Date: Mon, 12 Sep 94 06:23:21 EDT From: GLAADP21@aol.com GLAAD MEDIA WATCH for SEPTEMBER 8, 1994 By AL KIELWASSER ANDRE AGASSI'S BIGGEST FAULT Andre Agassi is once again the center of national attention, following his success on the courts of the U.S. Open. However, the tennis star's unapologetic displays of homophobia should be given equal scrutiny in the court of public opinion. Agassi's considerable talent has been greatly diminished by his bigoted conduct; he has routinely used homophobic slurs and made anti-gay remarks. During a recent televised game, for example, Agassi yelled "faggot" at a tennis official with whom he disagreed. Open letters to Andre Agassi should be sent to sports newspapers and magazines across the country, urging the athelete to apologize for his failure to treat lesbians and gay men with decency and respect. Agassi whould be encouraged to use his U.S. Open victory as an occasion to assert a basic principle of fair play -- that no one should be degraded or mocked because of their sexual orientation. Letters can be directed to Sports Illustrated, Time and Life Building, Rockefeller Center, New York, NY 10020. Also, write to the major television networks, advising them to cover this and other stories about homophobia in professional sports: Dennis Swanson, President, ABC Sports, 77 W. 66th St., New York, NY 10023-6298, tel. 212-456-7777; Neal H. Pilson, President, CBS Sports Division, 51 W. 52nd St., New York, NY 10019, tel. 212- 975-4321 or 212-975-5230; Dick Ebersol, President, NBC Sports, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, tel. 212-664-4444. MOMMIE QUEEREST "Lynn Minton Reports: Fresh Voices" is a regular feature in Parade magazine that articulates teenagers' issues and concerns. The September 11 installment, "When A Parent is Homosexual," features a talk with two 17-year-olds who represent common -- yet divergent -- responses to life with a lesbian or gay parent. In her interview with "Bill," Lynn Minton reveals a young man who is tortured by his own homophobia. Bill cannot relate well to his gay father, and tries desperately to keep the "family secret." An interview with "Shaundra," on the other hand, portrays a more understanding -- and consequently -- happier teenager. Shaundra explains that she did, for a time, hate her mother for being a lesbian, and has since moved beyond that phase. Shuandra's comments conclude the column, as she declares: "Everyone at school knows now that my mother is a lesbian. I'm mot willing to hide it anymore. There was this argument we had in class about gay and lesbian rights, and someone said, 'They're disgusting and they're all child- molesters.' And I looked him dead in the eye, and I said, 'My mother is a lesbian. And she's not a child-molester. And she's my mother, and you take that back.' " The column directs readers to COLAGE (2300 Market St., #165, San Francisco, CA 94114) a national support group run by and for the children of lesbian and gay parents. Also, Lynn Minton promises that "other children living in similar households will be heard from in a future column." The column encourages feedback ("every letter is read"), particularly from teens. Write to Lynn Minton, Box 4166, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-4166. VISA VICTORY Hate monger and media mogul Pat Robertson recently issued a nation-wide call to the 1 million members of his "Christian Coalition" cult, demanding that they protest Visa's support for the Gay Games (Visa had made a corporate donation of $10,000 to the Games). To counter this pressure, lesbians and gay organizations also encouraged members to call in their opinions to the company's toll-free phone line. To date, Visa reports receiving 200 to 300 calls and 600 letters in support of the company's Gay Games donation, and only 20 to 30 telephone calls and ten letters in protest. Pat Robertson has declined to comment. Calls of support can still be directed to Visa at 800-336-3386. Also, remind your local reporters to give fair and adequate follow-up coverage to the major defeats experienced by large homophobic organizations, which often get significant press coverage (and public relations mileage) when they first announce a particular campaign. MEDIA BRIEFS * Donald Wildmon's American Family Association (AFA) is a bigoted and censorious media advocacy organization, dedicated primarily to defaming lesbians and gay men. "The Rev. Donald E. Wildmon's Crusade for Censorship, 1977-1992" is a comprehensive report on Wildmon's nefarious efforts, available free from The Media Coalition, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10020, 212-768-6770. * The Lavender Salon Reader is a one-of-a-kind newsletter and literary review for and about lesbian/gay reading clubs. For more information, contact publisher Michael Nitz, 1474 Home Ave., Menasha, WI 54952, tel. 414-738-0497, e-mail LavSalon@aol.com. * "To Tell The Truth TV" places lesbian and gay Christian programming on public access to counter the opinions of the "religious" right. For more information, contact Valda Lewis, P.O. Box 35466, Dallas, TX 75235, tel. 214-351-1901, fax 214-351- 6099. The service airs locally (in San Francisco) on Channel 53, Sundays, 6:30 PM. * "Who's Behind the Culture War? -- Contemporary Assaults on Freedom of Expression," is a report available from The Nathan Cummings Foundation, 1926 Broadway, Suite 600, New York, NY 10023, tel. 212-787-7300. WE MUST CONFRONT HOMOPHOBIA TO CURE IT! TO NOTIFY THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION OF ANY DEFAMATORY MEDIA COVERAGE CALL OUR DEFAMATION HOTLINE AT 415-861-4588 OR WRITE TO GLAAD/SFBA, 1360 MISSION STREET, SUITE 200, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103; FAX, 415-861-4893. 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!