Date: Mon, 2 Jan 1995 02:33:57 -0500 MEDIA WATCH for December 31, 1994 by AL KIELWASSER Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, San Francisco Bay Area MUSIC TO OUR EARS Historical books written for young readers regularly omit any lesbian or gay references; homophobia -- the collision of ignorance and fear -- is created out of this endless cycle of censorship. So whenever a "mainstream" book appears that begins to break that cycle, it is certainly an occasion worth noting. In mixture of simple text and colorful illustrations, Kathleen Krull's "Lives of the Musicians" explores the "fascinating facts and often humorous stories of twenty famous musicians -- people of all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and lifestyles, from various countries and historical periods, beginning with Vivaldi and ending with Woody Guthrie." The author describes the varied personal relationships that framed these musicians' lives, most of whom achieved creative genius without benefit of the much-proselytized "traditional family values" (which, the propagandists claim, are the sine qua non of success). About Tchaikovsky, Krull writes: "There are two stories about Tchaikovsky's death. Some say he carelessly drank unboiled water during a cholera epidemic, contracting the fatal disease. Others think he took poison because he was being blackmailed. Tchaikovsky was homosexual at a time when this was considered completely unacceptable socially, and members of the aristocracy were said to be threatening to expose him unless he killed himself." Perhaps in some more-enlightened classroom, children reading such a passage will be encouraged to consider not only how homophobia took a life, but how it may have robbed us all of musical masterpieces yet to be written. Krull's book is hardly a diary of who is or isn't gay in the musical world; her historical anecdotes wouldn't even qualify as probing. Nevertheless -- and most significantly -- she simply acknowledges the diversity that exists among the lives of famous musicians. But for taking that simple approach, her book has already provoked criticism (after much censorious hubbub, for example, the San Diego County Office of Education has judged the book fit only for "older," high-school students, though it is clearly written for a younger audience). Children's books that include fair and factual references to sexual orientation must constantly be recommended to local boards of education, so often the targets of Right Wing homophobes. In addition, authors of such books must be encouraged -- despite the demands of bigots -- to continue creating a literature of integrity and truth that is the right of every child. Feedback can be sent to Kathleen Krull/"Lives of the Musicians," c/o Harcourt Brace & Company, 525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101. AND THE BEAT GOES ON . . . Recent musical references also worth noting: Wayne Studer's "Rock on the Wild Side: Gay Male Images in Popular Music of the Rock Era" (Leyland Publications) is an intentionally-personal essay covering four decades of artists and their songs. With an emphasis on "classic rock," Studer analyzes lyrics for gay content. Will Grega's "Gay Music Guide" (Pop Front Press) is a catalog of contemporary queer pop. "More cultural information is passed through the pop music form than through all the information in books and magazines combined, and music information makes its point quicker and with greater repetition," Grega argues, "Pop music stands head-to-toe with film and TV as the biggest cultural influences of our time." VALUABLE GUIDANCE "NetGuide" is a slick new magazine billed as "The Guide to Online Services and the Internet." The January 1995 issue includes "Pink Triangle," a review of ten computer BBS sites "that cater to gay, lesbian and bisexual issues and interests." The thoughtful, illustrated overview covers everything from the Internet's "Queer Resources Directory" to America On-Line's "Gay and Lesbian Community Forum." Encouraging feedback may be directed to Patrice Adcroft, Editor-In-Chief, "NetGuide," 600 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, tel. 516-562-5000, fax 516-562-7406, e-mail netmail@netguide.cmp.com. VICTOR, VICTORIA, VICTORY ! Blake Edwards, producer of the upcoming Broadway show "Victor, Victoria," has asked that homophobic lyrics in one of the show's planned songs be changed. The song "You'd Be Surprised" will "either be reworked, so that it reflects the sensibilities of the movie, or it will not be in the show." Complaints from actors who had been asked to sing the song during auditions generated the public interest that motivated Edwards' intervention. The 1982 movie version of "Victor, Victoria" received praise in the lesbian/gay community for its positive message. However, the new song, written by lyricist Leslie Bricusse, contained lines such as, "If you knew who's a tough, but who's a real powder puff, you'd stand with your back to the wall," and "Til the laws are revised . . . convicts are compromised . . . Boy Scouts and choir boys terrorized." Direct comments to Blake Edwards, 11777 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 520, Los Angeles, CA 90049. KQED'S SPECIAL WRITERS A recent episode of KQED-TV's (Channel 9) "This Week in Northern California" -- the only regular news show produced by the Bay Area PBS station -- featured a segment on San Francisco's landmark legislation that outlaws discrimination against transgendered people. Introducing the segment, host Belva Davis described the new law as providing "special rights" for the City's transgendered citizens. Of course, the legislation protects the basic, civil rights of transgendered people and has nothing to do with "special rights," a category of mythical liberties created by homophobes. When Davis' shocking misnomer was brought to the station's attention, however, an on-air apology and correction were quickly promised. According to station representatives, the error was unintentional -- a scriptwriter's glitch that in no way represented the conscious use of false and misleading Right Wing rhetoric. Though the script error was unfortunate, KQED's swift response is certainly encouraging. Contact John Roszak, Producer and DeAnne Hamilton, Executive Producer, "This Week in Northern California," KQED-TV, 2601 Mariposa St., San Francisco, CA 94110, tel. 415-864-2000, fax 415-553-2456; copy your letters to Mary Bitterman, President, KQED, Inc., at the same address. MEDIA BRIEFS * Serious Film: "Just For Fun" is a new film, especially suited for teenagers, which examines issues surrounding homophobia and violence against gays and lesbians. For more information, contact Direct Cinema Limited, P.O. Box 10003, Santa Monica, CA 90410-1003, tel. 800-525-0000, fax 310-396-3233. * On-Line Support: Fans can lobby on-line to save "My So-Called Life" at savemscl@aol.com. The program -- at-risk for cancellation -- is currently the only network TV series to include a lesbian/gay/bisexual youth amongst the cast of regular characters. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 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, when 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!