Snapshots of Our Work

GLAAD announced nominees for the 2nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Advertising, which honor elevate and promote individuals and projects in the advertising and marketing industries for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community. GLAAD also announced that American Airlines would receive the Corporate Responsibility Award and journalist Bob Garfield would receive the Public Visibility Award.

GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios spoke to Advertising Age about the lack of LGBT images in mainstream advertising. This year there were no submissions for LGBT inclusion in the category featuring outstanding TV commercials that ran in mainstream media, reinforcing the need for programs like the GLAAD Media Awards in Advertising that recognize companies who practice LGBT inclusion.

For more information or tickets: http://www.glaad.org/advertisingawards

Last week Iowa Radio host Jan Mickelson of Clear Channel owned, WHO-AM in De Moines, made defamatory remarks about the LGBT community.

Mickelson was responding to reports that a Republican candidate for the state legislature was rebuked by the state GOP chairman for statements on his Facebook page claiming AIDS was a punishment from God for homosexuality. Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn denounced the statements as "inappropriate" and said they "in no way represent the beliefs" of the party. Mickelson said Strawn is a victim of propaganda.

During the broadcast Mickelson made a multitude of offensive anti-gay comments, and put forth a host of inaccurate claims about HIV/AIDS. The Independent excerpted a portion of those remarks: "For the chairman of the Republican Party to say, 'AIDS doesn't discriminate,' well of course it does," Mickelson said. "It discriminates against people who engage in stupid behavior."

After hearing from One Iowa, the state's largest LGBT advocacy organization, GLAAD contacted Clear Channel to voice our concerns and the concerns of One Iowa. Clear Channel representatives told GLAAD they were very troubled by the comments and this morning, before the start of Mickelson's program, the company's market manager in Des Moines, Joel McCrea, read this on air statement:

Jan Mickelson, an acknowledged conservative commentator with strong political views, is entitled to his opinions on a wide range of current topics. However, his comments on August 19 regarding HIV/AIDS an public awareness campaigns regarding this disease confused strong opinion with medical fact, and contained factual errors regarding HIV/AIDS, its spread, and current efforts to inform the public about this disease. Mr. Mickelson's comments do not reflect the opinions of Clear Channel – nor do they reflect the ongoing support Clear Channel provides to public service campaigns such as "Greater than AIDS" that work to convey the message that, indeed, "AIDS does not discriminate." We regret any confusion about HIV/AIDS that may have resulted from Mr. Mickelson's remarks.

Select Media Coverage:
WHO Radio – August 19, 2010
Jan Mickelson Show (.mp3 file, offensive comments start at 51:25)

Iowa Independent – August 20, 2010
Radio host: AIDS discriminates against the 'stupid behavior' of homosexuality

Des Moines Register – August 27, 2010
WHO Radio says host's remarks had 'factual errors'

Jarrett Barrios speaks to USA Today for their cover story on the rise of LGBT images on TV

Coverage of the GLAAD Media Awards in Advertising

The New York Times
Advertising Age
Passport
AfterEllen

The GLAAD religion, faith and values staff saw the fruition of being a resource to a series of media professionals in recent weeks on LGBT faith stories. First, as the trial of Presbyterian pastor, the Rev. Jane Spahr was unfolding, the Bay Area Reporter called GLAAD to line up an interview with Rev. Spahr. Also, Fenton Communications turned to GLAAD to amplify Rev. Spahr's story through glaadblog.org and to confirm faith terminology.

Also, The Associated Press called to identify pro-LGBT spokespeople and to identify sources for accurate information on the LGBT faith leaders being reinstated into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The AP article was a powerful and balanced story highlighting a Lutheran pastor who is also a lesbian.

Finally, last month when the Presbyterians were in the midst of their votes on marriage, partner benefits and ordination, a journalist from the Associated Press turned to GLAAD to confirm stands on marriage in other denominations. When staff turned to the Pew Forum page on denominational stands on marriage for gay and lesbian couples, it was woefully out of date. Through a call to a key Pew staff person and strategic emails to key LGBT faith leaders, GLAAD helped make sure that journalists would be getting current, accurate and inclusive information for their articles.

Select Media Coverage:
The Bay Area Reporter – August 2, 2010
"Spahr faces another church trial over marriages"

Associated Press – August 25, 2010
"New denomination rises from Lutherans' gay discord"

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life – July 27, 2010
"Religious Groups' Official Positions on Same-Sex Marriage"