From GLAADP21@aol.com Mon Dec 12 15:39:26 1994 Subject: GLAAD MEDIA WATCH, Dec. 8 MEDIA WATCH for December 8, 1994 By Al Kielwasser Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area CLINTON VETOES MASTURBATION Bill Clinton seems to have a problem working with African-American women who are his moral and intellectual superiors. Most recently, the President fired Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders because -- can you believe it -- she spoke openly and honestly about masturbation! (Presumably, the same President who smoked marijuana but "never inhaled" has also never touched himself "down there"). Of course, Clinton's decision was motivated by much more than auto-eroticism. The President's decision to fire Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders is an absolute capitulation to sex-negativity, ignorance and homophobia. In her tenure as the nation's Surgeon General, Elders stood for facts rather than fears. She took a stand against heterosexist attitudes that promote disease rather than health. Elders was one of the few public figures in Washington, DC who advocated for curricula that could teach school children to respect rather than resent diversity. Jocelyn Elders was fired because she dared to "just say no" to the forces of bigotry. Let Bill Clinton know what you think of his spineless politics. Contact The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20500, tel. 202-456-1414, e-mail president@whitehouse.gov. Also, be sure to ask your representatives in Congress to speak out against the firing of Jocelyn Elders. MARVELOUS NEWS Marvel Comics -- which is currently re-vamping its X-Men comic book storyline -- has announced that the short-lived gay superhero, "Northstar," might make a come back. The Northstar character was featured in the "Alpha Flight" comic book series and he officially "came out" in 1992, drawing expected fire from fundamentalist homophobes (on his national television show, preacher/politician Pat Robertson lambasted "Alpha Flight," calling the comic book "another example of a godless morality being legitimized to our youth"). In an interview with "Wizard" magazine, comics writer Scott Lobdell said that Northstar could be introduced as part of the new X-Men series. When specifically asked if Northstar would continue to be a gay character, Lobdell said: "If he appears in the book, yes. I don't think it would be fair to introduce him into the book and not explore every facet of the character." The X-Men series is currently one of the most popular comic book creations, and the inclusion of a gay character would represent a significant breakthrough. Marvel has already demonstrated a commitment to gay visibility (the "Alpha Flight" comic book series was phased out for reasons not related to its gay character). Encourage Marvel and the X-Men writers to bring back Northstar, providing a unique and much-needed role model. Send letters to Stan Lee, Publisher, Marvel Comics, 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016, fax 212-576-9289. THE ADAM & STEVE CHANNEL? Viacom Cable company has launched a new Pay-Per-View service, the "Adam & Eve Channel." The service offers "programming exclusively for adults" (i.e., soft-core porn). When asked if the new service would provide programming exclusively for heterosexuals, Viacom's general manager, Doug Schulz, explained: "Programming content is determined by the cable network. In this case, Adam & Eve Channel provides the signal to Viacom and we transmit it on the cable system to our customers who choose to purchase this new premium service." Schulz did ask the folks at Adam & Eve if they would include lesbian/gay programming in the line-up. According to Schulz: "Shirley Ronsato, Vice President Western Region at Adam & Eve advises that at this time their line-up does not include lesbian/gay programming, but that the option is being explored." Schulz added that anyone interested in making programming suggestions (or perhaps suggesting a few video titles?) should write directly to the Adam & Eve Channel. Contact Shirley Ronsato, Vice President-Western Region, The Adam & Eve Channel, 18514 Devonshire Blvd., Suite 449, Northridge, CA 91324, tel. 1-800-525-1563. Copy your correspondence to Doug Schulz, General Manager, Viacom Cable, 2055 Folsom, San Francisco, CA 94110-1330, tel. 415-863-8500. MEDIA BRIEFS HOMOPHOBIC BITE . . . "People" magazine recently ran a news bite about Kirsten Dunst, the 12-year old star of "Interview with a Vampire." While commenting on the bizarre and graphic nature of the film, writers Dan Santow and Leah Feldon-Mitchell write: "Even weirder, at least to some people, might be the idea of casting a seventh-grader in a movie that drips with blood and hints at homoerotic interaction among the main male characters." Comments go to "People," Time & Life Bldg., New York, NY 10020, fax 212-522-0794, e-mail 74774.1513@compuserve.com. TO TEACH THE TRUTH . . . "One Teacher in 10" is a new anthology, edited by Kevin Jennings, in which "gay and lesbian educators tell their stories." For details, contact Alyson Publications, 40 Plympton St., Boston, MA 02118; or GMP Publishers, P.O. Box 247, London N6 4BW, England. CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION . . . "Over The Rainbow" will be a feature-length documentary on the evolution of the lesbian/gay civil rights struggle in the United States. The film chronicles that journey through archival film and present-day interviews with activists and historians. For more information, contact "Over The Rainbow," 4583 Darrow Ct., Fremont, CA 94536. ********************************************** 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. GLAAD/SFBA is a membership-based community organization dedicated to cultural advocacy and media activism, which promotes the fair, accurate and diverse representation of lesbian, gay and bisexual lives in the mass media. Send items for this weekly report to the attention of "Media Watch" at GLAAD/SFBA or e- mail to glaad p21@aol.com. When appropriate, attribution 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."