Wonder what we’re up to at GLAAD?
Be sure to check out GLAAD's Blog each week for updates about our latest work to build support for LGBT equality through news, entertainment and online media.
GLAAD and American Apparel announced a renewal of their LGBT Pride partnership with a newly designed shirt to be released in conjunction with LGBT Pride Month. Fifteen percent of all net sales will benefit GLAAD’s work to share stories from the LGBT community that build support for equality. In a company first, American Apparel has designed a bi and transgender-inclusive t-shirt that reads "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride." For the second consecutive year, the new t-shirt campaign will feature a transgender model. The company has also crafted its first American market campaign to feature gay and lesbian couples. The tank top version of the shirt is available now.
GLAAD staff met with CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler and over a dozen senior executives in charge of entertainment programming at CBS for an honest discussion about CBS' recent history of problematic transgender media representations and ways in which GLAAD can help CBS create more fair and accurate portrayals of our community. The meeting stemmed from repeated problematic jokes on sitcoms like Mike & Molly and 2 Broke Girls, and from sensationalistic, exploitative trans characters on shows like CSI.
GLAAD's Spanish-language media team had a busy week! Our Spanish-Language Media director, Monica Trasandes, wrote a piece on the subject for the Huffington Post Voces. Monica also appeared this week on the CNN Latino show "Sin Limites Con Elizabeth Espinosa," to discuss hate speech. GLAAD also worked on a story about an HIV testing PSA done by Colombian music star Juanes which ran in nbclatino.com and worked with La Opinion for a story on upcoming Supreme Court decisions on marriage equality. GLAAD was quoted in both.
On May 30 in Hollywood, California, a 22-year-old Latina transgender woman was brutally beaten by four men and left for dead. Initial reports from a local LA affiliate were confusing, referring to the victim as both gay and transgender, and using male pronouns and the victim's male name. GLAAD worked with the Anti-Violence Project at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center and the Los Angeles Police Department to ensure that follow up reports accurately described the victim as a transgender woman, and used the name Vivian and female pronouns. During a press conference in which the LAPD offered a $25,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest of her attackers, officers distributed GLAAD's guide on how to report when a transgender person is the victim of a crime. Subsequent news coverage of the press conference and the arrest of a suspect was accurate and respectful of Vivian's life as a transgender woman.
Last week GLAAD was one of the participants in the second annual NIKE LGBT Sports Summit in Portland, OR. The summit included more than one hundred participants, from LGBT athletes to advocates and allies, all focused on taking concrete action aimed at turning sports into an inclusive space for all. The summit featured guest speakers Fallon Fox and Jason Collins, and included representative from the United States Olympic Committee, GLSEN, NCAA, Athlete Ally, USA Wrestling, You Can Play; Campus Pride; StandUp Foundation; Equality Coaching Alliance, the Federation of Gay Games and ESPN.
When the 'ex-gay' group Exodus International announced it was shutting down, GLAAD was on it. When mainstream outlets were covering the story, GLAAD provided context and analysis to Reuters, the Los Angeles Times, and NBC. GLAAD alerted several media outlets of the story, providing context of Alan Chambers past anti-gay comments, which were documented in GLAAD's Commentator Accountability Project, as well as the improving relationship among Christians and LGBT people.
GLAAD was a part of the New York Premiere of Call Me Kuchu. The film focuses on the difficulty for LGBT people in Uganda, the rise of the "kill the gays" bill, and the life and murder of gay advocate David Kato. Ross Murray, Director of News and Faith Initiatives, moderated a question and answer period with the filmmakers and several Ugandan LGBT activists.
To get the latest updates and take part in GLAAD’s work to build support for LGBT equality, be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
