas City, MO 64112, and thank him for making the comic strip available. Also encourage him to permit the strip's author, Lynn Johnston, to continue to explore the gay character's coming out process. Other comments to: Thomas Mitchell, Editor, Las Vegas Review-Jounral & Sun, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125. (Editor's note: The April issue of GLAAD/LA Reports carried a statement from Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, which in part said, "...I think gays are becoming a recognizable force here...They are just as valuable to the future of this community as any other group." Dear Mayor Jones, in case you wish to call, Mr. Mitchell's phone number at The Review-Journal & Sun is (702) 383-0211.) Comic Strip Creator... GLAAD/LA Reports Interviews Lynn Johnston The answer is: "She created a popular comic strip entitled 'For Better or For Worse,' and portrayed the coming out of a gay teenager. She is Vancouver, B.C. born, studied to become a medical illustrator, survived an abusive childhood, bounced back from being a single-parent-with-one-child, lives in Corbiel (Cor-bay), Ontario, Canada, (home to the Dionne Quintuplets) and caused a furor over gay and lesbian coming out in the United States." The question is: "Who is Lynn Johnston?" GLAAD/LA Reports telephoned Lynn at her home in Corbiel on Mar. 31 with Lynn picking-up after GLAAD/LA identified itself on her answering machine. "I'm screening all of my calls," she said. We asked the following: GLAAD/LA: How has the response been to your recent comic strip where Lawrence comes out? Lynn: It has been overwhelming. I have been receiving calls from all over. You know my strip is carried in 1,600 newspapers around the world - that's why I didn't pick-up right away. Only 13 papers have cancelled the strip because of the present storyline, and 20 others are running alternative strips until this episode is finished, which I think will be around April 25. In my almost 15 years of doing the strip there has never been such a furor. GLAAD/LA: What type of response have you received? Lynn: All types, basically. You know, I'm just a mom up here trying to cook eggs, and my storylines come from my own family involvements and situations. Some of the people calling have been accusing me of the most ridiculous things. I'm not advocating sex - like somehow because you're reading a newspaper, you can catch being gay from it. Gay is not just about sex, it's about lives. My character, Lawrence, wants his family to understand and love him. He also wants to be able to love. I feel I would have gotten less reaction if I had done a strip on teenagers shooting each other at school. GLAAD/LA: What prompted you to explore coming out? Lynn: I did some strips around child abuse not too long ago. And I drew on my own experiences as a child...going to school with bruises on my body, afraid of what people would say or ask, not wanting to betray my own family by telling...and my brother-in-law is gay and I was the first family member he came out to. I remember the day very clearly. He was outside chopping wood but doing it with the most angry vengeance imaginable. I went out to him and asked him what was happening. He stopped and turned to me and said, "My mother has set up another meeting for me with one of her friend's daughter. This makes me so angry...I can't stand it...I'm never going to marry a woman." And he looked me squarely in the face with those big blue eyes and said, "Do you understand?" And I did. So, I've been wanting to do this for about two years, and I felt the time was right. GLAAD/LA: So your strip is mirroring your own family? Lynn: Yes. My brother-in-law is the sweetest guy. My children have been raised around him and his friend. He has been responsible for starting the gay hotline up here. He works as a miner, but also is a piano player and director of the church choir. Everybody likes him. When I told my husband that his brother had come out to me, he accepted it really well and then decided that the two of them would go out canoeing and just spend the day together. It was really great. Then all of us went to tell their parents. It was quite an emotional time. GLAAD/LA: Thank you for your time and your creative effort. Lynn: I just hope you're happy with my efforts and the way I'm dealing with the storyline. I hope it will be educational and helpful. Direct your comments to: Lynn Johnston, c/o Universal Press Syndicate, 4900 Main Street, Ninth Floor, Kansas City, MO, 64112. From the Orange County Register Letters to the Editor: "I am writing to protest the upcoming comic strip 'For Better Or For Worse,'...this is inappropriate in a family newspaper and in a family promoted comic strip. Our children read the comics. Does the Register want to promote homosexuality? Does the artist need publicity so bad that she is willing to sink to this level? Is she so short of material that she has to promote this issue? She said that she was 'inspired' by a relative. I suggest she get her inspiration elsewhere. I can only hope that someone at the Register comes to his senses and pulls these gay panels..." Carol Milash, Orange, CA. More about Happy Families... Parents Magazine 685 Third Avenue New York, NY 10017 Dear Editor: I loved your recent profile in the March issue of Happy Families. It's wonderful visiting with a variety of families who making their family units work. Like millions of other parents, creating a loving home for my children is of utmost importance in my life. As a lesbian mother, I particularly loved seeing a "two-mom" family profiled. When it comes down to it, we're just like everyone else - two people committed to each other, our children and our families. Sincerely, Judy Chiasson Kenneth Cole & Banana Republic An amazing commercial appeared during the network broadcast of the 65th Academy Awards on Mar. 29. Aficionados, glued to the screen, could not have missed it. Black print on a white screen: Fighting for equal rights. Everyone's boycotting Colorado. These days it's more important what you stand for than what you stand in. Kenneth Cole But this is not all Kenneth Cole, a stylish New York shoe designer, has done. There is a full page advertisement in the Apr., '93 issue of Vanity Fair which shows a crowd of people holding GAY RIGHTS NOW placards and protesting in front of a U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Center. There is a post-it note superimposed at the top of the page with handwriting that says: "In support of our nation, everyone should have the right to bear arms - but not bare feet." Kenneth Cole. Send your comments to: Gaggi Singh, President, Kenneth Cole, 485 Seventh Avenue, Suite 800, NY 10018. In the same issue of Vanity Fair, Banana Republic is running lesbian/gay positive ads. There is a series of three double page ads all with the headline: My Chosen Family. The first is a photograph of three men and two women lying on the grass on their backs in a circle, holding hands. The next photograph is of three women in a convertible. There are two in the back seat with their arms draped over each other. One of them is kissing the hand of the woman in the front seat who has leaned back arching her arms over her head: My Chosen Family. In the last photograph a man is flanked by a woman and another man. They both have their heads on his shoulder and their hands on his chest: My Chosen Family. It is very clear in all the photographs, which are also ethnically diverse, that there is an intimacy and a relationship between the characters beyond being "friends." It is a great attempt to advertise positive images of love between all people; same-sex and otherwise. It seems this is a continuing lesbian/gay positive trend for Banana Republic. In Jan. '93 GLAAD/LA Reports carried a story of the positive ads depicting two men for which Banana Republic was getting attacked by "Concerned Women for America," an anti-feminist homophobic organization. We asked you to write and we were told that they received a great deal of response from lesbian/gay activists as well as homophobes. The new series has generated almost no response. It is important that we let the company how we feel about seeing lesbian/gay positive images. Comments to: Don Fisher, President and CEO, GAP/Banana Republic, 1 Harrison Street, San Francisco 94105. Carbon copy to: Sam Shahid, Vice President, Banana Republic Advertising, 3 East 54th St., New York 10022. Times Provides Visibility The Los Angeles Times gained credibility in the community by featuring articles on prominent lesbians during March. Nurit Shein was featured in the Westside section as she has been appointed Director of Programs at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Services Center. Bettina Boxall on Mar. 29 wrote a View cover story on Torie Osborn: "A Relentless Rebel Pushes Ahead." Osborn's journey as an activist is charted from her early days of homophobia when she spoke on "How Lesbians were a Threat to the (feminist) Movement" to her discovery of her lesbianism and her firebrand life as a lesbian activist on her way to Washington, D.C. as the new Executive Director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force. Lea DeLaria, the lesbian comic, was featured on the front page of the Calendar section on Mar. 10. In an article by Susan Karlin, "An Outsider Creates Her Own Way In" - Lea is considered "one of the country's top lesbian humorists but she is off limits to most venues." Since the article, Lea appeared on the "Aresnio Hall Show" (Mar. 30) and stole the show. The audience loved her! She sang and cavorted and yelled about her "Lesbian Tourette Syndrome" where she has to yell out "I'm a dyke!" in the middle of a sentence. She will be back. Martina Navratilova and k.d. lang were also gossiped about in Liz Smith's column. On Mar. 28, an article on "Cruising Greek Isles with Daughters of Sappho" by Lindsey Van Gelder and Pamela Robin Brandt appeared. 251 women passengers sailed to the Greek Isles on the Stella Oceanis sponsored by Olivia. "Lesbians in Lesbos! It was impossible to resist." A guide on cruises for lesbians and gays accompanied the article. The authors concluded that "lesbians are just as conventional - and just as silly - as any other tourists." Comments to: Mr. Shelby Coffey III, Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times-Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053. In another vein, the Mar. 12 edition featured a report on the first large study of female sexual orientation, which was conducted by Boston University and Northwestern University, and found a strong genetic component to homosexuality. Times science writer Thomas H. Maugh II detailed that "Previous studies of male homosexuals have obtained the same results, but those studies have been highly criticized because they did not include women. But the new study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, reports that when one of a set of identical twins was a lesbian, 48% of the second twins were also lesbians." Recognizing that not all identical twins were gay and that environment also plays a role, Northwestern psychologist J. Michael Bailey, theorized "It presently is unclear what those environmental factors are, though possible candidates include (birth stresses) affecting twins differently or differential treatment by parents." And finally, the glossy Los Angeles Times Magazine on Sun., Mar. 28, in an article titled "L.A.'s New Gay Muscle" and written by Bettina Boxall, carried full color pictures of President Clinton with David Mixner, Fox Inc. chair Barry Diller, TV producer Steve Tisch and Barbra Streisand with music mogul David Geffen, and Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mike Woo with Torie Osborn. The story, which seemed keyed towards an easy Sunday morning, touched on many important bases within the community, ending with the observation, "San Francisco seems like the home and heart, New York is the mind, and Los Angeles is politics and power." Comments to: Mr. Shelby Coffey III, Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times-Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053. New York Times... Gay and lesbian issues were catapulted back into the media spotlight at the end of Mar. as the Senate Armed Services Committee began its hearings on the military ban on gays and lesbians. In response, the New York Times intensified coverage of President Bill Clinton's flip-flops and the obtuse machinations of Senator Sam Nunn. While the Los Angeles Times offered only a preview of the upcoming hearings, the New York Times previewed the hearings and then followed up with detailed articles on the first two discussions - all of which went on the front page. The pieces contained line-by-line dialogue between the Senators and the panelists, including former assistant secretary Lawrence Korb, who told the committee that removing the ban would do nothing to harm that mysterious entity known as "unit cohesion." Other articles featured gay and lesbian issues by writers Paul Monette, Rosemary Mahoney, Edward Rothstein, Vincent Canby and James Michener. Comments to: Mr. Max Frankel, Editor, New York Times, 229 W. 43rd Street, New York 10036. Quotable Quotes... From Lawrence Korb, a former assistant secretary of defense under Ronald Reagan, speaking against the military ban of homosexuals, "There's a body of evidence that shows that not every gay man is attracted to every other man, or the same for women. That's really what we're talking about here. That somehow or another there's a feeling that just because you are a homosexual, you're attracted to everyone who happens to be your same sex." From David Mixner on Bill Clinton's suggestion for a compromise on the military ban, "Segregation is morally repugnant to us and we will never ever accept segregation as a sign of progress." We're GLAAD it's not up to you... New Yorker, New Yorker In the Mar. 29, '93 New Yorker article on Super agent Swifty Lazar, writer Michael Korda describes Lazar labeling Truman Capote as a "fruit." With reference to Truman Capote, Korda goes on to write about Lazar: "He refuses to believe the worst about anyone he knows. People who everyone else agrees are totally loathsome, Lazar professes to like. He stoutly insists that known lesbians are happily heterosexual." Korda's writing becomes a text book example of homophobia in the media, giving the impression that being gay or lesbian is "the worst and loathsome" about someone. How did the New Yorker, known for its editing, let this stay in the magazine? Perhaps new editor Tina Brown might benefit from some comments regarding this type of homophobia. Send your comments to: Tina Brown, Editor, New Yorker, 20 W. 43 Street, New York 10036. "The Right's Big Bash" Susan Estrich's column, "Personal Politics," in the March issue of L.A. Style magazine was titled "The Right's Big Bash" and addressed why youths and adults alike hate so dangerously. Estrich intelligently acknowledges the existence of homophobic/bigoted parents who raise children to wear the lenses of their narrow visions. She attributes the escalation of violence to gays and lesbians to Presidents Clinton's extreme counterparts: the religious right, especially those who won seats on the local legislative level. "...the Christian Coalition and religious right won as many as 40% of the legislative races...(1992)...and enacted hate bullets like Amendment 2 in Colorado..." She explains that they are not going away and that we need to hold them accountable for their onslaught of hatred and violence caused by their pro-discrimination rhetoric. Your comments may be addressed to: Anne Gilbar, Editor-in-Chief, L.A. Style, 6834 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 90028. Student Newspaper Goes Off the Deep End "Homosexuality is a disease because the American Psychiatric Association (APA) lists it as a psychosexual disorder. Contrary to popular belief, the APA still lists homosexuality in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)." So states columnist S. Harms, writing in the Occidental College student newspaper on Apr. 13, 1993. And Harms is hardly warmed up! In an article entitled "Sodomy is a Disease, Must Be Cured," Harms' fount of misinformation, hate and anger was evidently triggered by the Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Week sponsored on campus by BGALA, the student association of bisexuals, gays and lesbians. The article starts with the phrase "...the Occidental administration pushed the homosexual agenda. It spent a lot of money convincing students homosexuality is no different than being left-handed. The administration lied." Harms then begins reciting statistics regarding life spans. "The average life span of a married man is 74 years, but the average for homosexual men is 42 years. Add AIDS and a homosexual man's life expectancy drops to 39 years. Lesbians have a median age of death around 45." The source for these facts is the Family Research Institute, World, Mar. 6, 1993. Harms goes even further down the right wing path by mentioning Dr. Joseph Nicolosi and equating gays and lesbians as "...sodomites, pedophilliacs, or gang bangers." That this type of nonsense appears in a college newspaper is startling. Your comments may be addressed to: Yvette Cabrera, Editor, The Occidental, Box S-40, Occidental College, Los Angeles 90041. GLAAD/LA Responds to The Occidental... Dear Ms. Cabrera, The amount of hate that the debate over gays in the military has engendered has astonished even GLAAD, which routinely deals with defamation, but we don't expect to find it in a university of the stature of Occidental. We are shocked by the article of columnist S. Harms, '94. It has all the lies of the religious right: the phony statistics, "the average (lifespan) for homosexual men is 42 years," the quotes from such people as Nicolosi, a man bounced out of the American Psychological Association, and ends with the religionists' hypocritical claim of love. Harms even uses the cheap trick of grouping together "sodomites, pedophilliacs, or gang bangers." Similarly we might group anti-gay columnists, perjurers and embezzlers. Is this really the standard of journalism at Occidental? Sincerely yours, Lee Werbel Deputy Director GLAAD/LA Editor's note: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual deleted homosexuality from its official nomenclature of mental disorders with the following 1973 position statement: This category is for individuals whose sexual interests are directed primarily toward people of the same sex and who are either disturbed by, in conflict with, or wish to change their sexual orientation. This diagnostic category is distinguished from homosexuality, which by itself does not constitute a psychiatric disorder. Homosexuality per se is one form of sexual behavior and, like other forms of sexual behavior which are not by themselves psychiatric disorders, is not listed in this nomenclature of mental disorders. MUSIC AND THEATER "Doting on Divas" Thanks to the Sunday New York Times Arts and Leisure Section for a swell piece on the love affair between gay men and opera. The story, in the Mar. 28 classical view column by Edward Rothstein, was entitled, "Doting on Divas: Private Jokes, Open Secrets." Rothstein writes intelligently about the relationship between gay men and the opera. He also addresses many of the issues brought up in "The Queen's Throat: Opera, Homosexuality and the Mystery of Desire," by Yale University English professor Wayne Koestenbaum. Thanks to the New York Times are in order, especially for giving the story so much space. Write to: Mr. Bernard Holland, Editor, Arts and Leisure Section, The New York Times, 229 W. 43rd Street, New York 10036. Censorship of Love Lucie Bila's "Laska je Laska" ("Love is Love"), containing the lyrics "Love is love when boys go out with girls, boys with boys and girls with girls," won the 1992 Czech equivalent of the Grammy for the best rock video. But that hasn't stopped it from being banished to late-night viewing. Songwriter Gabriela Osvaldova commented, "...(it) smacks of the censorship that was routine in the country's four decades of Communist rule..." GLAAD NEWS The KKK and STRAIGHT During the last week of March, fliers promoting the Ku Klux Klan and a group calling itself STRAIGHT (Society To Remove All Immoral Gross Homosexual Trash) have been appearing on utility poles in Colorado Springs and Denver. Ground Zero, a Colorado group dedicated to overturning Amendment Two, states "Both fliers carry the same reference addresses, linking the two groups. The Klan flier is typical, but the STRAIGHT flier alarmingly states the claim 'Death Penalty for Homosexuals is Prescribed in the Bible' from the Pastor Peter Peters of La Porte, Colorado." In its press release, Ground Zero charges, "The Campaign for Family Values (CFV) dangerously depicted gays and lesbians as immoral and subhuman...Although not solely responsible, CFV is an example of a group whose far right philosophy and agenda uses their interpretation of Christianity and religion for political gain. Groups such as the KKK in Colorado, the Davidians in Texas or individuals such as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Will Perkins and Kevin Tebedo are exploiting these gains to impose extremism under the guise of religion..." Comments to: Ground Zero, P.O. Box 1982, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. >From United States Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell: "I am appalled and incensed by two despicable posters being distributed in Colorado Springs. This malicious garbage, claimed by the 'Knights of the Ku Klux Klan' and an organization that calls itself 'STRAIGHT," gives...Colorado and the city of Colorado Springs an ugly black eye. "These posters encourage and sanction murder of citizens, in stating that the 'death penalty for homosexuals is prescribed in the Bible.' This filth is anti-democratic and abhorrent, it could even be considered treasonous. "I condemn this vicious trash in the strongest possible terms and call upon the people of Colorado to vehemently reject this hateful, hurtful, heinous campaign and the hating, racist, ignorant people who are behind it. We fought World War II to stop the scourge of Nazi-ism. I hope we will mount as strong and unified a fight against the regurgitation and dissemination of Nazi-type hate and murder." Comments to: Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510; and Carol Knight (202) 224-5852. Dateline: Beverly Hills... GLAAD/LA Media Awards Heroes and heroines, stars and studs, glitz and glamour, paparazzi and fans, GLAAD/LA's Fourth Annual Media Awards Show, held at the Beverly Hilton on Mar. 20, had it all. While the entire evening was a great success, there were some particularly wonderful moments, many of which were provided by our gracious hostess, Judith Light. The show itself opened with a moving tribute to the openly lesbian and gay members of the United States military. When Margarethe Cammermeyer, Tom Paniccia, Perry Watkins and Dusty Pruitt accepted the Visibility Award on behalf of themselves and their comrades in arms, there was scarcely a dry eye in the house. Roseanne Arnold, who accepted the Award for Outstanding Television Series, told an amusing tale about her start in show biz, where her only fans were a group of "35 lesbians from Denver." Her husband, Tom, promised that his show would give hers a run for its money in this category next year. The cast of "Children of the Night," which won in the Musical Theater category, presented an athletic and graceful digest of the show itself, and Sir Ian McKellan, the recipient of GLAAD/LA's highest honor, the Stephen F. Kolzak award, gave a spontaneous reading of Shakespeare which was wonderful to behold. Other honorees and presenters in attendance included Steve Allen, Beatrice Arthur, Rene Auberjonois, Polly Bergen, Bruce Davison, Robert Desidereo, Amanda Donohoe, Jill Eickenberry, Ella Joyce, Sheila Kuehl, Tony Kushner, Judith Light, Paul Lussier, Karen Malina-White, Paul Monette, Rita Moreno, Monica Palacios, Karyn Parsons, Lisa Pelikan, Della Reese, Doris Roberts, Dick Sargeant, Doug Savant, Stephen Semien, George Takei, Rip Taylor, Michael Tucker, JoBeth Williams and Hattie Winston and Carlton Youngblood. The Media Awards Show is GLAAD/LA's major fundraising vehicle for the year, and was the most successful yet, raising well in excess of one hundred thousand dollars. This helps GLAAD to continue to carry out its mission. Planning for next year is already under way. A key change in the organizational structure of the event will be GLAAD's new "understudy" program, whereby newcomers to the Media Awards Show will train to chair committees, and the show itself, in years to come. Watch for further details in this newsletter. For those who attended the Fourth Annual Media Awards Show, our deepest thanks for your $upport. For those who did not, we hope to see you next year. Unity in Diversity by Carol Anderson, Veronica Davis and Robin Podolsky To Be Young, Gifted and Black by Veronica Davis When I was in grade school in the south in the '60s, we sang a song with the lyrics "To be young, gifted and black, that's where it's at." Its intent was to instill pride in a generation of youngsters whose dignity was being contested in full effect for all of America to see. With today's euphemisms, these lyrics take on a whole new meaning. Recent films and television programs would make one think that gays and lesbians of African heritage do not exist or only exist on the fringe of society. It's frightening. I have noticed an increase in the verbal lynching of gays and lesbians in black-themed media events. There are a host of talented young black comics, and shows like "Def Comedy Jam" and "The Apollo Comedy Hour" are great vehicles for showcasing such talent. However, I can predict with alarming accuracy that within the course of a one hour show, gays and/or lesbians will be ridiculed no less than five times. This new breed of young comic is really no different from those they admire: Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and the like. These comedy veterans have also been known to verbally assault homosexuals in the media. As recently as last year, Eddie Murphy's film "The Distinguished Gentleman" contained a scene in which a senior senator was attempting to lure Eddie's character to his boudoir. Eddie quickly determined the purpose of this rendezvous because he wanted to make sure that this was not one of those "fag things." He even went so far as to threaten the senator with bodily harm if this was indeed his intention. Enough already. I surrendered to seeing "CB4" because, yes, I laughed at the trailer. I went with my fingers crossed thinking that it's the '90s, "It'll be cool," trying to convince myself that somehow overnight there was a new awareness and acceptance of black gays and lesbians. It wasn't long before I was disappointed. Parody aside, it is disheartening to see young people routinely exposed to anti-gay sentiment as if it were as harmless as a dandruff commercial. Two friends try to persuade a third to start a "gangsta" rap group. The young man happens to be working a phone sex line with the number 976-GAYS. They all give looks of disgust as the friend answers a call and begins to talk about male genitalia. On hanging up he proclaims "This is no job for a black man!" Implying it's ok for a white man or perhaps a woman of color. The phone sex becomes a running joke with the threat that he'd be involved in gay phone sex indefinitely unless he joined his buddies in the rap group. In society, all lesbians and gays receive the message that we are not ok. It seems, however, that African-American culture is particularly hard on homosexuality, especially black homosexuality. There is a belief among some African-Americans that our gayness was somehow put upon us by whites. Anti-gay rhetoric is prominent in many forms of black media -- books, films, recordings. The reggae song "Boom Bye Bye" by Buju Banton, which advocates violence against gay men, is one example. Popular Rap artists such as Ice-T and Big Daddy Kane are often verbally abusive towards gays. In the film "Malcolm X," Spike Lee abandoned any references to Malcolm's bisexual activities. I remember hearing of a gay group who wanted to use the poetry of Langston Hughes during a celebration of gay and lesbian pride and decided against it because "blacks would be upset." The list goes on and on. The only recent films to feature gays or lesbians of color were from the U.K., i.e. "Mona Lisa" and "The Crying Game." These films were by Irish writer/director Neil Jordan. A third, "My Beautiful Launderette," was by British director Stephen Frears. In American cinema, "The Color Purple" featured a brief love scene between Whoopi Goldberg and Margaret Avery that created such a stir that no one has attempted such a thing since. Prior to this, UCLA basketball star Michael Warren played a gay man in "Norman is That You." In this comedy, Redd Foxx and Pearl Bailey play the parents who go to great lengths to get Norman to leave his white male lover for a black woman. This film done in 1976, played both ends against the middle to avoid offending anyone, according to Vito Russo in his book The Celluloid Closet. Played today, it would probably offend everyone. And there seems to be no rebuttal to this abusive rhetoric. It is not difficult to understand why. We are in conflict. We have to stop buying into the black or gay argument just like black women had to stop the black or feminist dialogue. We are black and lesbian. We are black and gay. We must stand against the gay and lesbian bigot, no matter the race, just as we would stand against the racist or the chauvinist. Being a lesbian or gay makes us no less black, as if that were some quantifiable social characteristic. It makes us no less spiritual or intelligent or romantic. It simply makes us young and old, gay, lesbian and bisexual and proudly of African descent. Hollywood Supports Update Hollywood Supports is launching an AIDS "Truth in Media" Project, to monitor and respond to inaccurate media portrayals and information regarding HIV and AIDS. The aim of this project, which will work in conjunction with GLAAD's media efforts, and with other interested AIDS action groups, is to systematically identify media outlets and producers that are responsible for misleading media coverage and portrayals of HIV and AIDS. We also want to support particularly informative coverage and portrayals, like the upcoming Jonathan Demme film "Philadelphia." Anyone interested in working with the AIDS "Truth in Media" Committee, should contact the Hollywood Supports office at (213) 962-3118 or attend one of Hollywood Supports monthly meetings, held the first Wednesday of each month at Harmony Gold on Sunset Blvd. To let us know when you see inaccurate media information about AIDS, please call either the GLAAD/LA hotline or the new Hollywood Supports "Truth in Media" hotline, (213) 960-5005. Hollywood Supports is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on a new CDC project designed to encourage television writers and producers to create more storylines and roles dealing with HIV in women. Hollywood Supports has been advising the CDC and its PR firm on the content of information materials being prepared, as well as suggested storylines. If you are interested in receiving these materials when they are available, please call the Hollywood Supports office. On the policy front, Hollywood Supports is pleased to announce that Paramount Pictures in Jan. joined most other major industry employers represented on the Hollywood Supports' Board in adopting a written policy barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Hollywood Supports is delighted to announce that it s now making its "AIDS in the Workplace" seminars available to entertainment industry workplaces outside of Southern California. Hollywood Supports will begin delivering trainings in the New York area at the end of Apr. Rich Jennings and facilitator Burt Pearl delivered a seminar to the Cable Television Human Resources Association meeting in Chicago in Mar., which led that organization to endorse the seminar and to encourage its member companies to offer the seminar to their employees. With the support of CTHRA and Cable Positive, the cable industry's AIDS support organization, a national "AIDS in the Workplace" tour of industry workplaces is being planned. Deputy Director's Column by Lee Werbel "To Honor and Celebrate" The GLAAD/LA Media Awards Dinner on Mar. 20th at the Beverly Hilton was a huge success with over 900 in attendance. Even before the event there was a delightful buzz of excitement: all the paparazzi flashing pictures of the celebrities who were in attendance including Roseanne and Tom Arnold, Sir Ian McKellen, Judith Light, Rene Auberjonois, Bea Arthur, Jill Eickenberry and Michael Tucker, and Della Reese. During the evening, we unveiled and sold our "Willing to Fight/Lift the Ban" posters signed by the four honorees of the Visibility Award: Colonel Margarethe Cammemeyer, Sergeant Tom Paniccia, Reverend Captain Dusty Pruitt and Sergeant First Class Perry J. Watkins. The Awards program was filled with many moving moments: *opening with a nine-minute montage of coverage of lesbians and gays in the media in 1992; *a speech from our Executive Director, David M. Smith, calling us to action to urge President Clinton to lift the ban against open lesbians and gays in the military; *a five-minute standing ovation for the representatives from the Military as they accepted their awards; *a hilarious accounting of the reason for Roseanne's success -- the devotion of "35 lesbians from Denver." *and closing the evening with an exquistely powerful Shakesperian oration from Sir Ian McKellen. An extraordinary and memorable evening. A week later on Sun., Mar. 28, GLAAD/LA organized and coordinated media relations for the Allen Schindler Memorial March -- an event skillfully produced by Carol Anderson (GLAAD/LA's Community Outreach Chair) and Kathy Paspalis with only a three-week lead time. With the exception of KTTV-TV, every major television station covered the event. More than 400 marchers assembled at Swinford and Harbor in San Pedro. Rabbi Denise Eger offered a prayer promising that "we will not forget Allen," the gay seaman who was allegedly murdered in Sasebo, Japan, by his shipmates. Then the marchers proceeded two and one-half miles across the Vincent Thomas Bridge to the Long Beach Naval Station for a rally. As the marchers reached the height of the bridge they dropped flowers in the water in remembrance of Allen. All in attendance were moved and inspired by the speakers. Dorothy Hajdys, the mother of Allen Schindler, in her statement to one of the newscasters said "he could have been anyone's son. He could have been your son but he was mine." We got our message across. SIDE BARS General Meeting: May 25 Volunteer Orientation The GLAAD/LA General Meeting on May 25 will feature opportunities open to volunteers. This provides a chance for members and guests to learn about the mechanics of GLAAD. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm. Come to: Temple Beth Chayim Chadashim, 6000 W. Pico Blvd. (just east of Crescent Heights). Refreshments are available and guests are welcomed. A donation of $5.00 is requested. "Why We Don't Kiss and Make Up" The Women's Caucus of GLAAD/LA in cooperation with the Lawyers for Human Rights and the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Los Angeles, announce a panel/forum discussion for May 4, 1993 addressing issues surrounding lesbian intolerance and differences. Entitled "Why We Don't Kiss and Make Up," the panel will include Robin Gans and Sandy Sachs, the founders of Girl Bar; Francesca Miller, Bisexual Facilitator at the GLCSC; Jody Hoenninger, founder of Leather and Lace; and Angela West, writer and civil rights advocate. The program begins at 7:30 pm at the National Council of Jewish Women/Los Angeles' Women Center, 543 N. Fairfax (one block south of Melrose). Tickets are $10.00 at the door and there will be a reception afterwards at Six Gallery, 8861 Santa Monica Blvd. (No one will be turned away for lack of funds.) This will be a unique opportunity to explore and challenge stereotypes and misconceptions. For more information call: GLAAD/LA at (213) 463-3632. Sunday Tea Dance Slated Girl Bar proudly presents a Sunday Tea Dance at the elegant Hyatt on Sunset to benefit Women of GLAAD and Women's Health Services at The Center. The dance, which is open to all women over 30, will be held on Sunday, May 23, starting at 4:00 pm. Cost is $15.00 per person. For more information please call (213) 993-7443 or (213) 460-2531. GLAAD/LA To Hold Speaker's Bureau Training Session, Everyone Welcome Carol Anderson, our Community Outreach Chair, will host a basic training session in how to present GLAAD to groups and organizations in a free seminar on Sat., May 8, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the GLAAD/LA office, 7033 Sunset Blvd, Suite 304, Hollywood. By attending you will learn how to confront homophobes, and how to present our issues to various organizations, schools and the media. Please call the GLAAD/LA office to reserve your spot: (213) 463-3632. Waldenbooks Targeted The American Family Association (AFA) has targeted Connecticut-based Waldenbooks to get them to reverse their recent decision to carry lesbian and gay literature in the chain's bookstores nationwide. Publications finding shelf-space are OUT, Frontiers, Genre and The Advocate. Unfortunately, the AFA's campaign has generated an overwhelming number of negative calls and we encourage you to write and/or call Waldenbooks immediately to help offset this. Respond to: Charlie Cumello, President and CEO, Waldenbooks, P.O. Box 10218, Stanford, CT 06906. "Point of No Return"... No Point The Bridget Fonda star vehicle "Point of Not Return" contains two lines of homophobic dialogue. Fonda at one point asks her trainer in the film "Why do you talk to faggy Bob?" Later, when Fonda is posing as a hairdresser for an eccentric crime boss' girlfriend, the girlfriend states that her "...last haircut made her look like a dyke..." and she really hated that. Comments to: John Bedham, Director, "Point of No Return," Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522. Kudos to Lea and Arsenio Openly lesbian comedian Lea DeLaria may have made late night broadcast history on Mar. 30 when she appeared on "Arsenio Hall." Lea did homo material with no apologies or explanations. Send a note of thanks to Arsenio's producer, Ms. Marla Kell Brown, and encourage her to book more lesbian and gay performers: "Arsenio Hall," Paramount Domestic TV, 5555 Melrose Ave., Hollywood 90038. Day of Compassion Monday, June 21, has been named "Day of Compassion," when all of the daytime television dramas will role model compassion for those who are HIV infected or have AIDS. Already committed is the entire ABC-TV daytime line-up - "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital." Those interested in learning more or helping with this project, may call Neil Tadken at (213) 874-8458. Dipping into Jerry's Foul Well Jerry Falwell capitalizes on hatred of gays and lesbians every week on his hour long "Old Time Gospel Hour." He hawks $35.00 videos that feature anti-gay themes and promotes fear and loathing of the lesbian and gay community. Homophobia and anti-feminism have become a major money making scheme for Falwell and have made his hour seem like an informercial for hate. Articles, letters, etc. for GLAAD/LA Reports: May 1st Deadline The deadline for submitting material for possible publication in GLAAD/LA Reports will be the first of each month for the following month's newsletter. For the June newsletter all material needs to be submitted on or before May 1. GLAAD/LA Reports welcomes your participation and invites you to attend the Monitor/Response Committee meetings in May on the 13th and 27th. Send your comments, articles, letters or other submissions 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. Media Outreach Committee The Media half of the Outreach Committee will be meeting the third Tues. of each month (for May that will be the 18th) at 7:00 pm at the GLAAD/LA office, 7033 Sunset Blvd., two blocks 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. Our activities are targeted at the film, television, radio, music and print industries. If you have experience in any of these areas or if you are interested in learning more about the media, please join us. Call: Michael Keegan or Jehan Agrama, Outreach Committee, Media Co-Chairs, (213) 463-3632. Monitor/Response Committee Described as the heart and soul of GLAAD is the Monitor/Response committee. This committee watches (monitors) what's happening in the media and entertainment industries and writes letters, makes phone calls and produces articles for the GLAAD newsletter. But there's a lot to monitor and respond to and we need your help. Do you own a television? A video cassette recorder? Then you are already highly qualified to join the Monitor/Response committee, the group that sniffs out great or lousy portrayals of lesbians and gays in the media and then lets the entertainment and news media know how we feel. The committee could really use more television watchers, but movie, radio and print media hounds are also welcome. Do you have friends who absorb popular culture like a sponge? Send them down. Few like to admit that they watch TV, but we know you're out there. Co-chairs are Anne Dutton and GLAAD/LA Board Members Robin Podolsky and Ruthe Canter. Please join us, we need your help. Meetings in May are on the 13th and 27th at 7:30 pm at the GLAAD/LA office, 7033 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood; (213) 463-3632. GLAAD/LA Advertising 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, and 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. Newsletter Advisory Board There shall be a Newsletter Advisory Board consisting of the GLAAD/LA Reports Editor, the GLAAD/LA Executive Director and one GLAAD/LA Board Member (with 24 hour access to a FAX) to be selected by a majority vote of the Board. The duties of the Advisory Board are as follows: 1. Consult with the Editor on editorial and advertising policy. 2. Serve as a liaison between the Board and the newsletter. 3. Review newsletter each month for content. 4. Help establish and coordinate a Journalism Internship Program. The Newsletter Advisory Board members are Lee Werbel, Garrett Glaser and Carl Matthes. Archives Volunteers are needed to enter date on our computers for our video archives. Please contact the GLAAD office at (213) 463-3632 and leave a message for Sylvia. Calendar dates: May 1 Saturday Deadline for June Issue GLAAD/LA Reports May 4 Tuesday Lesbian Forum: "Why We Don't Kiss and Make-up" 7:30 pm - NCJW/LA's Women Center 543 N. Fairfax May 5 Wednesday Community Outreach (Speakers) 7:30pm 7033 Sunset May 8 Saturday Community Outreach Speaker Training Session 10:00 am 7033 Sunset May 11 Tuesday GLAAD/LA Board Meeting 7:30pm 7033 Sunset May 13 Thursday Monitor/Response Committee 7:30pm 7033 Sunset May 18 Tuesday Media Outreach 7:00pm 7033 Sunset May 23 Sunday Tea Dance - Hyatt on Sunset May 25 Tuesday General Meeting 7:00pm 6000 Pico May 27 Thursday Monitor/Response Committee 7:30pm 7033 Sunset June 1 Tuesday Deadline for July GLAAD/LA Reports June 1 Tuesday Women of GLAAD, 7:00pm 7033 Sunset June 2 Wednesday Community Outreach, 7:30pm 7033 Sunset Editor: Carl Matthes FAX (213) 257-5878 Assistant Editor: David Zahniser Art Direction & Design: John Cook Research Assistance: Garrett Glaser Advertising Editor: Margo Strik (213) 259-9208 Contributors: Jehan Agrama, Ruthe Canter, Kyle Counts, Veronica Davis, Stephanie Farrington-Domingue, Dave Frick, GLAAD/SFBA, GLAAD Tidings, Garrett Glaser, Shawn Griffin, Rich Jennings, Michael Keegan, Carl Matthes, Nancy Movich, Nancy Perez, Byron Potts, Sylvia Rhue, Jan Simons, David M. Smith, Wally Smith, Carmichael Smith-Low, Tracey Stern, Lee Werbel, Karen Wilson, Franklin Whitworth, David Zahniser GLAAD/LA Committees: Administration: Veronica Davis Community Outreach: Carol Anderson Fundraising Co-Chairs: Lee Werbel, Rich Jennings GLAAD/USA Co-Chairs: Dean Hansell, Veronica Davis Media Awards Co-Chairs: Will Halm, Carmichael Smith-Low Media Outreach Co-Chairs: Jehan Agrama, Michael Keegan Monitor/Response Co-Chairs: Ruthe Canter, Anne Dutton, Robin Podolsky Newsletter Advisory Board: Garrett Glaser, Lee Werbel, Carl Matthes Womens' Caucus: Tracey Stern