Date: Sun, 13 Mar 1994 08:33:00 EDT From: Song Weaver Subject: GLAAD/SFBA's Media Watch (3/4/94) GLAAD/SFBA MEDIA WATCH March 4,1994 A KISS IS STILL A (HETEROSEXIST?) KISS The much-awaited "lesbian kiss" episode of ROSEANNE (March1) finally beamed across the globe. The program had become mired in controversy following reports that ABC intended to censor the episode. Series producers Tom and Roseanne Arnold began a media blitz and the television network ultimately supported airing the show. And what did viewers see? All-in-al, the program offered up a fairly mixed message. The "lesbian" episode managed to effectively combat homophobia, though it stil reinforced heterosexism. In the first place, it's unclear whether a kiss between a hetoerosexual woman playing a lesbian character (Mariel Hemmingway) and a heterosexual woman playing a hetoersexual woman (Roseanne Arnold) is even a "lesbian kiss." Argueably, such imagery merely perpetuates the sterotypical and heterosexist portrayal of predacious (or just plain stupid) homosexuals. In any event, the five-second kiss was shot from an angle that showed very little kissing. For all the controversy, the moment came and went rather quickly. Despite its flaws, however, the scene brought an undoubted message of hope and affirmation to young and closeted viewers across the country who rarely (if ever) see portrayals of same-sex affection. Thought the kissing scene was rife with heterosexism, the program as a whole confronted homophobia. Roseanne's character took a good (and funny) look at her own insecurities. Fearful of being labeled "gay," Roseanne says to her bisexual friend Sandra: "I am not gay! I didn't mean for that to sound like it was bad or anything, you know, because if I was gay that would be just fine, but I'm not gay. So I don't like people calling me things that I'm not, like a hypocrite or gay, you know, because I'm not. And I wouldn't like anybody calling me like...umm...like an astronaut. Because it's fine to be an astronaut, but see I am not an astronaut." Roseanne admits she was wrong and hopes her friend won't think of her as "not cool" because she is uncomfortable with the "gay" label. Sandra replies: "I'm not comfortable with everything about you either. Every time I think of you and Dan in bed...Yuck!" A tag scene at the end of the episodeshwoed Roseanne and husband Dan in bed. Roseanne tells Dan that she had been kissed by someone else; Dan is upset until he learns that the "other man" was really a woman. His anger turns to arousal, and the scene offered a self-critical commentary on the mainstream media's willingness to exploit lesbian sexuality for the benefit of heterosexual men. To let ABC know what you thought of the episode, contact Edward Harbert, President, ABC Entertainment, 2040 Avenue of the Stars, LA, CA 90067, tel. 310-557-7777, fax 310-557-7160; Roseanne Arnold, Executive Producer, ROSEANNE, Carsey-Werner Co., 4024 Radford Ave., Bldg. 3, Studio City, CA 91604. AND A BIGOT IS STILL A BIGOT The controversy surrounding the "lesbian" ROSEANNE episode has been deemed a "publicity stunt" by some critics. However, TV GUIDE critic Harry Stein argues that Roseanne Arnold's campaign to get the show aired was nothing more than "extortion, and could, under slightly different circumstances, get the perpetrator tossed in prison." In his March 5 essay entitled "Do We Really Need To See Roseanne's Latest Kiss?," Stein suggests that lesbian love is offensive (or at least confusing) to the "tolerant traditionalists" who make up the bulk of the TV viewing audience. Stein quotes an Ohio man who asks: "Don't they (the TV producers) have any concern about the influence of what they pump into hour homes?" Stein concludes by stating that, in light of this "lesbian kiss," Roseanne Arnold "now seems poised to take her (character) in directions that, as far as many of us are concerned, ought to have been left between her and her therapist." To suggest that homosexuality is strickly a matter for clinical treatment is nothing but blatant, antiquated homophobia. In his professed concern over the impact of what is "pumped into America's homes," Stein ignores the fact that, for the most part, our television sets pump out heterosexism and homophobia. Decades of such televised bigotry have taken a terrible toll. To criticize this critic, write to TV GUIDE, box 500, Radnor, PA 19088. If you want your letter considered for publication, copy it to the attention of the "Letters Department." THE DEVIL'S BREW The Miller Brewing Company -- makers of Miller Genuine Draft and Lite Beer -- is the latest corporate advertiser to come under attack from the "Redligious" Right. The company is receiving numerous calls and letters from homophobes protesting Miller's support for the Gay Games IV & Cultural Festival in June. Miller is also one of the key sposors of Gay Entertainment Television (GET). Compliments can be sent to John Bowlin, President, Miller Brewing Company, 3939 West Highland Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53201-0420, tel. 800-645-5376. A FAX FROM PHELPS In a press release issued after his failed "picket" of Randy Shilts' funeral, the "Reverend" Fred Phelps -- the notorious homophobe from Topeka, Kansas -- claimed that he and his Westboro Baptsit Church congregation "kicked fag butt in Fag Frisco." Said Phelps: "WBC gave Filthy Fag Randy Shilts a proper sendoff to hell Feb. 22 by preaching the Gospel to his butt-buddies at his lying funeral. It was a great dau 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. In his press release, Phelps also vowed to "sue Mayor Frank Jordan" for the right "to picket famous fag funerals." Phelps has been getting considerable media coverage, milking the TV talk show circuit. Talk show hosts should not shy away from showing the face of homophobic hatred, but it would be nice if they spent more time investigating Phelps and his lunatic church instead of treating him as a "guest" or (even worse) an "authority." If you want to communicate with Phelps himself, you can write to the Westboro Baptist Church, 3701 West 12th St., PO Box 1886, Topeka, KS 66604, tel. 913-273-0325. MEDIA BRIEFS Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE) is seeking submissions for "The Children of Stonewall: A COLAGE Experience," a first-of-its-kind multi-media installation by daughters and sons of lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgendered parents. For information, contact Stefan Lynch, COLAGE, 3200 Market St., Box 165, SF, CA 94114. The Gay & Lesbian Media Coalition is now accepting submissions for the 12th Annual Los Angeles International Gay & Lesbian Film and Video Festival, which will be held July 7-17, 1994. The dealine for submissions is April 1. Contact GLMC, 8228 Sunset Blvd., #308, West Hollywood, CA 90046, tel. 213-650-5133, fax 213-650-2226. The latest issue of THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR, a national newsletter for lesbian and gay parents, is hot off the press. For more details, call 510-482-5778 or write to Next Door Publishing, Ltd., PO Box 2158, Oakland, CA 94620. 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.