[This file can be found in /pub/QRD/GLAAD/SFBA/media.news.briefs-11.19.93 at vector.intercon.com, the Queer Resources Directory] San Francisco Bay Area Chapter GLAAD MEDIA WATCH -- November 19,1993 by Al Kielwasser KRON: Diseased Journalism Last week, NBC affiliate KRON-TV (Channel 4) broadcast a three-part series on "Sexual Suicide." The series of "investigative" reports attempted to explain a second wave of HIV infection in San Francisco. The "Sexual Suicide" series was anchored by Greg Lyon and produced by Jonathan Dann, the same folks responsible for KRON's defamatory series on "gay child molesters." Filled with sensational images and utterly lacking in substance, the "Sexual Suicide" series suggested that gay men are simply too stupid, too dirty or too evil to stay healthy. Incredibly, this "investigative" report consisted almost entirely of lurid images of "sex clubs." Failing to demonstrate any journalistic integrity, Greg Lyon also offered up "surveys" conducted by the Stop AIDS Project as evidence of sex practices in the gay community. These surveys are essentially devoid of any social-scientific value inasmuch they are hardly representative of the attitudes or behaviors of gay men in general. But KRON reporters never mentioned that fact. Missing from the KRON report was any investigation into the institutional forces that actually promote the spread of HIV. The report said nothing about the sorry state of AIDS education in California's public schools. The report said nothing about the Religious Right's efforts to prevent everything from condom distribution to needle exchange programs. Instead, the report blamed young gay men for "killing themselves." This is an extreme and repulsive example of blaming the victim. KRON's "Sexual Suicide" series suggested that the lesbian and gay community had, somehow, failed to educate the next generation of gay youth about the dangers of AIDS/HIV. What the series didn't report however, was that lesbian and gays hardly have access to our youth in the first place. Efforts to provide fair and accurate information about homosexuality to America's youth are met with incredible resistance. But KRON reporter Greg Lyon never bothered to investigate homophobia in our public schools. In fact, reporter Greg Lyon didn't investigate a thing in the course of his "investigative" reports. Instead of interviewing the homophobic parents who taught their gay son that he deserved to die for his "sin," Lyon interviewed a sex club operator. Instead of interviewing the State Board of Education member who resists every effort to provide young gay men with affirmative AIDS education Lyon interviewed a sex club operator. Instead of interviewing the NBC executive who refuses to offer prime-time role models for lesbian and gay youth Lyon interviewed a sex club operator. In addition to misleading the public and farther stigmatizing gay youth, KRON's "Sexual Suicide" series was also an act of incredible hypocrisy. After all, the station is not running any AIDS education programs specifically targeted to gay youth. Like all broadcasters, KRON is licensed by the federal government to "serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity." Now that the station has identified the need to promote AIDS/HIV awareness amongst young gay men they should begin to address that necessity. Concluding the three-part series, Greg Lyon had the audacity to claim that his "Sexual Suicide" report was intended to increases funding for AIDS prevention. Of course, his vapid effort will only convince viewers that, since gay men are deliberately killing themselves, money spent of AIDS is wasted money. Bay Area television viewers deserve more than cheap, exploitative coverage of serious and complex issues. Register your outrage by calling Jonathan Dann at 4l5-561-8019, and leaving a message with his secretary Pat Law. Also, write to Amy McCombs, President, KRON-TV, 1001 Van Ness, S.F., CA 94109, tel. 415-441-4444. Finally, you can also share your concerns with KRON's community liason Xavier Valencia, by calling 415-561-8686. Warner Brothers Introduces A Sister NBC's weekly prime-time show Sisters, produced by Warner Brothers Television, has added a continuing lesbian character to the cast. Norma Lear (played by Nora Dunn) is the employer of series regular Alex (played by Swoozie Kurtz). The initial plot focused on Alex's confused and homophohic response to Norma. That negative response is ultimately resolved in a touching scene between Alex and her mother. Alex's mother informs her that the family's oldest friends --Alex's "aunts"--are, in fact lesbians (not just two "old spinsters who happened to live together for 35 years"). Encouraging remarks should be sent to Warren Littlefield, President, NBC Entertainment, 3000 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91523, tel. 818-840-444, and Christopher Keyser and Amy Lippman, Executive producers, Warner Bros. Television, 300 Television Plaza, Burbank, CA 91505, tel. 818-954-7413, fax 818-954-7367. Banning Books A library in Iowa is the site of yet another effort to censor lesbian and gay books. An Indianola man has asked his local library to remove a copy of Eric Marcus' "Is It A Choice?", a book that answers a wide range of basic questions about homosexuality. Library Director Charles Ginder said the book was obtained after another patron pointed out that the library offered virtually no information about homosexuality. "We needed to have it," Ginder said. "I looked at our collection and realized there was a gap." John Taylor, who wants the book banned, responded: "Tell the homos to read God's Bible. Best book yet." Lefters of support are needed for the Indianola Library. Write to Indianola Library Board, 207 North B, Indianola, IA 50125, tel. 515-961-9418. You can also share your thoughts with the local newspaper, The Record Herald Tribune, 203 W. Salem Ave., Indianola, IA 50125. Be Real MTVs The Real World. which has featured lesbian and bisexual youth over the past two seasons, is coming to San Francisco. If you are between the ages of 18 and 24 and would enjoy living with complete strangers for five months while having your life videotaped, send a photo and biographical letter (stating "what you would contribute to The Real World") to The Real World, 110 Pacific Ave., S.F., CA 94111. We must confront homophobia in order to cure it! To notify the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation of any defamatory media coverage, or to request GLAAD membership information, write to GLAAD/SFBA, 514 Castro Street, Suite B, San Francisco, CA 94114. Call our main office at 415-861-4588; fax, 415-861-4893; South Bay, 408-235-0229; East Bay, 510-273-9146; North Bay, 415-647-3055. [FAX/OCR by Alan Batie ]