Date: Mon, 26 Dec 1994 10:47:33 -0500 From: GLAADSFBA@aol.com MEDIA WATCH for December 22, 1994 by AL KIELWASSER Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area A NEWSPAPER WITH "HOMOPHOBE APPEAL" Recently, "The New York Times" produced a television ad campaign featuring hate-monger Rush Limbaugh (among other celebrities). In response, the "newspaper of record" has received a number of complaints about its choice in spokesmodels. Many readers questioned the logic of hiring Limbaugh -- a bigot who eschews truth and objectivity -- to promote "The Times," a newspaper that professes the highest standards of journalism. Responding to those complaints, Alyse Myers -- promotion director for "The New York Times" -- explained: "The celebrities chosen were intended to represent a cross-section of opinions and viewpoints. The purpose is to demonstrate that 'The Times' can appeal to all people, not just those with similar likes and points of view." "I hope this explanation clarifies our advertising objectives for you," Myers concluded. Myers' explanation only clarifies the unfairness and hypocrisy of her newspaper's advertising campaign. Apparently, "all people" includes homophobes but not homosexuals. "The Times" TV ads didn't feature any lesbian, gay or bisexual celebrities. Why couldn't "The Times" have created a TV spot featuring lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge, lounging with her lover while reading the Sunday edition? Or how about a spot with Lea Delaria, searching the classifieds for her personal ad -- "Fierce Dyke Comedian Seeks Same?" The possibilities are endless, of course, but the point is quite basic. Until "The Times" includes lesbians and gays in its celebrity "cross-section," Myers' claims about pluralism are simply disingenuous. For the sake of consistency (if not integrity), the newspaper's promotions department should be encouraged to follow the lead of its newsroom staff ("The Times" has taken editorial stands in favor of lesbian/gay civil rights, and the paper recently hired an openly-gay reporter to cover the lesbian/gay beat). Write to Alyse Myers, Promotion Director, "The New York Times," 229 West 43 Street, New York, NY 10036. GOOD CHEER In terms of sheer pervasiveness, it's possible that "TV Guide" is second only to television itself as a potential shaper of beliefs and attitudes in the United States. "TV Guide" consistently tops the list of America's most widely-circulated magazines. In its December 24-30 issue, "TV Guide" features a cover story on "The Year in Cheers & Jeers." This eight-page article gives the magazine's "take on the winners, whiners, and weirdos that made '94 a year to tune in. Or in some cases . . . tune out." Significantly, "TV Guide's" year-end list includes two lesbian/gay references among its reasons to "tune in." The magazine's editors express "Real admiration for MTV's choice of Pedro Zamora as an inhabitant of 'The Real World.'" They note: "Zamora, who recently succumbed to AIDS, bravely educated his roommates -- and the rest of the world -- about the killer disease. Cheers to MTV, and to a World-class hero." The editors also gave a "Cheer" to Roseanne for -- among other things -- "playing kissy-face" with Mariel Hemingway in the much-publicized "lesbian kiss" episode of the "Roseanne" show. "TV Guide's" regular, weekly "Cheers & Jeers" column has also affirmed -- with relative frequency -- lesbian, gay and bisexual images on television. Cheers for these efforts can be sent to Anthea Disney, Editor-in-Chief, "TV Guide," Radnor, PA 19088 (if you want your comments considered for publication, send them to the "Letters Department" or e-mail tvgeditor@delphi.com). BAD PRESS The Associated Press (AP) is the nation's largest wire-service, disseminating news stories for use by media outlets around the globe. Unfortunately, however, the association doesn't have much good news to offer its own lesbian, gay and bisexual employees. AP has once again refused to adopt a corporate policy prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Associated Press announced that it will continue to arbitrate only those discrimination claims involving groups already protected by Federal law (which currently covers age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, disability or status as a Vietnam veteran). Adolphe Bernotas, chair of the negotiating team for the Wire Services Guild (the union that represents AP employees) is exasperated by the corporation's homophobic policy. "We find it disingenuous that AP would agree to abide by the law," Bernotas said, "The law doesn't protect gays and lesbians. That's why we want it in the contract." Let the Associated Press know that workplace bigotry is bad news! Write to All Members, Board of Directors, Associated Press, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020. MEDIA BRIEFS * Fun With Fundies: The American Family Association (AFA) -- an ultra-homophobic hate group -- is self-described as "a Christian organization promoting the biblical ethic of decency in American society with primary emphasis on TV and other media." Most recently, the AFA has begun offering "intensive out-patient counseling for individuals afflicted with pornography." For a mere $1,000, "porn addicts" get a week of counseling sessions and "exercise therapy." One can only imagine . . . . (For your free brochure & further information, contact AFA OutReach, P.O. Drawer 2440, Tupelo, MS 38803; e-mail AmFamily1@aol.com). * Preventing Cruelty: The recent issue (vol. 88, no. 4) of "Our Animals" magazine ("the award-wining journal of the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals," circulation 50,000) includes the positive portrayal of a gay couple and the cat they adopted, complete with a photograph of the loving family. Compliments to Paul Glassner, Editor, "Our Animals," SF/SPCA, 2500 Sixteenth St., S.F., CA 94103; tel. 415-554-3000. * A Queen's King: "Tinseltown's Queer!" is an independently-produced, Los Angeles-based TV series that has been described as everything from "A queen's version of Larry King" to "The queer equivalent of Oprah Winfrey." Producer Nicholas Snow describes the show's editorial mission this way: "To mobilize the entertainment industry into unceasing public advocacy of the Queer civil rights movement." For further information or to get on "Tinseltown's" mailing list, write to 7985 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 450, West Hollywood, CA 90046; tel. 818-771-7690, e-mail Ttownqueer@aol.com. * Special Writes: "Putting Out: The Essential Publishing Resource Guide for Lesbian and Gay Writers" indexes over 500 media outlets that publish or market lesbian/gay writing. Contact Cleis Press, P.O. Box 8933, Pittsburgh, PA 15221; tel. 412-937-1555. # # # # # # ## # # # # # ## # # # # # ## # # # # # # WE MUST CONFRONT THE MEDIA'S HOMOPHOBIA IN ORDER TO CURE IT! TO NOTIFY GLAAD/SFBA OF ANY DEFAMATORY OR AFFIRMATIVE MEDIA COVERAGE CALL OUR 24-HOUR MEDIA WATCH HOTLINE AT 415-861-4588, OR WRITE TO "MEDIA WATCH," GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION/SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CHAPTER, 1360 MISSION STREET, SUITE 200, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103; tel. 415-861-2244, fax 415-861-4893, e-mail GLAAD SFBA@AOL.COM. FOUNDED IN 1988, THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CHAPTER OF GLAAD IS A MEMBERSHIP-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CULTURAL ADVOCACY AND MEDIA ACTIVISM. GLAAD/SFBA PROMOTES THE FAIR, ACCURATE AND DIVERSE REPRESENTATION OF LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL LIVES IN ALL FORMS OF MASS MEDIA. __________________________________________________ "MEDIA WATCH" is a weekly report that may be published or posted without permission, provided that appropriate attribution is made to Al Kielwasser and/or GLAAD-SFBA. We greatly appreciate copies of any publications that use all or part of the "MEDIA WATCH." Thank you for your interest in and support of GLAAD's vital work!