[This file can be found in /pub/QRD/glaad/SFBA/media.alert-10.13.93 at vector.intercon.com, the Queer Resources Directory] San Francisco Bay Area Chapter For Immediate Release: Contact: Al Kielwasser October 13, 1993 415-826-5203 Page 1 of 6 [See also page 6] Media Alert Media Alert Media Alert Media Alert BIGOTRY ON TRIAL IN COLORADO GLAAD/SFBA Advisory to the Press on Fair and Responsible Coverage of Historic Civil Rights Trial San Francisco/Denver [Tuesday, October 12] -- A state district court trial began today in Denver to determine the constitutionality of "Amendment 2," a Colorado measure that would effectively deny civil rights and equal protection under the law for lesbian, gay and bisexual citizens. Whatever the outcome of the trial, it is clear that homophobic organizations intend to seize this opportunity to further their campaign of misinformation about homosexuality. If the nation's news media provide an unchallenged forum for that misinformation, these bigots will have achieved a victory even if Amendment 2 is declared unconstitutional. The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD/SFBA) calls upon responsible members of the press, as they report on this historic trial, to challenge the dubious claims of bigots, investigate the credentials of "expert" witnesses, and expose the deceptive and misleading rhetoric used to promote Amendment 2. To assist the press in covering one of the most important civil rights trials in U. S. history, GLAAD/SFBA offers the following guidelines (each is explained in more detail in the attachment to this release): 1. Members of the press are advised to exercise great caution in referring to "Special protections" and "special rights" for lesbian, gay and bisexual persons; the phrase "special rights" was invented by bigots to promote legislation that, in fact, denies equal rights to any group that these bigots despise. Simply, there are no such things as "special rights" for lesbians, gays or bisexuals. 2. GLAAD/SFBA urges members of the press to vigorously investigate and thoroughly report upon the credentials of all so-called "expert" witnesses called to testify in Denver. 3. Members of the press are advised to investigate and challenge the dubious claims that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are not a legitimate minority deserving of protection and that civil rights for lesbians and gays infringe upon the civil rights of people of color; we strongly encourage the press to seek out, interview and extensively quote lesbian, gay and bisexual people of color on this issue and other issues related to the trial. 4. We call upon the press to accurately and fairly report upon the broad and diverse opposition to Amendment 2. Founded in 1985, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is dedicated to combating homophobia and heterosexism in the public media, and to promoting fair, accurate and diverse representations of lesbian and gay lives. The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of GLAAD is one of several chapters comprising GLAAD/USA. Detailed Media Advisory Points 1. Members of the press are advised to exercise great caution in referring to "special protections" and "special rights" for lesbian, gay and bisexual persons. The phrase "special rights" was invented by bigots to promote hate legislation that, in fact, denies equal rights to any group that these bigots despise. Simply, there are no such things as "special rights" for lesbians, gays or bisexuals. In reality, Amendment 2 would effectively prohibit lesbians, gays and bisexuals from claiming any rights regarding employment, education, housing or status. Amendment 2 forbids the passage of laws that would protect the civil rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual citizens. The actual text of Amendment 2 demands that: "Neither the State of Colorado, through any of its branches or departments, nor any of its agencies, political subdivisions, municipalities or school districts, shall enact, adopt or enforce any statute, regulation, ordinance or policy whereby homosexual, lesbian, or bi-sexual orientation, conduct, practices or relationships shall constitute or otherwise be the basis of or entitle any person or class of persons to have or claim any minority status, quota preferences, protected status, or claim of discrimination." This amendment clearly denies equal rights to lesbians, gays and bisexuals. In JuIy, the Colorado Supreme Court suggested that it would find Amendment 2 unconstitutional precisely because it deprives one group of the rights enjoyed by others. GLAAD/SFBA calls upon the press to challenge any source that refers to "special rights" to provide concrete examples of such "rights." Those who refer to "special rights" must demonstrate how those "rights" might even remotely be considered "special" rather than "equal." It is the responsibility of an objective news media to point out that Amendment 2 is an attempt to prevent a group of people from having any rights under the pretense of denying them "special privileges." (1) 2. Members of the press are advised to skeptically evaluate the claims of "moral" and "scientific" experts who will testify at this trial. GLAAD/SFBA calls upon members of the press to vigorously investigate and thoroughly report upon the credentials of all witnesses called to testify in Denver. "Colorado for Family Values," "Focus on the Family," and other hate groups intend to use this trial to further their own propaganda goals, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the trial itself. For example, among the "expert" witnesses scheduled to testify is "psychologist" Paul Cameron who has made a career of disseminating false and misleading information about the nature of human sexual orientation. Members of the press should be aware that, in 1993, Dr. Cameron was dropped from membership in the American Psychological Association (APA) for "a violation to the Preamble to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists." In 1984, the Nebraska Psychological Association (NPA) adopted a resolution stating that it "formally disassociates itself from the representations and interpretations of scientific literature offered by Dr. Paul Cameron in his writings and public statements on sexuality." In 1985, the American Sociological Association (ASA) adopted a resolution stating that Dr. Cameron "has consistently misinterpreted and misrepresented sociological research on sexuality, homosexuality, and lesbianism" and "repeatedly campaigned for the abrogation of the civil rights of lesbians and gay men, substantiating his call on the basis of his distorted interpretation of this research." In 1986, the ASA officially condemned Cameron's "consistent misinterpretation of sociological research." In addition to defrauding the public and his peers, Cameron has previously lied to the courts. In his written opinion in Baker v. Wade, Judge Buchmeyer of the U.S. District Court of Dallas referred to Cameron's sworn statement that "homosexuals abuse children at a proportionately greater incident than do heterosexuals," and concluded that Cameron made misrepresentations to this Court" and that "there has been no fraud - misrepresentations except by Dr. Cameron." (2) In short, Dr. Paul Cameron is not an expert on homosexuality. His aim is not to illuminate the truth, but to promote mindless bigotry. No responsible broadcaster or publisher would invite someone who presents such misinformation and hateful lies to speak as an authority on issues of concern to lesbians, gays or bisexuals just as no responsible journalist would invite a leader of the Ku Klux Klan to speak as an "expert witness" or "authority" on issues of concern to African Americans and other people of color). Members of the press are cautioned that other "expert" witnesses in this will possess the same dubious credentials as Paul Cameron. Indeed, he is just one example of this abuse of the judicial process. In many instances, these "experts" are actually hate mongers who have been discredited by the very professions they claim to represent. 3. During the two weeks of this trial, many individuals will seize the opportunity to make a number of patently absurd claims. Members of the press are advised to investigate and challenge such claims, including the dubious argument that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are not discriminated against and that they infringe upon the civil rights of "legitimate minorities." We urgently advise the press to seek out, interview and extensively quote lesbian, gay and bisexual people of color on these and other issues related to the trial. Lesbians, gays and bisexuals are indeed a minority in need of protection. According to the U. S. Department of Justice, "homosexuals are probably the most frequent victims" of hate crime. (3) In a review of twenty surveys conducted across the United States between 1980 and 1991, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force has found pervasive patterns of discrimination against lesbians and gays involving employment, housing, public accommodations, health care, credit, parenting, police, insurance and education. In one survey, one out of every four employers said they would "not promote" someone they thought to be lesbian or gay. (4) Because of homophobia and the intense discrimination they experience, lesbian, gay and bisexual youth may be at an especially high risk for suicide, drug abuse, and homelessness. (5) Because the news media, politicians, and other Public figures have tended to ignore or downplay the significance of anti-gay and anti-lesbian discrimination, many people still operate under the false assumption that lesbians and gays do not experience the same hatred that fuels racist and anti-Semitic violence in the United States. Homophobic violence is a serious problem and a national disgrace. During this trial, Colorado Attorney General Gale Norton wiII claim that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was created only to protect presumably heterosexual) African Americans and that "gay rights" compromise the civil rights of "legitimate minorities." The claim that civil rights for lesbians and gays infringe upon the rights of "legitimate" minorities is, itself, a patently racist claim. Those who attempt to pit lesbians and gays against other minorities utterly defame the lesbian, gay and bisexual people of color who--as victims of homophobia and racism-understand most intimately the need to defend the civil rights of all minorities and to bring all oppressed groups under the protection of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The issue at hand is whether or not our government is dedicated to providing civil rights for everybody and defending "liberty and justice for all." 4. We call upon the press to accurately and fairly report upon the broad and diverse opposition to Amendment 2. The hatred, bigotry and misinformation that propelled Amendment 2 gamered wide-spread condemnation from a diverse range of individuals and organizations. Hundreds of organizations across the United States (including the City and County of San Francisco and the San Francisco Unified School District) have joined in a boycott of Colorado until Amendment 2 is completely repealed. Suggested Media Contacts Laurie Falik, GLAAD/SFBA, 415-434-5673 or 415-861-4588 Al Kielwasser, GLAAD/SFBA, 415-826-5203 or 415-861-4588 Bonnie Haley, GLAAD/SFBA, 510-559-9703 or 415-861-4588 Tom Hanson, GLAAD/Denver, 303-331-2773 or 303-830-0840 Scot Nakagawa, Fight the Right Project, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, 503-221-0115 Gwenn Craig, Lesbians & Gays of African Descent for Democratic Action, 415-647-2441 Randy MiIIer, Lesbians & Gays of African Descent for Democratic Action, 415-255-4955 Freddie Niem, Gay Asian Pacific Alliance, 415-552-9664 LLEGO: The National Latino/a Lesbian & Gay Organizations, 202-544-0092 National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, 202-332-6483 Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, 212-9954-8585 Colorado Legal Project, 303-830-2100 National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, 415-905-4690 Colorado Gay & Lesbian Task Force, 303-830-2981 (1) Jim Naureckas, "The Religious Right's Mythology," Extra! magazine, June 1993, p. 4. (2) Baker v. Wade, 106 F.R.D. 526 (N.D. Tx 1985); see page 536. (3) Los Angeles Times, March 5, 1992. (4) Lee Badgett, Colleen Donnelly, and Jennifer Kibbe, "Pervasive Patterns of Discrimination Against Lesbians and Gay Men: Evidence From Surveys Across the United States". Washington, DC: National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, 1992. (5) United States Department of Health and Human Services, Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth suicide. Washington, DC: 1989. [FAX/OCR by Alan Batie ]