Date: Tue, 15 Mar 1994 15:09:03 -0800 From: bjb@macsch.com (Bryan J. Blumberg) Subject: GLAAD/LA April 1994 Newletter GLAAD/LA Reports - April, 1994 Issue Carl Matthes, Editor (213) 254-2726 - FAX (213) 257-5878 The Kiss Seen 'Round the World Well, it wasn't in shadowland or just a hint. "Lip Doubles" weren't used. And in the end, The Kiss seemed as natural and appropriate as any other gesture of warmth or affection beamed into American homes. And Rosie's reactions - from surprise to amazement and disgust to guilt - were the real focus of the Mar. 1 episode, entitled "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," of the top-rated "Roseanne" (KABC-TV, Tue., 9:00 pm). The hovering question became, "How `hip' is she?" Helped by press releases, television appearances and Tom Arnold inspired media attention, the episode handily kept "Roseanne's" double-digit audience ratings intact for sweeps, while delivering one of their funniest shows. If you missed it, this is what happened: Lesbian Nancy (Sandra Bernhard) and her new girlfriend, exotic stripper Sharon (Mariel Hemingway), Roseanne and Rosie's sister, Jackie, go out dancing to a lesbian/gay bar. Pregnant Jackie is uncomfortable but Roseanne is having a great time. After dancing, Roseanne and Sharon sit down to chat. One thing leads to another and Sharon delivers a full lip-to-lip smoocher on an unprepared Roseanne. During the balance of the episode Roseanne deals with the kiss. (During early Feb. word surfaced that ABC might pull the episode. On Valentine's Day, GLAAD/LA took a full-page ad in Daily Variety with the headline "ABC...Don't Break America's Heart," encouraging ABC to show the episode, without editing, and letting the American people judge for themselves. ABC followed the advice.) Los Angeles Times staff writer Greg Braxton detailed, "The controversial kiss...came off..without much of a kiss-off from viewers, advertisers or ABC stations. ABC officials...received about 100 calls at their New York headquarters...75% expressed a favorable reaction." Only two of the networks 225 affiliates declined to carry the episode. ABC did air a disclaimer advising "parental discretion." (Running simultaneously with the airing of the Mar. 1 show, was a fundraiser at the Love Lounge for GLAAD/LA coordinated by Jim Berg and Stan Zimmerman, writers for the episode. See Lee Werbel's column on page 18 of this issue.) Your comments to: Ted Harbert, President, ABC Entertainment, 2040 Avenue of the Stars, Century City, CA 90067; "Roseanne," c/o The Carsey-Werner Co., c/o CBS/MTM, 4024 Radford Avenue, Bldg. #3, Studio City, CA 91604. Calls are 20 to 1 against... AB 2810 & AB 2811 Assemblymember Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) has introduced a bill (AB 2810) in the California Assembly that would allow unmarried couples to officially register their relationships, affirming their right to will each other property and to participate in family-only hospital visits. Same-sex couples are included. He also introduced AB 2811 to allow extension of health coverage to registered unmarried couples employed by public agencies that contract with the state retirement system. Katz reports that calls to his office are running 20 to 1 against the bills. Please call his office immediately to express your thanks and support for these two historic pieces of legislation. Call: Assemblymember Richard Katz at (818) 894-3671 or in Sacramento (916) 445-1616. Co-President's Column by Dean Hansell The subject of Minister Louis Farrakhan, the Head of the Nation of Islam, is one that engenders strong emotions on the part of many people. Many decry him as a bigot of major proportions for many of the things that he says. Others defend his actions and statements and charge that his critics attack him because he has the courage to speak out against sacred cows. It is with trepidation that I add my voice to this fray. What contributes to my hesitation is that many people that I know, who are strong lesbian and gay rights supporters, also defend Farrakhan. Some of his programs have been genuinely helpful to L.A. and other large urban communities. Despite my hesitation, it is important to speak out against bigotry no matter what the source and there is much to say on this subject concerning Minister Farrakhan. He is no friend of the lesbian and gay community. He has, in a variety of public forums throughout the country, including Los Angeles, condemned lesbians and gays. Farrakhan has stated that being gay is equivalent of degeneracy or disease and that lesbians try to be men and gay men try to be women. In a Los Angeles speech, for example, he said "With your state filled with homosexuals, filled with degenerates, filled with disease...With all of this going on in your state, you should welcome me like the return of Jesus Christ." Similarly, in a Denver speech, he was reported in the Rocky Mountain News as admonishing lesbians and gays, saying "Look at you. A man trying to be a woman. A woman trying to be a man." Farrakhan's homophobic comments are no different that those of white bigots like Reverend Lou Sheldon, Rabbi Meir Kahane and Pat Buchanan, and deserves no more respect from our community than they do. Farrakhan has been successful in getting young men off drugs and out of gangs in the African-American neighborhoods that others have given up on. Farrakhan's commendable activities make it all the more tragic that he is also a bigot. Minister Farrakhan appeared as a guest on the Feb. 25 "Arsenio Hall Show." GLAAD/LA was originally invited to have our Executive Director tape a statement/question to be aired while he was on the show, challenging Farrakhan on his comments. The invitation was subsequently withdrawn with our involvement being limited to submitting a written question for consideration on the show. Instead, GLAAD/LA, the Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center, the Anti-Defamation League and the Catholic League of Religious and Civil Rights sponsored a full page ad in Daily Variety the day before Farrakhan appeared on "Arsenio" consisting of bigoted quotes from his speeches on gays and lesbians, Jews, Christians and whites. Minister Farrakhan has forcefully argued that there should be no sacred cows and that no one should be immune from criticism. I agree. His role as Head of the Nation of Islam should not insulate him from criticism. There is no excuse for bigotry or hatred no matter what the source. Randy Shilts Randy Shilts, the openly gay award winning journalist and author, died Feb. 17 at his California home in the Sonoma County redwoods. Randy, who had garnered an international reputation for his chronicling of the AIDS epidemic in America with his book "And the Band Played On," died from the complications of AIDS at the age of 42. Following is a reprint of "A Remembrance" which appeared in the Fifth Annual GLAAD/LA Media Awards Program Book on March 19, 1994: Randy Shilts: A Remembrance by Howard Bragman Just off the main road in Guerneville, California is a nondescript mailbox next to a gravel road. If you aren't looking for it, you'd never notice it. You drive about 150 yards and you see a rainbow flag waving and a wooden gate that frames a green cabin with a cupola on top. In the vaulted living room you'd find Randy in a big comfortable blue chair; Dash, his golden retreiver would be curled on the floor at his side. The Beatles would be playing in the background and there would be a roaring fire in the huge stone fireplace. The room was dominated by a 12-foot stuffed grizzly bear wearing pearls, and a National Geographic-like view of some of the area's most extraordinary redwood trees. Lest you think I'm describing a scene out of a Ralph Lauren ad, to me, Randy's home was a metaphor for many aspects of his life. The bear symbolized the anger that Randy felt about this relentless epidemic and the anemic response of the government. The redwoods represented the fact that his work will endure and inspire, long after all ofus are gone. And Dash reminds us of the unconditional love and friendship Randy shared with so many. If there is a God and a heaven out there, Randy's in his blue chair right now, feeling the gentle warmth of the fire and listening to "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." Howard Bragman is with Bragman Nyman Cafarelli Public Relations. In addition to an extensive list of celebrity and corporate clients, they represent or have represented (many on a pro bono basis) the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, AIDS Project Los Angeles, The American Foundation for AIDS Research, California AIDS Ride, The Los Angeles Center for the Living/Project Angel Food, The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center, The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Parade and Festival and The NAMES Project. Meanwhile, the perversion of religion continues... The Minister of Hate Trying to use the death of Randy Shilts to further his own ambitions was Fred Phelps, a bible-perverting fundamentalist from Topeka, Kansas who announced he was going to "picket" Shilts' funeral in San Francisco. In a press release issued after his failed "picketing," Phelps claimed that he and members of his Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) "kicked fag butt in fag Frisco." Said Phelps, "WBC gave Filthy Fag Randy Shilts a proper send-off to hell Feb. 22 by preaching the Gospel to his butt-buddies at his lying funeral. It was a great day for the cause of God and Truth." (In actuality, Phelps and his hateful family demonstrated for all of 30 seconds before they turned and ran.) He also vowed to "sue (San Francisco) Mayor Frank Jordan" for the right "to picket famous fag funerals." Anyone who has seen Phelps knows that he is one of the most ultra-conservative, right-wing zealots clamoring for attention in America today. So, who's in bed with Phelps? Rush, Pat B., Pat R., Jesse and Jerry? Let's hear it guys. Do you embrace Phelps? Agree with his tactics? How about you, John Sununu? You may contact Phelps at: Westboro Baptist Church, 3701 W. 12th Street, P.O. Box 1886, Topeka, KS; (913) 273-0325. Ace Ventura: Pet Homophobe Jim Carrey (Ace Ventura) defends his character's reaction to kissing a man as being "so ridiculous it can't be taken seriously." So, Jim, let's see if we have this right. You've just discovered that the police woman you were attracted to and wrestled with on her office desk is really a man. And, of course, you were not aware that she/he was really a former Miami Dolphins football player. And that big, hard thing protruding through your pants was a gun or flashlight or something. After all you're just portraying a likeable but daffy "pet detective" with a silly-putty face and bird seed for brains. And, we should all understand that you received your training in parody and satire on "In Living Color," and this makes it acceptable for your taking a shower, vomiting, using a toilet plunger on your mouth, just because you kissed this man in drag. Too bad Ace liked that kiss so much. The rampant homophobia in "Ace Ventura, Pet Detective," and the denial that it's even there, goes with the anything-for-laughs mentality obscuring whatever talent Carrey might have. The fact that "Ventura" is riding high in the box office derby gives unfortunate credence to this blatant homophobia. Your comments to: Mr. Terry Semel, Warner Bros. Pictures, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522; (818) 954-6000. "Reality Bites" One of the best films to come out about "Generation X" is "Reality Bites," starring Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke and Ben Stiller. Lelaina (Winona), in the quest to find a job so she can start her life, puts together a documentary about her trials and tribulations. Through all the laughs, the film makes many poignant comments about Generation X, including being gay. Sammy (Steven Zahn) becomes the conduit through which gay issues are presented. He plays a believable generation x'er who is searching for a meaning to life. This includes his remaining celibate and not dealing with his sexuality. (A very funny scene shows Sammy rehearsing coming out to his mother, while the actual scene of coming out only confirms his fears.) The film, while not perfect, does capture a sense of the thinking of Generation X. Comments to: "Reality Bites," Lew Wasserman, CEO, MCA/Universal, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608. A Floundering "SNL" Recently, "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) aired a skit featuring Alec Baldwin as a Boy Scout camp leader and Adam Sandler as the "cabin boy." Baldwin's character is portrayed as a sexual predator who tries to seduce the cabin boy, thereby perpetuating a series of unfortunate stereotypes. The skit was creepy, smarmy and quite unfunny. It was also a telling example of the precipitous decline of "SNL" in the throes of one of its most unstellar years. Your comments to: "Saturday Night Live," NBC Entertainment, Warren Littlefield, President, 3000 W. Alameda Avenue, Burbank, CA 91523. "Savage Nights" "Savage Nights," winner of four French Cesar Awards including Best Picture, tells the story of Jean (Cyril Collard), a 30 year-old bisexual photographer who is infected with HIV. He wavers between a love affair with 17 year-old Laura (Romane Bohringer) and a bisexual male rugby player named Samy (Carlos Lopez). And, in his spare time, he manages to engage in anonymous sex at a pick-up place under a bridge. His bisexual activity, which recklessly exposed his lovers and anonymous tricks to HIV, underlines the misogynistic tone of the film. Comments to: "Savage Nights," c/o The Pogachefsky Co., 5657 Wilshire Blvd., #470, Los Angeles 90036. "Melrose Place" revisited... GLAAD/LA Reports Interviews Doug Savant The Mar. 2 episodes of "Melrose Place" and "Beverly Hills, 90210" (KTTV-TV, Wed. 8-10PM) were the most watched programs in the Los Angeles market for their time slot where they garnered their highest ratings of the season. Doug Savant, who plays Matt Fielding on FOX's "Melrose Place," gave us an interview last year and we were able to catch up with him again recently to get the latest on Doug/Matt. GLAAD/LA: Do you think you influenced the development of Matt by talking about his infrequent appearances? Doug: I was very verbal at first. Then I backed off when I realized it was not our writers who were putting up the roadblocks, but the studio's hesitation while trying to discern what an audience would accept. Now, in the second season, they are taking more risks and having incredible returns. GLAAD/LA: When Matt married Katya (a straight woman who needed a "green" card)) did you fear Matt was being forced into a more straight-oriented role? Doug: I was assured before entering into the storyline that I was going to remain gay. As the scripts started to come in, I thought they were doing a good job. I was looking forward to dealing with what it's like to have to live with a woman. GLAAD/LA: Does Matt have any friends who have died from AIDS? Doug: It hasn't been commented on in the show. But certainly in the development of the character, I think it's paramount. It would be outside of the gay experience in 1994 to not have had friends, loved ones, die from AIDS. GLAAD/LA: Do you ever get negative mail? Doug: Honestly, I have never received any negative mail, although last year I did see one piece of hate mail. It didn't come to me, it came to the studio. GLAAD/LA: Do you read all of your mail yourself? Doug: Yes, and I answer it all myself. I received a letter from a 16 year-old boy from San Diego. He wrote me a four page letter and feels that on the show Matt is speaking directly to him. He's only come out to me, Doug Savant. He doesn't know whether he is gay or bisexual. He hears about sexuality in -- of all places -- economics class. And he said, "I don't say anything, but I do listen." This young kid just touched me. He said, "You know, I thought you were speaking to me, and I realized when you had a line that said, `Well, when I was in high school...' and it made me think, `Well, geez, Matt was once in high school, and he had an awareness of his own sexuality at that time, and here I am in high school.'" GLAAD/LA: Do you hear much from the gay community? Doug: I gave a speech for the first anniversary of Hollywood Supports and one gay actor took two lines from my speech and said that I was a homophobe. There was nothing homophobic about it. The Los Angeles Times did a write-up of it. I basically asked entertainment executives to commit in their work to portraying more gays and lesbians in their television shows. GLAAD/LA: What has meant the most to you in portraying Matt? Doug: The thing I care about most in my work is portraying what it is we have in common. No one's greater or lesser on the hierarchy of morals. (This interview was conducted by GLAAD/LA Reports intern Kenny Navran.) What's Happenin' Montel? The "Montel Williams Show" (KCOP-TV, weekdays, noon and 4:00 pm) on Feb. 3 was entitled "A Family in Crisis." His guests included a single mother who had struggled to make sure she provided all of life's necessities to her three daughters. Her complaint was that her daughters did not show her respect, i.e. one daughter was living with a man and didn't put the interest of her own child first, and the other two daughters were lesbians whose only interest was "drinking beer and going to bed with women." Much of the show was a shouting match, especially when Montel introduced the lovers of the lesbian daughters. The mother stated that she did not "meddle in other people's business," and usually followed her statements with a quote from the bible which she thought denounced homosexuality. Montel brought in a family counselor and the mother began to blame all of the family troubles on the lesbian lovers. This brought the entire panel to its feet and created such an uproar that Montel "excused" the two daughter's lesbian lovers. Montel's comments to the audience was that it was necessary to excuse these two ladies so that the "family" could heal and not have any outside disturbances. Never did he acknowledge that these two women were family members in the eyes of the daughters and their input should be respected. Your comments may be directed to: "The Montel Williams Show," 7800 Beverly Blvd., Suite 231, Los Angeles 90036. Our World Television Our World Television: The Global Gay & Lesbian Cable Network has entered the world cable market. The network, which offers several programs and reaches 320,000 homes, announced "a monumental step for the gay media" with its planned expansion to 24 hours a day. Contact: World Television, 3976 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92103, (619) 688-0643. (FAX same number.) And call your cable company and request them to carry this and other lesbigay program services. Print and Radio In the Porno Section? Do you find that your favorite gay and lesbian magazines have been placed in the pornographic section of your local newsstand? Have you seen national and local mainstream gay publications located in areas normally reserved for "dirty" books--away from the casual shopper? Complain to your local newsdealer, of course, but also drop GLAAD/LA a line, letting us know the address and possibly the name of the establishment or merchant. Our hotline numbers are (213) 931-9429 (English) and (213) 658-6074 (Spanish). Put our community's press out front--where it belongs. Mel White Exposes Fundamentalist Christians The April edition of Penthouse magazine features Mel White, ghostwriter for Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Oliver North and Billy Graham. White calls the televangelists "soul murderers" and "homophobic hatemongers." This is fascinating reading as White gives a preview of his upcoming book to be published in May: "Stranger at the Gate: One Man's Struggle with Homophobia and the Religious Right." White talks about how the fundamentalists have turned the church into a "den of thieves" and that Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and others are a threat to the country. Penthouse reporter W. Hampton Sides relates that White's "scathing, autobiographical account of his days inside the evangelistic tent...promises to send shock waves throughout the fundamentalist Christian World." Stay tuned. "Philadelphia" Two months after its release, "Philadelphia" continues to cause ripples in the national press, forcing readers to wrestle with issues involving homophobia and AIDS. The Feb. 14 Newsweek featured "Homophobia," examining how an anti-gay initiative tore apart a blue collar town in Maine. Using "Philadelphia" as a springboard for discussion, the authors argued that attitudes toward lesbians and gay men in America are not good and evil, as shown in the movie, but are increasingly complex. As attitudes change, homophobia has become a moving target, with more Americans opposing discrimination but remaining uneasy about gay/lesbian marriage and adoption. Although more anti-gay subjects were interviewed than pro-gay, the writers clearly showed the harmful impact of homophobia in this town of 30,000: shootings, beatings, job harassment and housing discrimination. The January 28 Entertainment Weekly, for example, provided a handy chart showing how some of the most courageous scenes were cut out of "Philadelphia," including one in which Antonio Banderas comforts Tom Hanks by hugging and kissing him and another where a doctor explains to Denzel Washington what is and is not risky sexual behavior. In a Feb. 18 New Republic essay, editor Andrew Sullivan discussed his experiences seeing "Philadelphia" twice, first with his gay friends and then a second time with a straight friend. Sullivan, who is openly gay, said he and his gay friends talked about the movie afterward and decided that it was "a film in garish primary colors, directed at `them,' and, we generally agreed, good for `them.'" When Sullivan went with his heterosexual friend, he found himself worrying about what she was perceiving for the first time and what parts of the movie didn't accurately reflect his own world. Sullivan concluded, "Philadelphia, in short, is a work of translation, not creation; and for that reason more than any others, it is unsettling. To those who simply don't want to know, it's an irritation; to those who know too much, it's an affront. But the world has to start somewhere; and it is infinitely preferable to a silent separation." Quotable Quote... From another cutting-room floor "Philadelphia" scene between Denzel Washington's character and his wife after he is propositioned by a black, gay law student, Denzel asks, "Is there some kind of expression I've picked up from Beckett (Tom Hanks)?! Some kind of fairy attitude I've unconsciously adopted?! Have I picked up some kind of homo vibe?!" "Women get hit on like this 365 days a year, Joe," his wife responds. Reno & Camp Sister Spirit The New York Times devoted two pieces to Attorney General Janet Reno's intervention in a dispute between two lesbians and hateful residents in Ovett, Mississippi. Reporter Peter Applebome placed the event in a historic context: it is the first federal response to an incident of anti-gay harassment. For months, Ovett residents have been trying to remove Wanda and Brenda Henson, who founded Camp Sister Spirit, a center for feminists, on their own property. The pair have been the recipients of threats, threatening letters, a dead dog and gunfire near their property. On Feb. 18 Attorney General Reno ordered the Justice Department to assess whether the situation put the women in life-threatening danger as a first step towards resolving the situation. By late Feb., Ovett residents were looking at land use and sodomy laws as ways of removing the couple from their home. Comments to: Sister Spirit, 1806 Curcor Drive, Gulfport, MS 39507. Quotable Quote... From U.S. civil rights mediator Hank Carde on the anti-lesbian residents of Ovett, Mississippi, "I went to the First Baptist Church expecting an extremely rigid Klan-country type of mentality. Instead, I found what seemed like a genuinely caring congregation. They just seem to have a blind spot on this issue that's really sad and disturbing." Remembrance of Randy Rohl On Feb. 27 the Los Angeles Times featured a front page story, written by Karen Mills of the Associated Press, on the life and death of Randy Rohl, who died from an AIDS related illness on Dec. 31. Who was Randy Rohl? He was a gay man who "just wanted to be." He never considered himself political, but, in 1979, he took a male date to his Senior Prom. According to Ms. Mills, after that he "faded into obscurity." (But did he? He never wanted to be in the limelight in the first place.) Her tender treatment of this touching story disclosed that friends of his said that, "At the end he was disappointed that they were no closer to treating this disease." The story could be anybody's story. The Times needs to be thanked and encouraged for presenting such a touching human interest story on their front page. Write to: Mr. Shelby Coffey III, Editor-in-Chief, Los Angeles Times, Times-Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053; FAX (213) 237-7679. GLAADvertising Tracking Miller Lee Werbel & Carl Matthes GLAAD/LA Re: Miller Light (or dark) Dear Lee and Carl, I was surprised by the Feb. '94 GLAAD/LA newsletter piece bestowing accolades on Miller Brewing Co. Attached is an unpublished newsletter piece I submitted in July that explains my disappointment. Why would GLAAD sidestep a direct insult from a sponsor? Isn't it at least worth mentioning? A balance, if you will, before proclaiming them one of our saviors. Susan Vogelfang Dear Susan, We agree. Your June '93 newsletter piece slipped through the cracks. Since it still has relevance, it follows: Well we can't take Rush Limbaugh seriously. However, for those folks who have their two feet planted firmly on Venus, his program is immensely popular. Rush aims to entertain by using hateful, crude and offensive radio talk. Evil wouldn't be too strong a word to describe this outrageous right-wing blowhard on the subject of lesbians and gay men. A favorite target. Sorry but true, his sick blather sells mega-millions for its sponsors. So imagine our disappointment to learn that our friend in civil rights, Miller Brewing Co., is now one of the national sponsors of the Limbaugh Show. For over a dozen years, Miller has been a highly visible and generous sponsor for the Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration. They donate $15,000 each year and display their banners. Nowadays everyone can support AIDS organizations. And so does Miller. But the Brewing Company's true bravery is in their record cash donations and sponsorships of specifically lesbian and gay civil rights and education groups. I suppose there is no real cause for surprise. Miller Brewing, of course, just wants to sell beer. Sure, we'll take their money, cause we need it. We'll be damn grateful, too. But, like the unprincipled business executive who gives equal amounts to opposing political candidates - a cunning win-win strategy - Miller's duplicity here reeks of stale beer. Think I'll crack a Bud. ...And we appreciate your recent update: Dear Carl, I spoke to Susan Henderson, Miller spokesperson, and though Miller does not have a campaign running on the Limbaugh show as of this date (Feb. 17), they may certainly be commercial sponsors of the program again. Their (advertising) strategy includes what they call "efficiency buys" and that's the reason the spots run on some weeks and not others. Miller's Henderson repeatedly emphasized that Miller "markets to a wide and diverse audience" and that they "buy advertising time based on ratings...they are not in business to take a position...that an ad is not an endorsement of a program." Comments to: Warren H. Dunn, CEO, Miller Brewing Co., Consumer Affairs Division. 3939 Highland, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0482; (800) 645-5376. And available now is the Flush Rush Quarterly, P.O. Box 270525, San Diego, CA 92198. Out: Don't Leave Home Without It American Express (AE) has become the latest large corporation to begin advertising in Out magazine, a national gay and lesbian publication. The April and May issues will feature AE's latest ad campaign "American Express Travelers Cheques for Two." Significantly, the ad will be altered from its well-known hetero slant to embrace the idea of same-sex couples. Your comments may be sent to: Stephen Smith, TRS Media, American Express TRS Company, Inc., 200 Vesey Street, 37th Floor, New York 10285. Tracking the Ads The Media Outreach Committee 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) 658-6074; FAX (213) 658-6776. 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 Richard Jennings Receives Distinguished Service Award The GLAAD/LA Board of Directors has presented to Richard Jennings its first Distinguished Service Award. Rich, who received the award at the March Board of Directors meeting, received the award for being a GLAAD/LA co-founder, its first President, its first Executive Director, as well as continuing to be a tireless advocate for GLAAD/LA. He continues to serve on the GLAAD/LA Board and is the Executive Director of Hollywood Supports. Women of GLAAD Co-Chairs Named GLAAD/LA is pleased to announce two new co-chairs for the Women of GLAAD Caucus, board members Stephanie Thomas and Angela West. Women of GLAAD has had huge success in planning and promoting various forums and events for women in the gay and lesbian community. West is employed as a Los Angeles City Attorney prosecutor and Thomas is Executive Director of Show Coalition, a non-profit political organization for people in the entertainment community. Women of GLAAD meetings are held at the GLAAD/LA office, 8455 Beverly Blvd (just east of La Cienega), Suite 305, every first Tuesday of the month at 7PM. GLAAD/LA Announces... People of Color Committee The newly formed People of Color Committee is dedicated to assisting GLAAD/LA in advocating accurate and balanced visibility of lesbian and gay People of Color, in all areas of the media; and to providing culturally competent representation to our communities. The committee is designed to address lesbian and gay People of Color issues and concerns. It was also developed to combat homophobia, racism and sexism by bringing together a group of activists separated by culture, geography and media invisibility. The committee will be actively outreaching to various communities of color, and interfacing with the other GLAAD/LA committees, in order to increase GLAAD's ability to monitor English and non-English media. The first meeting will be held on Thur., Apr. 7 at 7:00 pm at the GLAAD/LA office. We encourage everyone's participation. For more information contact Nancy Perez at (213) 658-6775. My Friend by Jane Goldman My friend Marc Berman, a member of GLAAD/LA's Media Strategy Committee, died of AIDS November 6. He worked as a reporter for Variety before he went on disability a year ago, andhe occasionally wrote obituaries. Sometimes death announcements would come to the office citing mysterious natural causes; Marc would always follow up to request that the family allow him to print that the deceased died of AIDS. Missing the point, especially in issues involving global emergencies, drove him nuts. In addition to his regular homevideo beat, Marc covered gay and lesbian issues and AIDS in the entertainment industry. He was the first industry reporter to give the issues prominence, and the first one to get the nuances right. He asked producers questions -- about the depiction of women and gays in their movies -- that not very many others asked. He was the first to point out to the entertainment industry the cynical and hateful subtext of its mindless lauding of "family values." Marc was the kind of softspoken and deadpan, and he was a hero. Here are the obvious ways: He was a volunteer at LA's first AIDS hospice, Hughes House (now Wayland Flowers House), and when a group tried to close it down on public safety and zoning grounds, he organized a neighborhood support group that fought and won. He founded the Video Industry AIDS Action Committee in 1989 to raise money for non-profit AIDS service agencies, and VIAAC has raised over half a million dollars since then. He was a member of the board of governors of AIDS Project Los Angeles. Here are the less obvious ways: He came out as gay as a young teenager in Ohio in the 1960s. He came out on television in the 1990s, in a documentary about AIDS in Hollywood, as an HIV-positive man. While other people (like me) made their lives complicated with secrets and rationalizations and arduous camouflage, Marc was open and plain. I have known Marc since he was 15, and he could never see doing it any other way. As Marc got sicker, he didn't have much energy. The one thing he continued to do until his death was to read the newspaper and gripe about it. Occasionally when he got very ticked off, he would write an op-ed piece or a letter to the editor. He believed that salvation lay in exposing and countering misinformation and veiled homophobia. He believed that getting it right could save the world. That's why he liked GLAAD. Marc, 39, left a lot of people who love him, including his companion, Brock Klein; his friend of over 20 years, Carol Malacek; his friend of over 20 years, Lee Matis; his wonderful family; Mark Pappia; Melissa Weinberg; Sheldon Larry and me. Thank You In January, GLAAD/LA hosted an Open House party in our new offices. Ruby Begona Florist was very generous in donating flowers for the party and Loren R. Javier arranged for discount coupons and other gifts for attendees. Also, in the new offices (shared with Hollywood Supports), a large refrigerator is in place due to the generosity of Carol Anderson and Kathy Paspalis. GLAAD/LA thanks Harmony Gold for lending us a podium, which we are using for press conferences. Also, Wally Smith gets a huge thank you for painting the podium a beautiful black, and Carl Matthes for donating a great red tool box and tools for possible fix-up or small maintenance problems. We also thank our four newest volunteers providing needed assistance in the office: Michael, Tina, Bill and Tobi. GLAAD/LA's newest member, Glenda Hydler, deserves our thanks for painting the offices. New Membership Policy GLAAD/LA has adopted a new policy regarding the renting and exchanging of its membership/subscriber lists. In addition to the work we already do, GLAAD/LA will now obtain the names of potential new members by renting its membership/subscriber lists to, or exchanging them with, other non-profit organizations and publications. Previously, new members came to GLAAD/LA through its community outreach, word of mouth and on the attraction of the work we do. It has become necessary, however, to join the ranks of most non-profit organizations to ensure a continued healthy growth of GLAAD/LA. We do not and will not make our lists available to groups whose programs are incompatible with GLAAD/LA policies and mission statement. GLAAD/LA will only rent or exchange its list with other organizations whose mailings have been prescreened by us for appropriateness. This practice is an important way for GLAAD/LA to broaden the reach of our organization. GLAAD/LA will honor a member's request not to make her or his name available - we are well aware that receiving solicitations from many groups can be irritating. If you do not wish to receive materials from other organizations, write to GLAAD/LA's Membership Department, and we will see to it that your name is eliminated from lists that are rented or exchanged. We remain grateful to GLAAD/LA members who understand that rentals and exchanges of lists are the cornerstone of our new membership acquisition program, which in turn is key to the growth that increases our impact and influence. Executive Director Column by Lee Werbel March 1st! What a night for television! What a night for a celebration! During the month of February we focused on one particular show and one particular kiss: "Roseanne" and the now infamous, five-second (at most) kiss between her and Mariel Hemingway. GLAAD issued press releases; sent action alerts to our members and other community organizations; conducted a press conference; and took out a full-page ad in Daily Variety urging ABC-TV to get the message and not be influenced by a few bigots in deciding its programming. After all the controversy, on Tuesday, March 1 the episode did air in its entirety. GLAAD was honored and pleased to watch the episode with over 400 old and new friends. Stan Zimmerman and Jim Berg, co-producers and writers for "Roseanne," hosted a viewing party to benefit GLAAD/LA at the Love Lounge in West Hollywood. With GLAAD/LA members, friends and celebrities (including Tom Arnold, Michael Fishman, Lea DeLaria, Michelle Phillips, Brett Butler, Terry Sweeney, and Norman Korpi), the energy in the packed room was charged and unifying during the broadcast. In his remarks prior to the viewing, Tom Arnold paid special tribute to GLAAD by stating when the few at the network starting giving them trouble regarding the episode, "GLAAD was the first place we called for help." The episode aired but the work is not done. The media focused its attention primarily on the hype, not on the issue -- the network's homophobia. Your comments regarding the show should be sent to: Ted Harbert, President, ABC Entertainment, 2040 Avenue of the Stars, Century City, CA 90067; "Roseanne," c/o The Carsey-Werner Co., c/o CBS/MTM, 4024 Radford Avenue, Building #3, Studio City 91604. Also, below is the list of sponsors for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" episode. These sponsors need to be contacted and informed regarding our response to the program and support of their advertising. The advertisers included: Hormell - hotdogs, 1/800/523-4635; Ultra Slim Fast, Robert LaFerrire, CEO, 919 3rd Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10022, 212/688-4420, fax - 212/415-7171; Tri Star - "Guarding Tess," Peter Guber, CEO, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, 90232, 310/280-8000; Isuzu, Kozo Sakaino, President, 13181 Crossroads Parkway N., 4th Floor, City of Industry, CA 91746, 310/699-0500, fax - 310/692-7135; Prodigy, Ross Glatzer, President, 445 Hamilton Avenue, Whiteplains, NY 10601, fax - 914/993-5215; 20th Century Fox - "The Chase," Rupert Murdoch, CEO, Post Office Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213, 310/277-2211; Cortizone 10, distributor - Thompson Medical Company, Inc., Post Office Box 024408, West Palm, FLA 33402, 407/820-9900; Warner Brothers - "On Deadly Ground," Terry Semel, President, 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, CA 91522, 818/954-6000; and Touchstone - "The Ref," Michael Eisner, CEO, 500 S. Buena Vista, Burbank, CA 91521, 818/560-1000. In addition, ABC ran five of its own network promo spots (possibly where the Kraft ads would have run were they not pulled.) General Meeting April 26 - 7:00 pm GLAAD/LA's April 26 general meeting is "Computers as Media: The New Frontier for Gay and Lesbian Activism." Join us for a fascinating look into the barely tapped power of persuasion in new technologies: presentations, hypertext and C-D Roms. Keith Stern, author of "Queers in History," the computer program and data base that features over six hundred prominent gay men, lesbians and bisexuals, will demonstrate his creation. The audience will be invited to interact with the program and the panelists. (It doesn't matter whether you're IBM, Mac or computer illiterate...you'll be welcomed.) Schedule: 7:00 pm refreshments; 7:30 pm program. Temple Beth Chayim Chadashim, 6000 W. Pico Blvd. (one block east of Crescent Heights). Admission is free; donations accepted. No one turned away for lack of funds. GLAAD/LA How to Find Us GLAAD/LA is located at 8455 Beverly Blvd, #305, Los Angeles, CA 90048. (This is just east of La Cienega on the north side of Beverly; parking is on the street.) To gain entrance to the office, dial "40" on the phone access system at the main door of the building. Upon identifying youself you will be "buzzed" in; enter the elevators on the left and proceed to the third floor. GLAAD/LA shares the suite of offices with Hollywood Supports. Women of GLAAD Join new Women of GLAAD co-chairs Angela West and Stephanie Thomas on Tuesday, April 5 (7PM) for the monthly meeting of Women of GLAAD. Meet new people and bring fresh new ideas to help produce an event for women in the gay and lesbian community. The meetings are held in the GLAAD/LA office, 8455 Beverly Blvd. (just east of La Cienega), Suite 305, every first Tuesday of the month at 7PM. Vietnamese G/L Quarterly The premiere issue of Doi Dien, a national Vietnamese gay/lesbian quarterly, has just been published. For more information contact them at P.O. Box 730305, San Jose, CA 95173. "Just Say Yes!" A progressive and pro-lesbian/gay/bisexual sex education pamphlet, "Just Say Yes!," is available in Spanish and English from the Coalition for Positive Sexuality, 3712 N. Broadway, Box 191, Chicago, IL 60613. Lesbigay Guide The Directory of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Community Publications is a loose-leaf guide to newspapers and magazines in the United States and Canada. For ordering information contact: Jim Sorrells, P.O. Box 1946, Guerneville, CA 95446. Grant Writing Help Needed GLAAD/LA is looking for a volunteer with experience in grant writing and knowledge of those organizations who make grants. If you have such experience or information, please contact Dean Hansell, co-president of GLAAD/LA, through the GLAAD/LA office at (213) 658-6775. Attention: Media Activists GLAAD/LA is creating a part-time position to provide media assistance; responsibilities include: monitoring media, investigating stories/issues, writing press releases and working with the media. If you are interested and have experience with the media and public speaking, telephone the GLAAD/LA office for information. (213) 658-6775. (Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.) Keep the Letters Going; 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 very important; this is one of our most effective tools. When you send a letter, send a copy to us for our files. We would also like to have a copy of any responses you receive. Send to: GLAAD/LA, 8455 Beverly Blvd, #305, Los Angeles 90048; FAX (213) 658-6776. GLAAD/LA Wish List Donations of any of the following items would be greatly appreciated: A podium (for the new conference room in which we will be able to hold press conferences) A round (4 - 5 foot in diameter) kitchen table (for the new large kitchen) A laser printer A new copying machine A telephone answering machine A conference table with chairs for ten or more Blank videocasettes (which are needed desperately) 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) 658-6775. GLAAD/LA: We Need Volunteers Archives: Volunteers are needed to enter dates on our computers for our video archives. Please contact the GLAAD/LA office at (213) 658-6775 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, 8455 Beverly Blvd, #305, Los Angeles, CA 90048; FAX (213) 658-6776; or call the hotlines, English (213) 931-9429; Spanish (213) 658-6074 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) 658-6775 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. Calendar Dates: Apr 1 Fri Deadline for May GLAAD/LA Reports Apr 5 Tue Women of GLAAD 7:00pm 8455 Beverly Blvd 305 Apr 6 Wed Community Outreach/Membership 7:30pm 8455 Beverly Blvd 305 Apr 7 Thu People of Color Committee 7:00pm 8455 Beverly Blvd 305 Apr 12 Tue GLAAD/LA Board Meeting 7:30pm 8455 Beverly Blvd 305 Apr 14 Thu Monitor/Response Committee 7:30pm 8455 Beverly Blvd 305 Apr 19 Tue Media Outreach 7:30pm 8455 Beverly Blvd 305 Apr 28 Thu Monitor/Response Committee 7:30pm 8455 Beverly Blvd 305 Apr 26 Tue March General Meeting 7:00pm BCC 6000 Pico May Dates: May 1 Sun Deadline for June GLAAD/LA Reports May 3 Tue Women of GLAAD 7:00pm 8455 Beverly Blvd 305 May 4 Wed Community Outreach/Membership 7:30pm 8455 Beverly Blvd 305 May 10 Tue GLAAD/LA Board Meeting 7:30pm 8455 Beverly Blvd 305 May 12 Thu Monitor/Response Committee 7:30pm 8455 Beverly Blvd 305 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. Change to Committee Info on page 19 The Membership Committee works to develop campaigns to maintain and increase GLAAD/LA's membership. Projects include outreach to the lesbian and gay community, as well as a comprehensive advertisement and mail strategy. A great opportunity to meet new people while helping to insure the growth that increases the inpact and influence of GLAAD/LA. Co-chairs are Myra Riddell and Steve Solomon. For more information, please call Steve at (213) 650-2099. Under committee chairs: Women of GLAAD Co-Chairs Stephanie Thomas and Angela West Corrections to Handy Media Guide: Television Networks Address for ABC Entertainment should be 2040 Avenue of the Stars, Century City, CA 90067. Under television stations: Alan Nesbitt is now General Manager at KABC-TV Editor Carl Matthes =46AX (213) 257-5878 Assistant Editor David Zahniser Graphics Carl Daugenti Advertising Rep Margo Strik (213) 259-9208 Contributors: Lynn H. Ballen, Ann Dutton, GLAAD/SFBA, Dean Hansell, Loren R. Javier, Carl Matthes, Nancy Perez, Sylvia Rhue, Ruben Vidales,Susan Vogelfang, Lee Werbel, David Zahniser. GLAAD/LA Officers and Board of Directors Co-Presidents Stephanie Farrington-Domingue, Dean Hansell Secretary David Craig Treasurer Tracey Stern Deputy Treasurer Gary Roof Board of Directors Carol Anderson, Lynn H. Ballen, David Craig, Will Halm, Nazila Hedayat, Garrett Hicks, Jody Hoenninger, Richard Jennings, Michael B. Keegan, Lois and Arnold Newdorf, PFLAG Liaisons, Simon Pastucha, Myra Riddell, Carmichael Smith-Low, Steven Solomon, Stephanie Thomas, Angela West. Board Member Emerita Jehan Agrama Executive Director Lee Werbel Office Manager Nancy Perez Development Associate Loren R. Javier --========================_11084108==_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ======================================== Bryan J. Blumberg, The MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation 815 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90041-1777 (213) 259-4914, bjb@macsch.com --========================_11084108==_--