News
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s
"The Best & Worst of National News"
October 2008
THE BEST
Op-ed in Chicago Sun-Times Voices Need for Inclusive Hate-Crime Legislation
The Chicago Sun-Times published an opinion piece reflecting on the prevalence of hate crimes against LGBT people at the 10-year remembrance of Mathew Shephard's murder. In his October 17 op-ed, "Expand hate-crimes law to cover transgender people," Ricky Garcia, the Public Policy Director of Equality Illinois, highlights the dangerous lack of comprehensive federal and statewide hate-crime legislation. Garcia draws upon his personal experience working in Illinois, and speaks to the need for gender identity to be included in the state's hate crimes law, which currently only encompasses sexual orientation. Most brutal attacks in the state have been against transgender people and those who do not fit traditional gender stereotypes. Garcia says, "unfortunately, as shown by the news, gay and transgender folks here in Illinois and across the country are too often the victim of brutal hate crimes."Â He also points to the recent murders of Lawrence King in California and Angie Zapata in Colorado as two tragic examples that highlight the dire need for inclusive state and federal hate crime legislation.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1226870,CST-EDT-open17.article
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact Ricky Garcia and the Chicago Sun-Times to thank them for drawing attention to the urgent need for inclusive hate crime legislation.
CONTACT:
Rick Garcia
Equality Illinois
RGarcia@EQIL.org
Chicago Sun-Times
http://www.suntimes.com/aboutus/feedback/index.html
Denver Post Shares Moving Story of Family's Loss
Monica Zapata, the sister of Angie Zapata, an 18-year-old woman who was brutally murdered in her home because she was transgender, shared her story in the Denver Post on October 7. In "Ten years after Matthew Shepard, no change," Monica paints a moving portrait of her sister Angie and the ramifications her murder has had on her family and friends. She calls upon readers to stop hate crimes, pointing out that not enough change has happened since Matthew's death, and that LGBT youth continue to be victims of hate-motivated violence. She says, "My sister and Matthew were both torn down in their prime. At the threshold of their lives, they were brutally torn down and denied the opportunity to achieve their hopes and dreams." Monica highlights the need for federal hate-crimes legislation and reminds readers that the time has come to end violence against LGBT people.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_10661633
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact the Denver Post to thank them for giving space to Monica Zapata's powerful story about her sister Angie and for encouraging readers to take a stand against hate.
CONTACT:
Denver Post
newsroom@denverpost.com
Associated Press Explores Experiences of Gay Seniors
The Associated Pressdrew attention to the estimated 2.5 million gay seniors in America and the challenges they face in an October 4 article titled, "Gay elders' distinctive challenges get a closer look." In his story reporter David Crary highlights the recent partnership between the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), and shares the stories of several LGBT seniors and how they have worked to overcome a lack of familial and institutional support. Ruth Juster, an 85-year-old lesbian Crary profiles, illuminates the need for increased outreach to gay and lesbian seniors, explaining, "Society looked down on us. A lot of people remained under the influence of that prejudice and kept their lives secret. We have to reach these seniors and let them know life is much different now. You have to speak up."
READ ARTICLE:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gbmzVvRgA33htx6YKPcbkfvQzTywD93JPUI00
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact David Crary and the Associated Press to thank them for increasing awareness about LGBT seniors and the challenges they face.
CONTACT:
David Crary
dcrary@ap.org
"Choice" Issue Debunked Los Angeles Times
Following Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's comments prior to the election implying that being gay is a "choice," the Los Angeles Times published an October 8 opinion piece by Nathaniel Frank titled, "Gay is a choice?" Frank, of the Michael Palm Center, a public policy group that works on LGBT issues, debunks the legitimacy of the choice argument. He says, "calling homosexuality a choice is the time tested way politicians signal their belief that it is the wrong choice." On Palin's assertion that her gay friend has made a choice to be gay, Frank writes, "if Palin's gay friend is like other gays and lesbians, her sexual orientation is neither a choice to be tolerated nor a sentence to be served. It's an expression of her freedom to be herself, a freedom that, as Palin said in the debate, 'is always just one generation away from extinction.'" Frank's op-ed is a reminder that rhetoric that inaccurately suggests sexual orientation is a choice can be used as a justification for discrimination and intolerance towards LGBT people.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-frank8-2008oct08,0,7682829.story
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact the Los Angeles Times to thank them for providing a space for this clear and convincing argument against the baseless assertion that being gay is a "choice" and the discrimination that is validated by this argument.
CONTACT:
Los Angeles Times
letters@latimes.com
THE WORST
Glenn Beck and James Dobson Make False Claims About Prop 8
Prior to the elections, an episode of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck featured an interview with James Dobson, head of the anti-gay organization Focus on the Family. The subject of the interview was Proposition 8, which since has passed, and will eliminate future marriages for same-sex couples in California. Beck and Dobson made repeated false and misleading claims about Prop 8, suggesting that if it was not passed churches would be called "organizations of hate." Dobson continued by saying "There's no question about it. If Proposition 8 fails, there will be a spate of lawsuit against churches …." Dobson then repeated discredited assertions about schools, saying, "all textbooks would have to be republished" and "everything in schools will change." By giving an uncontested platform to an anti-gay activist to state falsehoods about Prop. 8, CNN Headline News and Glenn Beck perpetuated the kind of fear and misinformation that contributed to the passage of Prop 8.
WATCH CLIP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRjM9cUSfvU
TAKE ACTION:
Glenn Beck, whose program will move to Fox News in 2009, has made repeated anti-LGBT remarks on his program. GLAAD urges you to contact the Fox News Channel and remind them that the LGBT community and our allies will continue to hold Beck accountable if he continues to make inaccurate and misleading claims about our community.
CONTACT:
Mr. John Moody
Senior Vice President, News Editorial
FOX News Channel
moody@foxnews.com
Ms. Sharri Berg
Senior Vice President, News Operations
FOX News Channel
sharri.berg@foxnews.com
Radio Station Gives Anti-Gay Activist Platform to Attack Transgender Youth
Kentucky News Talk radio station WKYX's gave Richard Nelson of the anti-gay group The Family Foundation of Kentucky a platform on the outlet's website to perpetuate misinformation about medical care for transgender youth. Nelson made a baseless and fallacious attack on Dr. Norman Spack, a pediatric endocrinologist in Boston who provides care and treatment to transgender youth. Nelson falsely claims both that the treatment is permanent and makes the false assertion that it is "the first step necessary for a sex-change operation." Expressing a blatant disregard for the struggles transgender children encounter, Nelson dispassionately states, "When little Johnny comes in for a checkup wearing a dress and women's jewelry, has it ever occurred to anybody, including his parents, that he should be told to wear pants and stop playing with Barbies?" These kinds of uninformed attacks disregard the expertise of medical and psychological professionals, and only serve to perpetuate distortions and fear of transgender people.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.wkyx.com/local-news-details.asp?NewsID=7927
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD urges you to contact WKYX news editors and tell them not to make cheap, sensational grabs for ratings by attacking transgender youth and deceiving audiences about medical decisions that they make with their families and doctors.
CONTACT:
WKYX News Email
news@wkyx.com
Dr. Phil Show Fails to Present a Fair and Accurate Dialogue on Transgender Children
On the October 29th episode of Dr. Phil, Dr. Phil McGraw interviewed transgender children and their parents. Also on the show to discuss gender identity were Dr. Dan Segal, a clinical psychologist from UCLA, and Glenn Stanton of the anti-LGBT organization Focus on the Family. While Segal's dialogue was backed by research and medical experience, Stanton was not a credited or unbiased source in any way. While we encourage informative dialogue, the Focus on the Family representative was not an expert on developmental issues or transgender children and should not have been presented as a professional counterpart to Dr. Segal. Stanton baselessly asserts that children develop transgender identities when their parents fail to enforce gender roles.Â
WATCH CLIP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqL1glxmSmQ
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact the Dr. Phil Show and voice your concerns about the platform afforded to the anti-LGBT organization, Focus on the Family, which allowed them to perpetuate misinformation about transgender children. Ask why producers presented Glenn Stanton as an equal counterpart to Dr. Dan Segal when Stanton lacks expertise or credentials in the fields of psychology, medicine or transgender issues.
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s
"The Best & Worst of National News"
September 2008
THE BEST
Newsweek Explores Unmet Needs of LGBT Seniors
Newsweek offered a compelling portrait of the unique challenges lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors face in the article, “Invisible and Overlooked,” published in the September 18 issue. The article, by Jessica Bennett, examines the myriad of inequalities that LGBT elders encounter, including lack of familial support systems, low rates of health insurance coverage and anti-gay attitudes when they attempt to access medical and social services. Bennett also points out some of the serious legal issues facing LGBT elders, including the inability to pass along Social Security and pension benefits to ensure that they can take care of their partners. In the article, Michael Adams, Executive Director of Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders (SAGE), eloquently describes the struggles aging LGBT people experience. “If you can imagine a situation where you're 80 years old, with no kids, a partner passed, no cousins or relatives and not one service that will provide you help with [a modicum] of respect, that's what most LGBT seniors in this country face right now.”
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/159509
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact Jessica Bennett and Newsweek and thank them for this informative piece which spotlights LGBT senior citizens, a vital, yet often neglected segment of our community
CONTACT:
Jessica Bennett
jessica.bennett@newsweek.com
Newsweek
WebEditors@newsweek.com
Dangers of So-called "Ex-Gay" Programs Illuminated by Op-Ed in the Anchorage Daily News
In light of the revelation that vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s former church in Wasilla, Alaska promotes so-called “ex-gay” conferences, the Anchorage Daily News published a September 22 op-ed titled, “Where is the love in trying to make gays go straight?” This passionate opinion piece by Alaska American Civil Liberties Union Policy Coordinator Tiffany McClain points out the concrete harms that are caused by these anti-gay activists, referencing the American Psychological Association’s findings that “ex-gay” programs are harmful to those subjected to them, and cause depression, anxiety and self-destructive behaviors. McClain says that they validate “social prejudices that lead to acts of discrimination, harassment and violence.” She goes on to communicate that, “these acts cause far more mental harm to gays and lesbians – and do more harm to our democracy – than allowing law-abiding citizens to live their lives equally, honestly, and without fear – regardless of their sexual orientation.”
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.adn.com/opinion/compass/story/534077.html
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact Tiffany McClain and the Anchorage Daily News to thank them for giving their readers vitally important information about dangerous programs designed to divide and destroy loving families, alienate gay people from their faith, and make it harder for loving, committed couples to take care of each other.
CONTACT:
Tiffany McClain
tmcclain@akclu.org
Anchorage Daily News
newsroom@adn.com
Miami Herald Shares Struggles and Joys of Gay Adoptive Father
The Miami Herald published a moving portrait of a Florida family in its September 24 edition. The article, “A gay father finds victory in his family,” focuses on Wayne LaRue Smith, an openly gay man who, after much struggle, was finally able to adopt the foster son he has raised for the past 7 years. Reporter Carol Marbin Miller focuses attention to Florida’s ban on adoption by openly gay parents, a law that has been on the books since 1977. The Monroe Circuit Court ruling successfully challenged the 1977 ban making Smith only the second openly gay person to be granted an adoption in the state. Miller captures what the adoption means to Smith, his partner and their son, quoting Smith who says, “we’re just more of a solidified family now.” While this is a victory for one family, it may not immediately have an effect on the ban on adoption by gay parents, leaving many other Florida families unable to have the same resolution.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/top-stories/story/698941.html
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD urges you to contact Carol Marbin Miller and the Miami Herald to thank them for showing the impact the Florida ban on adoption by openly gay parents has on families throughout the state.
CONTACT:
Carol Marbin Miller
cmarbin@MiamiHerald.com
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/contact-us/
Consequences of Church Rejection Explored by Pocono Record
The Pocono Record in Northeast Pennsylvania took a look at the painful rejection one Pennsylvania family endured when trying to join a local Lutheran church in Hamilton Township. In the September 18 article “Family struggles with church rejection,” reporter Howard Frank tells the story of Stephen Rivera and Nicholas Barthold, a gay couple who, along with their four adopted children, were rejected when they tried to join the Christ Hamilton Lutheran Church. Before they moved, the family had been active church members in their Bronx, N.Y. Lutheran church, but when they tried to join Christ Hamilton they were told they were not welcome because they are gay. The family has not attended church since then, and they decided to go public with their story after learning that the pastor who had rejected them was retiring. Barthold explained that while society has gotten better for gay headed families and that he and his family “have lived a charmed life,” he believed that they, “still live as second-class citizens.”
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080918/NEWS/809180318/-1/NEWS01
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact Howard Frank and the Pocono Record to thank them for offering this informative piece that sheds light on the rejection many gay families encounter within communities of faith.
CONTACT:
Howard Frank
hfrank@poconorecord.com
Pocono Record
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=INTERACT
THE WORST
Fox and Friends Provides Platform for Anti-Gay Spokesperson to Insult MSNBC's Rachel Maddow
On September 9, Fox and Friends gave Tim Graham, of the anti-gay organization the Media Research Center, a platform to make an insulting reference to MSNBC host Rachel Maddow. The recent premiere of The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC marked a milestone in cable news history, as Maddow is the first openly gay woman to host a primetime news program. Graham was speaking of the “damage done” to MSNBC by having Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews host the cable network’s election coverage when he said with a sharp disdainful tone, “Not only is the damage already done, the damage continues. Not only are they keeping these people on for an hour a night, they’re adding this lesbian Air America radio host, Rachel Maddow, on every night…” While many have mentioned Maddow’s sexual orientation, Graham’s condescending tone and irrelevant use of Maddow’s orientation did not add anything to his argument and only served to highlight his anti-gay bias.
WATCH CLIP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klKvaKWm26Y
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD urges you to contact Fox and Friends producers and voice your concerns about Tim Graham’s comments which imply that the presence of an openly gay talk show host is causing “damage” to MSNBC.
CONTACT:
Fox & Friends
friends@foxnews.com
Fox's Greg Gutfeld Offends LGBT People Yet Again, Unnecessarily Insulting Transgender People
Earlier this year he took a jab at Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi about their marriage telling them to “shut the hell up about it.” In his September 17 blog titled “Moveable Feast: A Modest Suggestion for the United Nations,” Fox News Red Eye host Greg Gutfeld ranted about United Nations diplomats saying, “These bloated bureaucrats would learn more in two days ducking for cover in Liberia, than two weeks trying to pick up transvestite hookers in Times Square.” Using the phrase “transvestite hookers,” was offensive and unnecessary to include in his criticisms of the UN.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,423927,00.html
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact Greg Gutfeld and voice your concerns about his continued lack of respect for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
CONTACT:
Greg Gutfeld greg.gutfeld@foxnews.com
GLAAD’s "The Best & Worst of National News"
August 2008
THE BEST
New York Times Op-Ed Debunks Legitimacy of Olympics "Sex Test"
In an op-ed titled "The XY Games" published on August 3, acclaimed transgender author Jennifer Finney Boylan critically examined the tests used to determine gender in many prominent athletic competitions. In reaction to the ruling of the Beijing Olympics organizers to set up a "gender determination lab," specifically designed to test female athletes "suspected" of being male, Boylan pointed out the illegitimacy of chromosomal testing, saying that these tests "measure maleness and femaleness by the wrong yardsticks." In light of this, Boylan calls for an end to these discriminatory tests, saying that gender "is malleable and elusive, and we need to become comfortable with this fact, rather than afraid of it." Boylan points out the possibly tragic results these tests can have, such as the global humiliation and subsequent suicide attempt of runner Santhi Soundarajan who "failed" such a test at the 2006 Asian Games.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/opinion/03boylan.html?_r=2&sq=transgender&st=cse&oref
=slogin&scp=4&pagewanted=all
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to email Jennifer Finney Boylan and The New York Times and commend them on addressing the discriminatory practice of gender tests in the Olympic and athletic communities.
CONTACT:
Jennifer Finney Boylan
jennyboylan@aol.com
The New York Times
letters@nytimes.com
Gay Couple's Immigration Struggle Reported by the Wisconsin State Journal
Melanie Conklin of the Wisconsin State Journal highlighted the serious losses communities all over the country are facing because of the lack of federal recognition for same-sex marriages. In the article "Immigration law separates same-sex couple" Conklin shares the story of Pamela Hathaway and Lucie Ferrera, a bi-national couple living in Wisconsin. Hathaway and Ferrera married in Canada last January, and as they are unable to gain spousal immigration rights, the couple has been forced to move to Canada to stay together. Conklin shows how Hathaway and Ferrera's friends and neighbors are trying to come to terms with her departure, and describes the couple's hopes that the laws will change so they can come back to their home.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/top/300361
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact the Wisconsin State Journal and Melanie Conklin and thank them for drawing attention to the struggles bi-national gay and lesbian couples face due to immigration laws and the lack of federal recognition for their relationships.
CONTACT:
Melanie Conklin
mconklin@madison.com
Wisconsin State Journal Editor, Ellen Foley
efoley@madison.com
Portrait of Young Gay Orthodox Jewish Woman Published by the Detroit Free Press
On August 12, the Detroit Free Press ran the article "Student finds courage in her art," by Christy Duan, about a young Orthodox Jewish gay woman and her journey towards self-acceptance. Duan describes Naomi Zaslow's process of reconciling her sexual orientation with her Orthodox Jewish upbringing, quoting the young artist about her decision to come out. Zaslow says, "sometimes you do need to take the risk. There are places where you can find support. Things do get better." Zaslow's recent senior art showcase focuses on her multi-faceted identity. Duan highlights her success, giving hope to other young LGBT people as they strive to find acceptance and images of themselves within their religious communities and families.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/NEWS05/808120400/1007/NEWS05
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to email Christy Duan of the Detroit Free Press and thank her for providing insight into the experiences of a young Orthodox Jewish gay woman and helping readers to learn from her journey.
CONTACT:
Christy Duan
elhill@freepress.com
Reuters Draws Attention to Anti-Gay Attitudes Prevalent in Olympic Athletic World
In an August 18 Reuters article, Paul Majendie draws attention to the fact that only 10 of the 10,500 athletes competing in Beijing during this summer's Olympics are openly gay. The article explained that many athletes fear coming out and facing disapproval from fans and teammates. Majendie points out that the lack of openly gay athletes creates an environment in which being a gay athlete is perceived to be a deterrent to success. The lack of encouragement for openly gay athletes permeates through the world of athletics, and is rarely given the much needed attention Majendie offers with this article. He details some of the tangible consequences athletes could face if they come out, such as lost endorsement deals and unwanted media attention distracting them from their performances.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.reuters.com/article/olympicsNews/idUSPEK5913220080818?pageNumber=1&virtual
BrandChannel=0&sp=true
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to email Paul Majendie of Reuters and thank him for bringing attention to the prevalence of anti-gay attitudes in the world of athletic competition.
CONTACT:
Paul Majendie
Paul.majendie@thomsonreuters.com
THE WORST
Chicago Tribune Runs Defamatory Op-Ed Defending ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy
On August 14, the Chicago Tribune published an Op-Ed by Elaine Donnelly, president of a group that calls itself the Center for Military Readiness. Donnelly is a vocal opponent of allowing gay service members to serve in the military, and breathlessly claims that if the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" ban is lifted, there will be "forced cohabitation with professed (not discreet) homosexuals, in all military communities, 24/7." Donnelly's baseless scare tactics dishonor many thousands of courageous, loyal and patriotic service members, at the same time as the ban continues to put our country at risk by discharging essentials service members just because they're gay. While substantive discussion about the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban is important, the Chicago Tribune offered instead little more than fear-based hyperventilation from a predictably virulent anti-gay activist.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0814gayaug14,0,5487863.story
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD urges you to contact the Chicago Tribune and voice your concerns. Urge them to promote a discussion about the real-world impact of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban, and ask them to bring voices to the table that can credibly address the ways in which it puts our nation's security at risk.
CONTACT:
Chicago Tribune, Letter to the Editor
ctc-tribletter@tribune.com
Rush Limbaugh Insults Rachel Maddow After She is Named Host on MSNBC
Rush Limbaugh made insulting comments about Rachel Maddow, the popular openly gay political commentator who will be hosting her own show on MSNBC this September. On his August 20th radio show broadcast, Limbaugh mentioned Maddow's new show. Referencing Dan Abrams, whose time slot Maddow will be taking over, Limbaugh joked that, "he's losing his show to somebody with more testosterone than he has." Limbaugh's juvenile remarks were uncalled for, and
made Maddow's sexual orientation the punch line of the joke.
READ TRANSCRIPT:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_082008/content/01125110.guest.html
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD urges you to email Clear Channel and its CEO Mark Mays and ask them to hold Rush Limbaugh accountable for his comments.
CONTACT:
Mark Mays
markpmays@clearchannel.com
Mike Galanos Sensationalizes So-Called "Dangerous" Trend of Girls Kissing Girl
In his August 25th broadcast on CNN Headline News, Prime News host Mike Galanos led a sensationalized segment about a so-called "devastating" trend of girls kissing girls. Drawing on the popularity of pop singer Katy Perry's hit song "I Kissed A Girl" as evidence of a widespread crisis for teenage girls, Galanos reported that girls are experimenting with other girls solely to garner male attention. He repeatedly refers to this trend as "devastating," "dangerous," and "disturbing." While the intention was to highlight the need to garner positive self-esteem in teenage girls, Galanos relies on stereotypes to create hysteria and shock his viewers, and fails to include young lesbian and bi women in his analysis.
WATCH CLIP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEZ1ElTM9fk
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD urges you to contact CNN and Mike Galanos to call for an apology for these sensational statements, which aimed to create unwarranted fear and perpetuate misconceptions around lesbian and bi teenagers. Â
CONTACT:
Prime News
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?83
Mike Galanos
michael.galanos@turner.com
(404) 827-1500
GLAAD’s "The Best & Worst of National News"
July 2008
THE BEST
Washington Post Examines Needs of LGBT Youth
Since the murder of 15-year-old Lawrence King was first reported in late February, the need for comprehensive support systems for middle and high school LGBT students has been spotlighted. Most recently, Theresa Vargas' July 14th Washington Post article, "Owning His Gay Identity: at 15 Years Old," shared the story of Saro Harvey, a 15 year old from Virginia who has been openly gay since middle school. This respectful and detailed examination of what it means to be openly gay in middle and high school points out the lack of supportive schools with inclusive anti-bullying policies and the presence of Gay-Straight Alliances. Saro Harvey's story of bravery is touching and encourages readers to remember the importance of making sure that schools are a welcoming and safe environment for all.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/13/AR2008071302066.html
Reuters Profiles the Struggles of Binational Couples
Mary Milliken's Reuters article, "Gay Marriage: Until Deportation Do Us Part?" shed light on risks binational couples face because of the lack of immigration access for gay and lesbian couples. Milliken highlighted the story of Rita Boyadijian, a California resident who must move out of the country in order to stay with her German partner whose student visa will soon run out. Boyadijian's story put a powerful face on the losses we face as a country due to the lack of marriage recognition for same-sex couples, and pointed out the urgent need for reform to address these problems.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUKN3042260120080702?pageNumber=1
&virtualBrandChannel=0
ABC News Offers In-Depth Look at Challenges and Triumphs of LGBT Students
This month ABC News offered a detailed look at how to ensure LGBT middle school students are given all the opportunities necessary to flourish. In "Young Teens Openly Express Sexuality; LGBT Pre-Teens Proud, Not Safe," Susan Donaldson James examined the importance of respecting younger teens' recognition of their orientation, and supporting them through this process. The article called for implementation of teacher training to prevent bullying, which too often leads to physical violence if left unaddressed. James also tracked the growth of gay-straight alliance (GSA) clubs in recent years, noting that while 110 now exist at the middle school level nationwide, an increase may be helpful in the effort to create safe and effective schools for all students.
READ ARTICLE:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Sex/Story?id=5381271&page=1
Washington Post Examines Challenges for Gay Hispanic people with HIV
The week before President Bush signed the bill lifting the United States' ban on visitors and immigrants who are HIV-positive, The Washington Post article "AIDS Among Latinos on Rise," presented compelling portraits of three Mexican immigrants affected by HIV. Reporter Ceci Connolly highlighted the need for better policies to address the growing rate of Hispanic HIV infection, such as increased Spanish-language health initiatives. The article also emphasized the negative effects of the immigration ban on HIV-positive people, pointing out that fear of deportation often leads to late diagnoses and lack of treatment.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/22/AR2008072202837.html
THE WORST
Offensive Coverage of Transgender People by Boston Herald
A story by Jessica Van Sack of the Boston Herald published in the July 8th edition of the paper repeatedly used offensive slurs to describe transgender people. The article, titled "Undercover 'John' Takes on Trannies, Pimps," focused on one Boston-area detective's undercover investigations among sex workers. The article opens by describing how the detective has been "trapped inside houses of ill repute by giant naked trannies" and goes on the repeatedly refer to transgender women as "trannies." Such slurs are unacceptable in any credible news outlet. Together with the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), GLAAD issued a Call to Action on July 11th, encouraging people to contact the Boston Herald and Jessica Van Sack to call for an apology. To date, the paper has been unresponsive.
READ EXCERPT:
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1105340
Denver Daily News Publishes False Claims Regarding Children of Gay and Lesbian Couples
On July 15th, the Denver Daily News published an article written by Peter Marcus Marcus, titled, "Gay Parents= Gay Kids?" The story reports that 21percent of children raised by gay and lesbian parents will be gay or lesbian themselves, and that these children will also have a more difficult time fitting into society. This statistic is based on a biased review by Dr. Trayce L. Hansen, of studies done concerning children raised by gay and lesbian parents. Dr. Hansen has drawn fire in the past for attempting to pass off anti-gay beliefs as science and has been refuted by mainstream developmental psychologists. To back up Dr. Hansen's claims, Marcus quotes Dr. Bill Maier, a psychologist, from the anti-gay group, Focus on the Family, a well-known opponent of protections for gay and lesbian couples. The story sparked many reactions, which resulted in a response article published by the Denver Daily News the following day. Together with the GLBT Community Center of Denver and Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE), GLAAD contacted Marcus and assisted him in obtaining sources for his follow-up, "Gay Kids Study Wrong?," which offered the counter opinion of a representative from the GLBT Community Center. While this is to be commended, a debate pitting one side against another was unnecessarily ignited by initially publishing a so-called evaluation on research from a biased source and backing it up with quotes from the notoriously anti-gay group, Focus on the Family.
READ ARTICLES:
http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=1117
http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=1131
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact Peter Marcus and the Denver Daily News and voice your concerns about this lapse in journalistic integrity.
CONTACT:
Peter Marcus
news@thedenverdailynews.com
Rick Santorum Attacks the LGBT Community in Op-Ed Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer
On July 3, The Philadelphia Inquirer ran an opinion piece by Rick Santorum regarding Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter's decision to stop subsidizing the Boy Scouts' rent due to their discriminatory policies toward gay people. The Boy Scouts' refusal to allow membership of gay Scouts and Scout leaders violates Philadelphia's non-discrimination laws. Santorum pits LGBT advocates for equality and the Boy Scouts against one another, claiming that LGBT advocates are somehow opposed to basic moral issues such as loyalty, courteousness, kindness, and braveness. Santorum also wrongly asserts that Mayor Nutter and the City of Philadelphia are "bowing to gay special interests over the interest of the safety of the city" when in fact the change in policy regarding the Boy Scouts' rent assures that city law is being followed.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080703_The_Elephant_in_the_Room__Boy_Scouts
_could_ease_city_woes__leave_them_alone.html
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD urges you to contact Rick Santorum and The Philadelphia Inquirer and voice your concerns about Santorum's ill-informed op-ed published on July 3.
CONTACT:
Rick Santorum
rsantorum@phillynews.com
oped@phillynews.com
GLAAD’s "The Best & Worst of National News"
June 2008
THE BEST
Houston Chronicle Captures the Voices of LGBT Youth
In a refreshing look at the hopes and struggles of LGBT youth, The Houston Chronicle published a June 23 article, “A better reception to being ‘out.’” Reporter Maggie Galehouse contemplated the potential effects of marriage in California on young LGBT people in the Houston. “We all want to be able to love who we love—and be respected,” said A’Ja Lyons. But as Galehouse went on to report, that respect is still hard to come by for many. A recent survey by GLSEN revealed that 90 percent of LGBT teens were victims of harassment or assault last year. But at the same time—and on a much brighter note—Galehouse reported that many LGBT teens recognize a growth in acceptance for their generation compared to generations past.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5851266.html
Los Angeles Times Profiles One Committed Couple’s Journey to Marriage
Amidst the flood of media attention that came from California this month, Francisco Vara-Orta’s Los Angeles Times story on the ups and downs of one gay couple as they hurriedly planned for their California wedding stood out as a rich portrait. The June 16 article, “For one same-sex couple, marriage was always the goal,” took readers through the flurry of preparation and planning required for Paul Waters and Kevin Voecks, who were thrilled finally to have the opportunity to exchange vows after committing to one another so many years ago. “This is the statement we've waited for 15 years to make,” Voecks said. The story reported that with a mere 13 days to plan an entire wedding, Waters and Voecks wanted to take the first opportunity to wed on June 17th, even in the face of the impending November ballot initiative that could potentially write a ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples into California’s constitution. Vara-Orta concluded the piece by giving readers the option to follow the couple as they make a lifelong commitment to one another, at www.latimes.com/couple.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-couple16-2008jun16,0,7346872.story
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Spotlights Lessening Isolation for LGBT People in Rural Areas
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published a moving story on the LGBT community in Washington County, Pa., in its June 18 edition. L.A. Johnson’s article, “Out in the country; rural gays feel less isolated today, but stigma remains,” chronicled the journey of Patrick Arena, who grew up in the area during the 1960’s and was ridiculed and harassed for being gay. He left in the 1970’s to seek refuge in New York City, but eventually returned home to care for an ailing parent and found that the climate for LGBT people had not improved significantly. “I thought that things would have changed somewhat in those 25-plus years. I found that there’s a lot of homophobia here and it hadn’t changed as much as I’d hoped it had.” Thankfully, the story noted, there is now a Gay-Straight Alliance for youth in Washington County, although many young LGBT people in the area still experience harsh rejection from their parents after coming out. One Washington County teen, Patrick Cameron, eventually came out at school and became comfortable enough to talk about it in class and went to a homecoming dance with the young man he was dating. Cameron says, "You can live in Washington, Pa., have a huge community of friends on the Internet and not be isolated and get the support that you need. It's just really a phenomenal thing."
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08170/890608-51.stm
THE WORST
New York Post Cartoon Takes an Immature Swing at Gay Couples
In the June 5 edition, the New York Post printed yet another immature, inane cartoon by Sean Delonas, this one containing a clueless swipe at marriage for gay couples. On the heels of the California decision extending marriage to gay and lesbian couples, openly gay actor George Takei announced his upcoming marriage to his partner in California. Delonas depicts characters from the original Star Trek series, on which Takei played Sulu. The scene shows Sulu getting married with his colleague Spock saying, “Totally Illogical, Captain,” as the other crew members of the imaginary USS Enterprise look on in disbelief.
VIEW CARTOON:
http://www.glaad.org/2008/Images/DelonasCartoon060508.jpg
O’Reilly Makes Two Swipes at Gay and Lesbian People in June
Even after he was awarded the dubious “Pink Brick Award” in early June—Bill O’Reilly, host of FOX NEWS’ The O’Reilly Factor, still managed to do two more faulty segments on LGBT issues in June. He started off his run of out of touch, clueless jabs on the June 9 edition saying that if bans on marriage for gay couples are lifted, “plural” marriages should be permitted. And during the June 20 airing of The O’Reilly Factor, the host and his guests deconstructed the British Heinz mayonnaise commercial which featured a kiss between two men. Heinz pulled the ad after receiving complaints. O’Reilly claimed that the commercial was “obviously a gay thing” and that he doesn’t know what the message is other than “gay people like mayonnaise.” He went onto say, “I just want mayonnaise. I don’t want two guys kissing.”
VIEW JUNE O’OREILLY CLIPS:
Fox News: The O'Reilly Factor
June 9, 2008
View this clip.
Fox News: The O'Reilly Factor
June 20, 2008
View this clip.
Rush Limbaugh Directs Vulgar Comments at African American and Gay Voters
On his June 23 broadcast, nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh made crude comments directed at gay and African American voters. Media Matters for America released audio of the remarks in which Limbaugh said that Democrats will “bend over, grab the ankles, and say, ‘Have your way with me’” to African American and gay voters. Limbaugh then asked why Democrats don’t say “To hell with you, you wacko nuts in the base.” GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano reacted in a media release, saying, “These sorts of crass diatribes aren’t surprising coming from Rush Limbaugh, but it’s still important for people to call these comments what they are – ugly, crude and unacceptable.” Rush Limbaugh’s radio program has an estimated audience of nearly 13.5 million weekly listeners. It is syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, which is a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications.
LISTEN TO CLIP:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200806240008?f=h_latest
GLAAD’s "The Best & Worst of National News"
May 2008
THE BEST
USA Today Highlights Couples’ Positive Reactions to California Marriage Ruling
USA Today captured the joy of the moment following the California Supreme Court marriage decision in its May 16 article, “Gay Couples 'Ecstatic' Over Ruling.” USA Today reporter Janet Kornblum took the reader to the heart of San Francisco’s Castro District and to the steps of San Francisco City Hall to capture the reaction of exuberant gay and lesbian couples, as well as San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. “I think it’s wonderful,” said Phyllis Lyon, a plaintiff in the case who plans to legally marry her partner of 55 years, Del Lyon. The story noted that many in San Francisco were thrilled about the ruling despite the mood being slightly tempered by a proposed amendment to ban marriage for gay couples. Mayor Newsom inspired the crowd with his positive outlook for what lies ahead. “What a day in San Francisco,” Mayor Newsom said. “What a day in California. What a day for America. What a day for equality. This is an extraordinary moment and an extraordinary time. It’s about human dignity. It’s about civil rights. It’s about time. And by the way, as California goes, so goes the rest of the nation.”
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-15-gay-couples_N.htm
Los Angeles Times Spotlights the Achievements of Nepal’s First Openly Gay Politician
While journalists discuss the increasing numbers of openly LGBT Americans running for office, they can sometimes overlook the fascinating stories of pioneering LGBT politicians in other countries. Refreshingly, the Los Angeles Times recently focused its attention on the amazing strides toward equality made by LGBT people in the socially conservative, poverty-stricken nation of Nepal. In the May 2 article “Great Leap Forward for Nepal’s Gays,” reporter Henry Chu profiled openly gay politician Sunil Pant, who is leading one of the most successful LGBT advocacy movements in South Asia. Pant founded the Blue Diamond Society, which has won a groundbreaking anti-discrimination ruling in Nepal’s Supreme Court, bolstered support for and recognition of the LGBT community from the nation’s largest political parties, and protested anti-LGBT violence committed by security forces. Chu’s article provided readers with an in-depth background on Nepal’s social culture and on the evolution of the Blue Diamond Society from a health-focused organization to a remarkably effective advocate for the LGBT community. As Nepal drafts a new constitution and prepares for a democratic transition, Pant noted, “[LGBT people] have a golden opportunity to raise our voice and contribute to this country. This is a struggle I think this generation has to do, about being brave and honest.”
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/asia/la-fg-nepalgay2-2008may02,0,3449459.story
The Detroit News Shares the Inspiring Work of Openly Gay Bishop Gene Robinson
With the first openly gay Episcopal Bishop, Gene Robinson, releasing a new book about his journey coming out as a gay Christian, The Detroit News published a moving column by Deb Price about Robinson’s commitment to a more broadly inclusive Episcopal church, the world’s third largest Christian denomination. Price’s May 6 article, “Bishop Urges Gays to Walk Into Faith Storms,” provided readers with a succinct overview of Robinson’s life story and discussed his current work to encourage LGBT people to become visible in their places of worship. “Instead of giving up on our religious communities, let’s think about taking the risks and bearing the burdens of transforming them,” Robinson said. Revealing the risks that Robinson has taken, Price made sure to educate readers about the continued death threats he faces because of his visibility. Inspired by the fact that, despite these threats, Robinson remains committed to achieving equality for LGBT people in his church, Price concluded, “Bishop Robinson’s courageous life demonstrates the spiritual rewards of refusing to run for cover if your conscience tells you that you mustn’t flee the storm.”
READ ARTICLE:
http://detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/OPINION03/805050340/1007/OPINION
THE WORST
Fox News Radio’s John Gibson Mocks MSNBC Analyst and Air America Radio Host Rachel Maddow For Being a Lesbian
Earlier in the year, Fox News Radio host John Gibson was widely condemned for using the death of Heath Ledger as an occasion to mock his passing and make tasteless anti-gay jokes about the Brokeback Mountain star. After GLAAD issued an action alert against him, Gibson apologized for his comments. However, Gibson continues to make anti-gay jokes, recently mocking MSNBC analyst and Air America Radio host Rachel Maddow. On the May 2 broadcast of Fox News Radio’s The John Gibson Show, Gibson aired an audio clip of Maddow, who is openly gay, discussing the impact of Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s public comments on Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign. Instead of actually addressing Maddow’s comments about Rev. Wright, Gibson aired an audio clip of someone saying, “Oh, lesbians! Yummy!” It is unfortunate that Fox News Radio continues to provide Gibson with a platform to mock a respected commentator for being openly gay rather than engaging in meaningful discussion about her opinion.
LISTEN TO AUDIO/READ TRANSCRIPT:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200805020002
Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor Presents Unbalanced, Disparaging Discussion of California Marriage Decision
On the morning of May 15, the California Supreme Court ruled that the state’s ban on marriage for gay and lesbian residents violated the state constitution. That evening, Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor weighed in on the historic ruling with a one-sided and inaccurate discussion between host Bill O’Reilly and Fox News’ America’s Newsroom co-anchor Megyn Kelly. Since both O’Reilly and Kelly voiced their disapproval of the court’s decision, the program failed to provide viewers with the perspective of those who support the ruling or the committed couples whose lives will be positively impacted by it. To make matters worse, Kelly made defamatory comparisons between marriage for gay couples and polygamy and incest. Kelly’s inaccurate and unwarranted comparisons went unchallenged by O’Reilly and turned the already inane discussion of the California ruling into an unprofessional and mean-spirited attack on the dignity of committed gay and lesbian couples.
Fox News’ Red Eye Continues to Make Juvenile and Inaccurate Attacks on Gay and Transgender People
FOX News Channel’s late-night show Red Eye continues to feature juvenile, sophomoric jabs at LGBT people. On May 20, host Greg Gutfeld and his guests grossly misrepresented serious medical concerns faced by transgender youth in a highly biased discussion of a clinic in Boston that serves young transgender people. Gutfeld and his guests reduced the complex and sensitive subject of transition and transgender identity into “turn a hole into a pole.” Furthermore, the host Greg Gutfeld criticized Ellen DeGeneres for announcing her upcoming wedding to partner Portia de Rossi following California’s landmark ruling extending marriage to gay and lesbian couples in the Golden State, saying Ellen should “shut the hell up about it.”
FAQs: Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions from the Media
- 1. How many lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) students exist in today's schools?
- According to a 2004 national poll commissioned by GLSEN, approximately 5% of America's high school students identify as lesbian or gay or roughly 3/4 million students nationwide. This percentage would translate to, on average, every classroom in America having at least one student who identifies as lesbian or gay and a majority of students in the classroom knowing at least one gay or lesbian person, whether it be a teacher, a classmate or a family member.
- 2. What is the average age of coming-out for LGBT youth?
- "Coming out," or acknowledging one's identity as lesbian, gay or bisexual, is an on-going developmental process. Thus, academic researchers often find it useful to distinguish between different stages of "coming out." The age when one is first aware of having same-sex attraction is typically lower than the age when one identifies as lesbian, gay or bisexual. Data from recent studies on LGB adolescents suggest that the age of first awareness may range from 8 to 11 years on average, and the age of identifying as LGB may range from 15 to 17 years on average. (Source: Savin-Williams, R. C. and Diamond, L. M. (2000) "Sexual identity trajectories among sexual-minority youths: Gender comparisons." Archives of Sexual Behavior, 29, 607-627.)
- Since 1999, GLSEN has conducted the National School Climate Survey, a biennial survey of self-identified LGBT youth about their experiences in school. In these surveys, the average age of LGBT youth participating has been between 16 and 17 years old and the ages range from 12 to 20. The age at which these students first self-identified as LGBT would most likely be 16 or younger on average. It is important to note that the average age of "coming out" is a bit elusive. In studies that are done with youth and young adults, the average age of coming out will be younger than if we did a study with a general cross-section of the general LGBT community given that some people do not "come out" until adulthood.
- 3. How bad is the bullying problem for LGBT students? What's the impact on LGBT youth?
- Violence, bullying and harassment are the rule and not the exception in America's schools. According to GLSEN's 2003 National School Climate Survey, 4 out of 5 LGBT students hear homophobic remarks often in their schools, 39% of LGBT students report being verbally or physically assaulted, often with a weapon and transgender students reported physical harassment 30% more than students that identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual and nearly 1 out of 3 LGBT students skipped school in the past month because they were simply too afraid to go.
- 4. How many Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are there in the United States?
- More than 3,000 student clubs, commonly known as gay-straight alliances, are registered with GLSEN. This number does not serve as an exact number for how many exist. Many student groups work on LGBT issues but are not named GSAs, while other student clubs may exist without having the information to be in touch with GLSEN or choose not to register with us.
- 5. What is the effect of inclusive, anti-bullying policy on LGBT students?
- According to our National School Climate Survey, students who did not have (or did not know of) a policy protecting them from violence and harassment were nearly 40% more likely to skip schools than those who did: 36.5% of LGBT students who said their school did not have a specific harassment policy skipped class in the last month because they felt unsafe, with that number dropping to 26.6% among LGBT students who know that there is some sort of harassment policy in place to protect them. Also, according to the data, students are more likely to report incidences of violence, bulling and harassment when a policy was in place.
Information taken from GLSEN.