Thursday, December 3, 2009

Contact:

Richard Ferraro
Director of Public Relations
(646) 871-8011
ferraro@glaad.org

GLAAD Urges Community to Contact ABC Over Cancellation
of Adam Lambert’s Performances

“We appreciate ABC’s commitment to gay and transgender inclusion in other programming,” said Jarrett Barrios, President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. “However, let us be clear that GLAAD remains steadfast in our assertion that Adam Lambert is being subjected to a double standard by ABC as an openly gay performer. We do not support ABC cancelling Adam Lambert’s past and future performances. We urge the community to reach out to ABC and express their concerns that Adam Lambert is being subjected to a double standard.”

ABC Contact Information:
Brad Jamison, Vice President of Corporate Communications, brad.jamison@abc.com

ABC line for viewer concerns: (818) 460-7477

This week ABC announced that Adam Lambert’s performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve were cancelled.

Patrick Preblick, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, Publicity: patrick.k.preblick@abc.com / (212) 456-7819

Aime Wolfe, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Publicity: edwin.escobar@abc.com / (818) 460-7758

Update on Statement from GLAAD on ABC’s Decision to
Cancel Performances by Adam Lambert

Since his American Music Awards performance occurred GLAAD has consistently advocated that Adam Lambert and openly gay artists not be held to a double standard. As we have expressed publicly, it is disappointing that ABC will not give Lambert a chance to perform at this time. GLAAD’s discussions with ABC focused on confirming that his sexual orientation was not a factor in their decisions. ABC confirmed this is not about a same-sex kiss or his sexual orientation but about being “caught off guard.” GLAAD asked ABC and calls on them for clarification on “caught off guard” so that the community knows why Lambert is being denied the opportunity to perform on the network.

Statement from GLAAD and ABC on ABC’s Decision to
Cancel Performances by Adam Lambert

New York, NY, December 3, 2009 – After it was announced that ABC decided to cancel appearances by openly gay singer Adam Lambert on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Dick Clark’s ‘New Year's Rockin' Eve,' the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) spoke with ABC today regarding concerns that Adam Lambert was being held to a double standard.

After these discussions ABC issued the following statement to GLAAD:

"Given the live nature of the American Music Awards, Adam Lambert’s performance, which differed greatly from his rehearsal, caught many, including the network, off guard. This is not a question of Lambert’s sexual orientation. As is evidenced by GLAAD’s media report card, ABC is at the forefront of positive gay and lesbian portrayal on television. We welcome openly gay performers and look forward to continuing our great work within the LGBT community."

“It would appear that the kiss between Adam Lambert and his keyboardist did not factor into ABC’s decision,” said Jarrett Barrios, President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). “ABC has a history of positive gay and transgender inclusion that includes featuring kisses between gay and lesbian couples on-air.”

“We applaud the visibility of openly gay performers and congratulate Adam Lambert for sharing his story on the Ellen DeGeneres Show this week as well as his upcoming appearance on The Jay Leno Show,” Barrios said.

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org.