THE BEST AND WORST OF NATIONAL NEWS

APRIL 2008

"The Best and Worst of National News” is a monthly publication that provides GLAAD's constituents and friends with an overview of recent praiseworthy and problematic print, television and radio coverage of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. The report encompasses stories from the national media as well as from major regional news outlets, and provides synopses, analyses and contact information so constituents can contact news outlets with messages of appreciation or concern.

THE BEST

Hartford Courant Spotlights the Tax Challenges Faced by Gay Families

In April, millions of Americans share in the stress of preparing tax returns.  However, as the Hartford Courant explained, gay couples can face additional challenges when filing their taxes.  In the March 26 article "Same-sex couple blocked by H & R," reporter Mark Pazniokas educated readers about the bureaucratic burdens still endured by those Connecticut gay couples who are in civil unions.  Pazniokas specifically focused on Jason Smith and Settimio Pisu, who were shocked to discover that H & R Block would not help people in legal civil unions file joint tax returns because the company's software was too outdated. Additionally, he reported about the ACLU's demand for the company to cease discriminating against couples in relationships recognized by their states and about competing tax preparation services that welcome gay people in legal relationships. By spotlighting this issue, Pazniokas illustrated how many companies and bureaucracies have yet to catch up with several states' legal recognition of civil unions and domestic partnerships, thus producing headaches for gay families - especially at tax time.

READ ARTICLE:
http://www.topix.com/content/trb/2008/03/same-sex-couple-blocked-by-h-r

TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact Mark Pazniokas and the Hartford Courant to thank them for educating readers about the tax challenges faced by gay families in civil unions.

CONTACT:
mpazniokas@courant.com
letters@courant.com

The Baltimore Sun Shares Stories of Clergy Who Support Marriage for Gay and Lesbian People

The media has been paying increasing attention to the many religious leaders who support equality for LGBT Americans.  Continuing this trend, The Baltimore Sun profiled the growing of number of clergy in Maryland and Virginia who are refusing to sign marriage licenses as agents of the state until marriage is legally available for gay and lesbian couples. In her in-depth March 31 article "From the altar, a vow of protest," reporter Rona Marech interviewed a rabbi and several Presbyterian pastors about the reasons they are standing up for marriage equality and the responses they've received from their congregants. Rev. David Ensign of Clarendon Presbyterian Church in Virginia explained that his church membership grew after his church made a decision in 2005 not to sign marriage licenses until marriage equality was achieved. "A lot of people were interested in what we were doing," Rev. Ensign said. "They were looking for a place that shared those commitments to justice and commitments to being an open and progressive Christian community."

READ ARTICLE:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.marriage31mar31,0,2635397.story

TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact Rona Marech and The Baltimore Sun to thank them for highlighting the stories of religious leaders who are taking a stand for marriage equality.

CONTACT:
rona.marech@baltsun.com
letters@baltsun.com

The New York Times Shares Inspiring Story of a Homeless Transgender Woman

The lives of homeless transgender and gay people are often rendered invisible in the national media. However, The New York Times has been doing a great service by introducing readers to the stories of homeless LGBT young adults during recent years.  Continuing to do so on March 30, The Times published a brief but moving article about a homeless 21-year-old transgender woman.  In "Finding Her Voice," reporter Chiara Goia profiled Nicole Von Valkenburg, who lives at Carmen's Place, a shelter for homeless LGBT young adults in Queens run by Episcopal priest Rev. Louis Braxton, Jr.  Goia discussed how Nicole - who had experienced a difficult and often despairing adolescence - has turned her life around at Carmen's Place since moving there in 2007. "He helped to build me up," Von Valkenburg said about Father Braxton, "to go out and be stronger." Goia concluded her poignant snapshot of Von Valkenburg by asking her what she hopes to be doing in 10 years. "Married to my boyfriend, adopting two children, have my own place, have a car, and going to school to become a nurse," Von Valkenburg replied.

READ ARTICLE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/nyregion/thecity/30tran.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact Chiara Goia and The New York Times to thank them for shedding light on the lives of homeless LGBT young adults.

CONTACT:
letters@nytimes.com

THE WORST

The Oklahoman Publishes Unbalanced Report About Sally Kern Controversy

Since Oklahoma Representative Sally Kern made headlines in March after telling a group of supporters "the homosexual agenda is destroying our nation," she has been the subject of continuing local media attention.  While The Oklahoman published an editorial criticizing Kern for standing by her anti-gay statements to garner more attention and support, the newspaper also published an unbalanced article about a pro-Kern rally in Oklahoma City.  In the April 3 article "Amid Controversy, Kern Gets Support," reporter Michael McNutt focused almost exclusively on statements made by Kern and her supporters.  One such supporter was Stephen Black, a so-called "ex-gay" minister whose advocacy of Kern's anti-gay views and belief in "ex-gay therapy" was not challenged by other perspectives in the article.  McNutt only quoted the president of a regional chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) who did not attend Kern's rally and whose comments had no direct relation to Kern's anti-gay rhetoric. While it is fair to provide Kern the opportunity to defend her anti-gay comments, journalists have a responsibility to fairly and accurately report on this story by making sure her views are questioned and balanced by people with different perspectives.

READ ARTICLE:
http://newsok.com/article/3224704/1207199956

TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact Michael McNutt and The Oklahoman and ask them to provide balanced coverage of the Sally Kern controversy in future articles.

CONTACT:
mmcnutt@oklahoman.com