POC Media Program Note: This article offers a fair and balanced report of the Asian American and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities' reaction to Details Magazine's feature "Gay or Asian." The feature relied on stereotypes and was offensive to both communities. The Newsday article was also inclusive of people of color representation because it included quotes from Asian Americans protesting outside of the magazine's publishing company. It also did a good job of including apologetic comments from the editor in chief of Details Magazine.

Newsday (New York)
April 17, 2004 Saturday
CITY EDITION
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A06
LENGTH: 394 words
HEADLINE: 'INSENSITIVE' DETAILS;
'Gay or Asian'? Many don't get mag's joke
BYLINE: BY MONTY PHAN. STAFF WRITER

BODY:
A Details magazine feature this month asks, "Gay or Asian?"

Friday, protesters supplied the answer: insulting and demeaning.

Carrying signs reading "Racism is a not a joke" and chanting, "Stop the hate, don't perpetuate," about 100 to 150 protested Manhattan-based Fairchild Publications, a unit of Conde Nast Publications and the publisher of Details magazine, which in its April issue ran a one-page graphic called, "Gay or Asian?", part of a regular feature the magazine says is "intended as a humorous swipe at social stereotypes."

The graphic shows a photo of an Asian man, accompanied by text and arrows pointing to different parts of his body.

For example, one item reads: "White T-shirt: V-neck nicely showcases sashimi-smooth chest. What other men visit salons to get, the Asian gene pool provides for free."

While Asian-American groups roundly denounced the feature, the negative response had Details editors rushing to get an editor's note into the May issue explaining that "we regret that anyone was offended by the article, as that was not our intention."

Not content with the explanation, several Asian-American groups arranged Friday's protest to demand an apology from the magazine, a retraction of the feature and sensitivity training for Details' editors and writers.

"We want a full-page apology, just like the article was a full page," said Sarah Paiji, 19, a Harvard University sophomore who arranged for a busload of Boston-area college students to attend the protest. "We're sick of the media telling us who we are. We're taking a stand."

In a statement Friday, Details editor in chief Daniel Peres said he had received an "unprecedented number" of letters regarding the feature and that the magazine would meet with Asian-American and gay community leaders next week.

In publishing the graphic, Details crossed the line beyond satirical humor, Peres said.

The magazine, which publishes 10 times annually, will address the "Gay or Asian?" feature again in the June/July issue, he said.

"It has been made abundantly clear to me that this story, which is part of an ongoing series challenging male cultural stereotypes, was insensitive, hurtful, and in poor taste - an obvious point that I regret not recognizing prior to publication," Peres said. " ... I, on behalf of the magazine, deeply regret this misstep, and apologize to those who were offended."

GRAPHIC: Photo - DETAILS MAGAZINE ran this graphic titled "Gay or Asian?" The "humorous swipe" at stereotypes was lost on protesters.