WEEK OF MAY 12, 2008

GLAAD Snapshots highlight some of the work we are doing in communities across the country – from working with local organizations on media training spokespersons to informing media coverage of major issues affecting the LGBT community. Snapshots reflect GLAAD’s program areas – National News, Media Field Strategy, Entertainment Media, Spanish Language Media, Young Adult, Communities of African Descent, Asian Pacific Islander Media, Sports Media, and Religion, Faith & Values. Check back every Monday for the latest updates!

National News: GLAAD Partners with TransYouth Family Allies to Urge Responsible Media Coverage

After The Philadelphia Inquirer featured a story about a transgender elementary school student, GLAAD learned that CBS’s Philadelphia affiliate was interviewing people outside the student's school. Working with the national organization, TransYouth Family Allies, GLAAD reached out to the news station and urged it not to air the story out of concern for the child’s safety.  The station agreed to pull its initial story and, on May 7, aired a sensitive and responsible report about the student. The report, "Pennsylvania Student Decides to Make Gender Change," did not disclose the location of the child's school and highlighted the support and understanding that the child's family is receiving from many in the school district. It also featured GLAAD-trained spokesperson and gender specialist Dr. Michele Angello. GLAAD will continue to monitor coverage of this story and to demand responsible and accurate reporting of stories concerning transgender youth.

Media Coverage:
CBS 3 Philadelphia—May 7, 2008
“Student Decides to Make Gender Change”
http://cbs3.com/topstories/Student.Gender.Male.2.718320.html

National News: GLAAD Weighs in on Transgender Media Representations at The Equality Forum

GLAAD continues to focus its efforts on increasing the representation of transgender images and stories within media coverage and the broader public conversation. On April 29, GLAAD traveled to Philadelphia to speak on the Equality Forum’s National Transgender Panel, which explored gender identity and its growing visibility within the country from media representations to public policy. GLAAD’s Asian Pacific Islander Media Strategist participated on the panel to discuss the growing diversity of transgender media coverage and how it informs people’s perceptions of gender identity. The panel attracted more than forty attendees, where they learned about recent transgender media developments including the transgender character from ABC’s Dirty Sexy Money to The New York Times story about transgender woman Denise Brunner and experiences of transitioning within her community.

Spanish Language Media: Building Coalitions in Chicago

Spanish Language Media traveled to Chicago to collaborate with March 10th Movement leadership to gain national coverage of LGBT participation within the immigration reform movement. We successfully pitched, provided spokespeople and participated in a segment for Azteca America’s National News, aired on May 2, and spoke about LGBT visibility in the media at Radio Wado’s 1200 AM talk show hosted by Javier Salas, aired on May 1, for a thirty minute segment. Continuing our collaboration with Univision Radio, we trained all of the DJ’s of the most popular Spanish language pop radio station in the area, La Kalle (93.5FM/103.1FM). And finally, as part of our ongoing work with the American Mexican Anti-Discrimination Alliance (AMADA) led by Javier Salas, we discussed our collaboration on the air, as well as successfully pitched our op-ed to the most respected Spanish language newspaper in the United States, La Opinión.

Media Coverage:
La Opinión, April 26, 2008
“Lo decia mi tía Aurora”
http://www.impre.com/laopinion/opinion/comentarios/2008/4/26/lo-decia-mi-tia-aurora-51926-1.html#

Asian Pacific Islander Community: GLAAD Travels to Washington, DC to Strategize with Asian LGBT Organizations

GLAAD regularly partners with organizations to build their capacity for media advocacy as a means to increase the diverse spectrum of LGBT stories and images. Providing training, resources and support enables community leaders to effectively share stories that reflect their lives and experiences. GLAAD Asian Pacific Islander Media Strategist met with Asian LGBT and ally organizations based in the nation’s capital to identify opportunities to train media-savvy community leaders and what upcoming issues and events can be shared with media professionals based in Washington, DC. A couple highlights included meeting with Khush DC, a South Asian LGBT organization to brainstorm media trainings for incoming leadership and the newly forming National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance to collaborate on a future nationwide visibility campaign.

Media Field Strategy: GLAAD Ensures Fair Coverage of Wisconsin Student’s Prom Queen Nomination

On Thursday, May 1, Newsradio 620-WTMJ reported the story of a high school senior, an openly gay male, who was on the short list for prom queen at Park High School in Racine, Wis. The story used the problematic and offensive term “homosexual” multiple times. GLAAD found the story early that morning, and was able to talk with the radio station about the language used. Within an hour, all mentions of “homosexual” were changed to “gay.” Because GLAAD was able to discuss the language with the reporter and get changes made early, the 25 outlets across the country that ran WTMJ’s version of the story were also fair, accurate, and inclusive. Additionally, WTMJ’s broadcast TV station covered the story the next day, and it was picked up by MSNBC.

GLAAD distributed copies of our Prom 2008 Resource Kit to both WTMJ and the Journal Times, the local Racine paper, which covered the story in a fair, accurate and inclusive way.

Media Coverage:
Newsradio 620-WTMJ – May 1, 2008
“Racine Boy Wants To Be Prom Queen”
http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/18443849.html

WTMJ-TV – May 2, 2008
“School Administrators Say ‘No’ To Boy Queen”
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/18461844.html

Media Field Strategy: GLAAD Participates in Las Vegas Pride Celebration

GLAAD traveled to Las Vegas, Nev., to participate in the community’s pride celebration the first weekend of May. GLAAD had a booth at the Pride Festival, where couples were identified in an effort to launch GLAAD’s “Announcing Equality” campaign. By announcing their stories, these couples will work with GLAAD to shift the policy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal regarding wedding/commitment ceremony announcements for gay and lesbian couples.

Additionally, the Western Media Field Strategist conducted a GLAAD Media Essentials Training to the youth group at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, and taught these young people to tell their stories effectively through the media.

Religion, Faith & Values: GLAAD Assists Methodist Gain Media for Legislative Sessions

The United Methodist Church revisited their policies on LGBT issues at their recent legislative meeting in Fort Worth, Texas. Working with two affinity groups – The Reconciling Ministries Network and Affirmation – GLAAD was on the ground in Fort Worth garnering media coverage to influence church policy by highlighting the significant role that LGBT people play within the denomination. Prior to participating in a press conference, four transgender United Methodists were prepped by GLAAD so as to tell their personal stories more effectively to media.  Delegates at the convention passed effective gay civil rights and anti-discrimination statements, and national mainstream and faith-based outlets reported the votes to educate the membership on heterosexism and homophobia and to reject anti-gay discrimination.

Media Coverage:
May 2, 2008, Mercury News, “Methodists Attend Gay Union Ceremony Near Church Convention”
http://www.mercurynews.com/columns/ci_9134801

May 2, 2008, Dallas Voice, “LGBT Methodists, Supporters Surprised by Votes Upholding Anti-Gay Church Policies”
http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_8794.php

May 2, 2008, Plain Dealer, “United Methodists Decline to Act Against Transgender Clergy
http://blog.cleveland.com/lifestyles/2008/05/methodists_decline_to_act_agai.html

May 2, 2008, Dallas Morning News, “At Fort Worth Conference, United Methodist Church Maintains Stance on Practice of Homosexuality”
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-methodists_02met.ART0.West.Edition1.46aab80.html