Date: Sun, 30 Jan 1994 19:08:57 +0000 From: Bonnie Haley Subject: GLAAD's Media Watch (1/31/94) GLAAD MEDIA WATCH January 31,1994 FOCUS ON RIGGS Filmmaker and culture-critic Marlon Riggs is the subject of a cover story in February's SAN FRANCISCO FOCUS magazine. In a (rare) 9 page interview with Michael Datcher (a self-identified "recovering homophobe"), Riggs comments on his life, work and politics as an African American, gay and HIV+ man. The filmmaker's alomst-supernatural eloquence pervades this moving tribute. "Silence kills the soul; it diminishes its possibilities to rise and fly and explore," Riggs explains to his astute interviewer. "Silence withers what makes you human. The soul shrinks, until it's nothing." FOCUS is the magazine of KQED, Inc. In addition to this welcome cover story, KQED's television operation (Channel 9) will broadcast two of Riggs' films as part of their Black History Month offerings. AFFERMATIONS airs Feb. 4 at 11:00 PM, and COLOR ADJUSTMENT airs Feb. 25 at 9:30 PM. Comments should be sent to Rick Clogher, Managing Editor, SAN FRANCISCO FOCUS, 2601 Mariposa St., SF, CA 94110-1400, tel. 415-553-2800, fax 415-553-2470. IT'S ABOUT TIME According to Reuter's news service, media giant Time Warner, Inc. is considering "the creation of a magazine aimed at gay readers." A Time Inc. spokesperson said : "We're exploring the idea and concept at this point. It's at a very preliminary, early stage. A lot of work needs to be done." Send your very preliminary, early comments and inquiries to Public Affairs Department, Time Warner, Inc., 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10019, tel. 212-484-8000. PLACE/MATT Matt, the continuing gay character on MELROSE PLACE, has finally met a potential new love interest. On the February 26 episode, Matt meets a stranger over lunch. The two hit it off, flirt a bit, and eventually make plans for a dinner date. However, Matt soon discovers that his new friend is something of a mystery man; he won't give Matt his phone number or reveal what he does for a living. By the episode's end, though, all is revealed. Matt's date is a closeted Naval officer who feels he must keep his sexual orientation hidden from his family and his government. It would be great if Matt's new beau could be an open, informed and proud gay man (rather than a deeply-damaged, culturally-disconnected closet case). Still, the show's producers ARE moving Matt's character in the right direction. Besides, EVERYONE'S life is wretchedly-complicated on MELROSE PLACE, and Matt's is no exception. Compared to the show's amorous heterosexuals, however, Matt is still a virtual eunuch. But all that could change as this new plot line develops. Keep watching. Send encouraging comments to Darren Starr, Executive Producer, MELROSE PLACE, Spelling Enterprises, 5700 Wilshire Blvd, LA, CA 90069. Doug Savant, the actor who plays Matt, has championed the inclusion of gay characters on TV. Savant expressed his hope that, through exposure to Matt's character, straight viewers will "begin to have the requisite compassion and understanding needed to obliterate the insidious evil that is homophobia." Letters can be sent to Doug Savant, c/o Jay Michael Bloom, 9200 Sunset Blvd., Suite 710, LA, CA 90069. CBS NEWS: SENSITIVE, BUT NOT ACCURATE Ina Nov. 1, 1993 broadcast of the CBS EVENING NEWS, correspondent Scott Pelley gave this explanation of Colorado's Amendment 2: "Basically, Amendment 2 says that homosexuals have no SPECIAL legal rights in Colorado." The reporter put a great deal of emphasis on the word "special." Lesbians and gays across the country quickly informed CBS that Pelley's report was inaccurate; Amendment 2 would have denied EQUAL rights, not SPECIAL rights. In response to these complaints, CBS Buraeu Chief Alan Parcell promised to correct the record and offer his apologies for Pelley's thoughtless use of Right Wing rhetoric. Pressed for that long-awaited apology, however, Parcell had only this to say: "While we stand by the accuracy of the story, we also appreciate the sensitivity that some words connote, and will try to be sensitive ourselves to their usage when doing future stories involving the gay and lesbian community." Thanks for the sensitivity, Alan, but the fact is that the story was NOT factual! Send comments to Alan Parcell, Bureau Manager, CBS News, Two Dallas Communications Complex, 6309 North O'Conner, Suite 125, Irving, Texas 75039, tel. 214-869-2000. SIGN OF THE TIMES "Hate Can Stop Here -- Rescind the Resolution." That's the message carried on a billboard to be unveiled February 1 in Cobb County, Georgia. The advertisement is a response to a Cobb County Commission resolution, passed last year, that condemns lesbian and gay citizens. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners declared that "gay lifestyles" are incompatable with community value. The Board also restricted arts funding to (heterosexual) projects or groups that promote "family-oriented standards." The new billboard campaign is part of an on-going effort to bring social justice (and common sense) back to Cobb. The Cobb Citizens Coalition and Concerned Citizens of Cobb are currently raising money to keep the billboard up through March of this year. To offer assistance and encouragement, contact the Cobb Citizens Coalition, Billboard Project, P.O. Box 965336, Marietta, GA 30066, tel. 404-256-8690. You can also lend your public support to this effort by writing to "Letters to the Editor," MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL, 580 Fairground St., Marietta, GA 30061; "Letters to the Editor," ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, P.O. Box 4689, Atlanta, GA 30302. Finally, to share your opinions about the impact of hate legislation on local business revenues, call the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, tel. 404-980-2000. WE MUST CONFRONT HOMOPHOBIA IN ORDER TO CURE IT! TO NOTIFY THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION OF ANY DEFAMATORY MEDIA COVERAGE, OR TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GLAAD, CONTACT GLAAD/SFBA, 514 CASTRO STREET, SUITE B, SF, CA 94114, TEL. 415-861-4588, FAX 415-861-4893, E-MAIL BONNIE@OUTRIGHT.COM.