Date: Fri, 02 Sep 94 14:23:43 EDT From: GLAADP21@aol.com GLAAD MEDIA WATCH for SEPTEMBER 1, 1994 By AL KIELWASSER HERE'S THE STORY OF A DYKE NAMED BRADY . . . "Here's the story of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls . . . ." For well over a decade, the familiar Brady Bunch refrain has chimed daily from television sets around the globe. Now, the campy 70's hit series is being made into a Hollywood feature film and one of those "lovely girls" might also be a lovely lesbian. The Paramount film is currently in production and writers Jim Berg and Stan Zimmerman (creators of Roseanne's infamous "lesbian kiss" episode) have suggested that the character of Marcia Brady will become involved with another woman. In the film, Marcia's best friend is Nicole, an out lesbian. Marcia's friend develops a crush on the eldest Brady daughter and, according to Stan Zimmerman, "Nicole gets what she's after in the end." Of course, it could be argued that not Marcia, but JBrady would have been the more logical choice for a lesbian love interest. In the original series, after all, it was Jan who demonstrated the most pronounced queer qualities: intelligence, sincerity, and a passion for justice (she was, after all, a member an oppressed community -- middle children). But seriously, a queer Brady -- any queer Brady -- could powerfully subvert the historical heterosexism of television's "family" sit-coms. A lesbian Marcia would explode the mythic heterosexuality of The Brady Bunch, radiating a uniquely affirmative message throughout the popular culture. Such cultural transformations -- whether humorous or serious -- are essential to combating homophobia, which is largely maintained through the media of film and television. Send feedback to Stan Zimmerman and Jim Berg, Brady Bunch movie, c/o Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood CA 90038, tel. 213-956-4900. PEOPLE WHO READ PEOPLE Readers of People Weekly have been treated to an improved, more lesbian-positive magazine. Most recently (Sept. 5), the popular magazine's "Couples" section featured a two-page spread on singer Melissa Etheridge and her lover Julie Cypher. "Her Grammy is nice," the magazine notes, but Etheridge's lover is her "greatest prize." "A House in Harmony," written by Peter Castro and John Griffiths, profiles Etheridge and Cypher in both words and photos. The feature deals nonchalantly with the couple's blossoming relationship and peeks -- without sensationalism -- into the personal histories of each woman. Make sure that the magazine's letters-to-the-editor page is filled with more than just hate mail from panicky homophobes. Send your letter to Jason McManus, Editor-in-Chief, People Weekly, Time & Life Building, Rockefeller Center, New York, NY, 10020. GAY JOURNALISM ON TRIAL Yaroslav Mogutin, a 19-year-old free-lance journalist in Russia, is facing a court trial and a possible five-year prison sentence. The young journalist is being persecuted for conducting a well-publicized investigation into Russia's heterosexist marriage laws. He is being charged under Article 206.2 of the Russian Criminal Code for writing an article that contained references to homosexuality and other "vulgar language." Russia's claims to democracy and free speech are clearly called into question by this kind of censorious harassment. Send letters or protest to A. Ilyushenko, General Procuror of the RF, Pushinskaya ul., 15a, Moscow 103793, Russia. Send copies of your correspondence to the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission, 1360 Mission St., Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94103. MEDIA BRIEFS * Billing itself as an alternative to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Free Communications Coalition is an umbrella organization supporting democratization of mass communication and the use of micropower ("pirate") broadcasting stations. For information, contact Free Radio Berkeley/Free Communications Coalition, 1442 A Walnut St. # 406, Berkeley, CA 94709, tel. 510-464-3041, e-mail frbspd@crl.com. * "Express Yourself" is an interactive Macintosh Hypercard stack designed to inform students about their First Amendment Rights. The diskette is available to students and educators free of charge. Contact ACLU Foundation of Northern California, 1662 Mission St., Suite 460, San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-621-2493. * "50 Ways to Fight Censorship and Important Facts to Know About the Censors" is a how-to manual published by the Institute for First Amendment Studies, P.O. Box 589, Great Barrington, MA 01230, e-mail frdmwriter@aol.com. WE MUST CONFRONT HOMOPHOBIA TO CURE IT! TO NOTIFY THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION OF ANY DEFAMATORY OR AFFIRMATIVE MEDIA COVERAGE CALL OUR VOICE MAIL HOTLINE AT 415-861-4588 OR WRITE TO GLAAD/SFBA, 1360 MISSION STREET, SUITE 200, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103; FAX, 415-861-4893, E-MAIL GLAADSFBA@AOL.COM. SEND ITEMS FOR THIS WEEKLY REPORT TO THE ATTENTION OF "MEDIA WATCH" AT GLAAD/SFBA OR E- MAIL TO GLAADSFBA@AOL.COM. WHEN APPROPRIATE, ATTRIBUTIONS FOR ITEMS USED SHOULD BE MADE TO AL KIELWASSER, GLAAD/SFBA. AS ALWAYS, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE COPIES OF ANY PUBLICATIONS THAT USE ALL OR PART OF THE "MEDIA WATCH." THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUING INTEREST IN GLAAD'S WORK!