MediaFocus:Communities of Color is an initative of GLAAD's Cultural Interest Media Project, which focuses on the diversity within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, and helps GLAAD achieve its mission by focusing on and advocating for the fair, accurate and inclusive representations of LGBT people of color in the media.

MediaFocus:Communities of Color works to meet the following objectives:

To promote fair, accurate and inclusive representation of LGBT people of color in all media - from mainstream media to media targeting communities of color. So often, stories about LGBT people of color have gone ignored. GLAAD is taking more proactive steps to promote greater visibility of LGBT people of color in the media. In 2001, we released, in partnership with various LGBT people of color organizations around the country, our first "heritage month" media resource kits, which have been designed to encourage journalists to be more inclusive of the diversity of our community. We have also begun to educate the media about issues concerning LGBT communities of color. From including a resource on covering the "down low" and MSMs in its media resource guide book to raising visibility of LGBT people of color such as Fred Martinez, Jr. in Cortez, Colorado and Gwen Araujo in Newark, California, GLAAD continues to build on its pool of resources for media professionals.

To offer media technical assistance to LGBT communities of color. GLAAD extends its hands to LGBT people of color organizations needing assistance with pitching stories and ideas to the media. We have worked both individually with community leaders as well as offered a vast array of media trainings at conferences such as the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change, LLEGO's Encuentro conference and the National Black Lesbian & Gay Leadership Forum convention.

To encourage LGBT people of color to advocate for fair, accurate and inclusive representation. A key to GLAAD's success has been in involving volunteers to help us monitor the media. GLAAD is working with LGBT communities of color to encourage and inspire action. Through specialized media activism trainings and our LGBT people of color media clippings sent out periodically by e-mail, we hope that the community will become more involved with our work. GLAAD has also hosted community forums on current topics to begin dialogue. For example, in 2001, GLAAD hosted community forums in New York, NY and Oakland, CA on the intersections of race, class, gender and sexual orientation in hip hop. Together we can help change stereotypes in the media.

To report defamation or affirmation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of color in the media, please report an incident to us.

If you have questions, information or comments about GLAAD's MediaFocus:Communities of Color or if you want to get involved please contact Monica Taher at taher@glaad.org.

PROJECTS

Latino Heritage Month
September is Latino Heritage Month! As we enter an era where the 2000 Census figures demonstrate that the Latino population is becoming larger and growing stronger. Heritage Month Media Resource Kits

Black History Month Media Resource Kit 2002
It is during this month that we encourage the media to run stories and profiles about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender black and African American community.

APA Heritage Month Kit
It is during this month that we encourage the media to run stories and profiles about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Asian & Pacific Islander community.

LGBT People of Color Media Clippings
Media clippings from mainstream and ethnic press highlighting issues as a way of encouraging LGBT communities of color to become media advocates.

Community Forums for LGBT Communities of Color
In an effort to inform, educate and get input, GLAAD hosts communities forums that pertain to media issues concerning LGBT communities of color.