Date: Fri, 2 Dec 1994 14:37:48 -0500 From: GLAADSFBA@aol.com MEDIA WATCH for December 1, 1994 By AL KIELWASSER Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation/ San Francisco Bay Area R.E.M.: REALLY EMPTY MINDED ? Yes, R.E.M.'s music is extraordinary. And yes, the musical group has been at the cutting edge of the artistic adventure. However, R.E.M.'s lead singer -- Michael Stipe -- seems to be the epitome of empty-mindedness on the subject of sexual orientation (especially his own!). When asked about his sexual orientation, Stipe told an MTV interviewer: "I just don't think it's anyone's business what I do with my dick, unless they're sitting in my lap." During a CNN interview, Stipe again evaded questions about sexual orientation, saying only that he is "sexually ambiguous." Asking someone if he is gay is not the same as asking him to provide a biographical history of his penis. And if being gay is neither evil nor vile, then why can't we can't we talk about it? As Michelangelo Signorile points out: "Homosexuality is not a private issue (it's simply a fact of life) . . . . Yes, gay public figures can have private lives and still be openly gay (just as straight public figures can retain private lives and still be openly straight)." Moreover, as media critic Larry Gross has argued, "No one is obliged to make a fabulous living as a movie, television, or recording star, and those who do take on this burden can be held accountable for the images they promote." While Stipe's apparent decision to treat sexual orientation as "unspeakable" is absolutely homophobic, the very fact that he is asked "Are you gay?" also reflects a unique media bias. Reporters often presume that everyone is heterosexual, and seldom think to ask "Are you straight?" in order to confirm the heterosexuality of their interviewees. Comments may be directed to Michael Stipe, R.E.M., P.O. Box 8032, Athens, GA 30603. CALLING ALL HOMOSEXUALS ! "If you are an AT&T customer, you are helping to promote homosexuality in America." So says a full-page ad produced for the members of the American Family Association (AFA). "It's true," the ad continues, "The nation's largest telecommunications company is committed to using their resources to convince America that homosexuality is a normal alternative lifestyle. AT&T has a history of promoting homosexuality." The AFA ad outlines that "history," which includes AT&T's support for the Gay Games (an event "designed to reshape America's traditional moral values"), AT&T advertising aimed at lesbian and gay customers ("a mail campaign which comes in a lavender envelope and a letter from AT&T's homosexual employee group"), the company's sponsorship of the "homosexual musical" Falsettos, and AT&T's use of the Brian McNaught video On Being Gay (which "indoctrinates their employees to accept homosexuality"). The ad concludes: "American Family Association is offering its supporters the opportunity to quit doing business with AT&T and switch to a long distance carrier with a distinctively Christian difference -- Lifeline. With one toll-free phone call, not only have you taken business away from AT&T, but you are making a stand for morality in America . . . . Lifeline is a major long distance carrier like AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc., except, like you and me, Lifeline is committed to family values and decency." Appropriate comments can be directed to any or all of the following: Lifeline (1-800-800-7550); Donald E. Wildmon, American Family Association, P.O. Drawer 2440, Tupelo, MS 38803; AT&T Media Relations, 295 N Maple Ave., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, tel. 908-221-5017. WORLD OF INDIFFERENCE On December 1 -- World AIDS Day -- the San Francisco Chronicle did not run a single front-page story related to the AIDS epidemic. When asked about this glaring omission, Pam Reasner of the Chronicle's news desk said that her newspaper had no regrets. Reasner explained that World AIDS Day was more of a "social event" than front-page news. Reasner said: "Any organization can proclaim a 'day' and, in fact, Friday (December 2) is International Volunteers Day and that won't be on the front page either." Are hundreds of thousands of volunteers dying because of government indifference and homophobic bigotry? AIDS is still very much front-page news, a point that the Chronicle should hardly have missed on World AIDS Day. Send your comments to Matt Wilson, Managing Editor, San Francisco Chronicle, 901 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-777-1111, fax 415-512-8196. You can speak directly to Pam Reasner by calling 415-777-7065. By contrast, the San Francisco Examiner did include a front-page AIDS story in its December 1st issue ("City AIDS Net Seen At Brink of Collapse," by Sally Lehrman). Feedback may be sent to Phil Bronstein, Executive Editor, San Francisco Examiner, 110 5th St., San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-777-2424, e-mail sfexaminer@aol.com. MEDIA BRIEFS * Lesbians on the Loose -- the Australian monthly news magazine -- celebrates its fifth anniversary this January. For details, contact LOTL, P.O. Box 798 Newton 2042, Australia. * The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has begun filming Stonewall; according to director Nigel Finch, the film -- which is scheduled for a mid-1995 theatrical release -- will tell the story of six gay men in the days leading up to the Stonewall riots. * The New Press 1994/1995 catalog of books and materials for the multicultural classroom is available from The Fund for Independent Publishing, 450 West 41st Street, New York, NY 10036, tel. 1-800-233-4830. ******************************************** We must confront the media's homophobia in order to cure it! To notify the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation of any defamatory or affirmative media coverage call our 24-hour Media Watch 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 glaad sfba@aol.com. ******************************************** Send items for this weekly report to the attention of "Media Watch" at GLAAD/SFBA or e-mail to glaad sfba@aol.com. When appropriate, attributions for items used should be made to Al Kielwasser and/or GLAAD/SFBA. As always, we greatly appreciate copies of any publications that use all or part of the "Media Watch."