The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has published its annual Network Responsibility Index, a measure of representation of LGBT characters and issues, and how they are presented in mass media platforms. The 2012 Index is a reflection of the shifting dynamic in television entertainment and issue programming, and how they reflect the modern LGBT—and American—landscape.
Among broadcast networks, The CW—a joint venture between CBS and Warner Bros—earned top place, while cable networks HBO, Showtime, TNT, and ABC Family were awarded “good” ratings. Two cable networks, TBS and History (formerly the History Channel), netted failing marks for their non-satisfactory representation of LGBT people and issues. A closer look at the GLAAD Index:
• With 29 percent of its primetime programming hours considered to be LGBT-inclusive, The CW continues as the top gay-friendly (from a content perspective) broadcast network, and takes preeminent place as most racially-diverse (62 percent of impressions made by LGBT persons/ characters of color”.
• A 4 percent improvement by ABC and a coeval 5 percent decline at Fox caused the networks to “make the switch” at second and third places in percentage of inclusive hours.
• Although NBC had a net gain in LGBT-inclusive hours of 4 percent, it wasn’t enough to get it out of the closet—or basement, if you prefer, of fourth place.
• CBS remains in last place for the fourth year in a row, with just 8 percent of its primetime programming considered to be LGBT-inclusive. Worse, the numbers represent a net DROP of 2 percent since last year, taking it down from a 2011 score of “Adequate” to this year’s rating of “Failing.”
• Among cable networks, Showtime (46 percent), ABC Family (34 percent), TNT (34 percent), and HBO (33 percent) received “Good” ratings.
• Although the youth cable brand scored an “Excellent” rating just two years ago, at 23 percent MTV dropped to “Adequate” this year, along with FX (34 percent), TLC (20 percent), and USA (17 percent).
• For the fourth year in a row, both TBS (5 percent) and History (3 percent) received an Index rating of “Failing.” Although the 2012 Index acknowledges that transgender people remain underrepresented, there was encouragement on the “T” front. “The appearance of Chaz Bono on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ was a groundbreaking step in transgender representation on television this year,” noted Herndon Graddick, President of GLAAD.
“His very candid appearance on the program taught many that transgender Americans deserve respect and acceptance.
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NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – “Star Trek” actor and LGBT rights activist George Takei—who played Lieutenant Sulu on the iconic 1960s television series— rode in the official Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) car this weekend during New York City’s 43rd Annual LGBT Pride March in New York City, a vehicle driven by Ohio mom and former Boy Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, who was ousted as a Scout leader because she is gay.
“I’m saddened and shocked by the policy the Boy Scouts have,” said Takei, 75, who is openly gay. Tyrrell and Takei, each be accompanied by their respective spouses, donned matching Boy Scout uniforms to protest Tyrrell’s removal as leader for her 7-year-old son’s Boy Scout troop in Bridgeport, Ohio.
In April, Scouting officials asked her to step down as Scout leader, because her sexual orientation “did not meet the high standards” of conduct of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
After being forced to resign, Tyrrell’s son, Cruz, was deactivated from his Scout troop. In true Scout fashion, the mother of four was prepared, and launched a Change.org petition that has netted over 300,000 signatures, as well as the support of A-Listers like actors Julianne Moore, Benecio Del Toro, Josh Hutcherson of “The Hunger Games,” Diana Agron of “Glee,” and singer Ricky Martin.
“She personifies all the best qualities of scouting,” said Takei of Tyrrell.
]]>The former teen star of “Growing Pains” was a guest last Friday on the cable network’s “Piers Morgan Tonight,” discussing his views on marriage equality and consensual homosexual behavior. “I think that it’s unnatural,” said Cameron, 41. “I think that it’s detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.”
Cameron, a Christian evangelist and promoter of The Way of the Master ministry, was equally disapproving of marriage equality, citing Biblical sources. “Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve. One man, one woman for life till death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don’t think anyone else should either. So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don’t.”
Officials of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) condemned Cameron’s remarks, as out of step. “In this interview, Kirk Cameron sounds even more dated than his 1980s TV character,” GLAAD spokesperson Herndon Graddick wrote. “Cameron is out of step with a growing majority of Americans, particularly people of faith who believe that their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters should be loved and accepted based on their character and not condemned because of their sexual orientation.”
Graddick also took issue with the actor’s inaccurate portrayal of marriage equality and his assertions about the definition of marriage: “With an increasing number of states recognizing marriage equality, Americans are seeing that marriage is about committed couples who want to make a lifelong promise to take care of and be responsible for each other and that gay
and lesbian couples need equal security and legal protections. That’s not ‘redefining’ anything.”
because his religious beliefs are inconsistent with accepting homosexuality.
Last week, the Thomas More Law Center filed the lawsuit on behalf of the mother, Sandra Glowacki, who charges the Howell, Michigan Public School District and an economics teacher, Johnson McDowell with violating her son’s constitutional rights, specifically his First Amendment right to free expression of his religion. Glowacki and her son, Daniel are Roman Catholic.
The suit says the teacher expelled Daniel Glowacki, 16, from class on October 20, 2010, while the students in the school district were observing anti-bullying commemorations and Spirit Day. On that day, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) encourages Americans to wear purple in support of LGBT youth who may feel bullied or threatened because of their sexual orientation.
The lawsuit states that the school district encouraged teachers to sell “Tyler’s Army” shirts in support of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers University freshman who killed himself in 2010 after his roommate streamed an Internet video that showed Clementi kissing another male student. The teacher, McDowell, devoted his classes to promoting homosexuality, and wore one of the purple T-shirts around students all day, according to the suit. It further claims that McDowell told another student to take off a Confederate flag belt buckle that he found offensive.
The lawsuit claims that when Daniel Glowacki asked the teacher why he thought it was allowable to display a rainbow flag, McDowell asked the student if he supported gays. Glowacki told him that his Catholic religion wouldn’t permit him, at which time the suit says that Glowacki and another, similarly-minded student were told to leave class. Although officials suspended McDowell for one day without pay for violating school district policy, they later erased the penalties in order to settle a grievance he had filed.
The Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center represents, mostly through litigation, issues which are most usually in line with modern American social conservative positions: they oppose same-sex marriage; support pro-life positions and initiatives; and oppose, among other things, the removal of the Ten Commandments and other religious monuments from municipal and school buildings.
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However, GLAAD praised shows such as “Modern Family,” “True Blood,” “Glee” and other shows that are both critically acclaimed and receive high ratings while developing LGBT characters.
Among broadcast channels, Fox emerged as the leader with eight regular LGBT characters. On cable, GLAAD, in a written statement, said that standout series include HBO’s “True Blood” with lesbian and gay characters caught up in the occult, and TeenNick’s “Degrassi,” which features Adam, a transgender teen. “Degrassi” won a Peabody award for the two-part episode “My Body Is a Cage.”
“I think we’re going to see more and more gay characters on both cable and network TV as time goes on,” said Herndon Graddick,GLAAD’s senior director of programs. “The American public is hungry for diverse characters. They want TV to be reflective of their experiences in life.”
]]>Children’s Hospital Boston quotes Heather Corliss, the study’s author saying, “Prior studies in homeless street youth have found that sexual minorities occur in much higher numbers than we’d expect based on their numbers in the community in general. This study looked at the magnitude of the difference for the first time.”
Other research shows that higher rates of homelessness among LGBT youth can be attributed to family conflict over their sexual orientation, emotional and physical abuse, and higher rates of substance abuse. While we have known for a while that gay and lesbian youth make up a disproportionally high number of homeless youth, now we have data to show that gay and bisexual youth are much more likely than their straight peers to experience homelessness.
]]>Six board members of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation have resigned amid the fallout over the organization’s letter in support of AT&T’s proposed bid for wireless rival T-Mobile, their letters follow hot on the heels of the announcement that GLAAD president Jarret Barrious had resigned.
Amid talk, some board members were said to have resigned because of concerns that GLAAD failed to adhere to its conflict of interest standards and to protest GLAAD’s failure to protect its president, Jarrett Barrios, who submitted his letter of resignation to the group Saturday after he came under fire from the LGBT blogosphere after an appearance on the Michelangelo Signorile show by former GLAAD board of directors co-chair Laurie Perper, who questioned a series of official statements released by Barrios’ office supporting telecommunications giant AT&T.
“The GLAAD Board has received Jarrett Barrios’ resignation letter and discussed this among other topics on our call. We expect at our next Board meeting set for Wednesday to reach a conclusion on all issues so that Mr.
Barrios can begin to help The Board manage transition and bring on his successor,” the organization said in a statement.
Barrios had signed the letter GLAAD sent to the FCC in support of the wireless mega-deal.
GLAAD board member Gary Bitner confirmed in an email to Politico on Tuesday that he had resigned. Five other board members — including Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers — also have submitted their resignations.
Weingarten said her resignation “had nothing to do” with the AT&T/T-Mobile deal in an email to Politico.
The six former board members submitted a joint statement that said they resigned from the organization’s board for “various reasons,” but declined to comment on those reasons because they say “there’s been too much unfair and false information spread about GLAAD” recently.
“We believe that GLAAD plays a vital role in our community and wish it only the best,” the statement said. “We also thank GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios for his service and his 20 plus years he has committed to social justice and the LGBT community… He still has a wonderful career ahead of him.”
The resignations of six prominent GLAAD board members comes as a blow to the organization and may be followed by additional departures from the gay and lesbian advocacy group. The person familiar with the resignations said about a third or half of the board may leave the organization by the end of the week.
The six GLAAD board members a source said resigned are: Bitner; Weingarten; Jocelyn Bramble, an associate at the law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf; Kelly Dermody, a partner at Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein in San Francisco; Humberto Mata, founder of nonprofit Fundación VIHDA in Ecuador; and James Walker, a commercial real estate executive.
The names of all six are no longer listed in the board of directors section of GLAAD’s website, bringing the current number of GLAAD board members, including officers, down to 23. “Jarrett Barrios was an extraordinary leader at GLAAD, and my resignation had nothing to do with his fine work,” Bitner, a partner at the Bitner Goodman public relations firm, said in an email to Politico. “A number of other factors were involved, chief among them the huge time commitment.”
The former board members also expressed concern over the treatment of Barrios throughout the AT&T/T-Mobile flare-up. Barrios’s tenure at GLAAD has been the target of gay bloggers and others in recent weeks since GLAAD’s letter to the FCC was filed.
Leading gay activists called for Barrios to resign after Perper’s claims and after it was revealed that he sent a letter to the FCC in January 2010 that questioned the agency’s net neutrality rules, which AT&T had opposed. Barrios later asked for that letter to be withdrawn from the public record and told the FCC it was submitted without his permission.
Troup Coronado, a former employee and registered lobbyist for AT&T, is said to have approached several gay rights organizations seeking support for the AT&T/T-Mobile deal. In May, he approached the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to ask representatives of those groups to sign a letter that voiced support for AT&T’s bid.
NGLCC, which represents business owners in the gay community, had always supported the merger because the group believes it will expand wireless networks and benefit their members, according to Nelson.
“We have a strong record of weighing in on issues that are pertinent to our constituents — to business owners, to entrepreneurs,” he said. “We take the principled stand even when it’s not the popular stand.”
The Task Force declined to sign the letter because “a merger between these two companies is not an issue that we’re focused on,” Rea Carey, executive director of the task force said.
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A spokesperson for team management said the investigation should be completed soon and punishment would be coordinated with Major League Baseball.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) called on the Braves and Major League Baseball to take “real disciplinary action and send the message that anti-gay slurs have no place in sports.”
]]>“Trump thinks gay couples and their families shouldn’t have access to the same health care as families headed by straight parents. When asked about whether same-sex couples should have the same medical and civil benefits as other couples, Trump said, “As of this moment, I would say no and no.” Donald Trump on marriage equality:
“I’m not in favor of gay marriage. They should not be able to marry.”
“I just don’t feel good about it. I don’t feel right about it.
I’m against it… I’m opposed to gay marriage.”
Trump recently appeared on Fox News and made his position clear by emphatically saying once again, “I’m against gay marriage.”
GLAAD contends that Trump is out of step with many Americans, who are increasingly supportive of marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Last week CNN released the fourth credible poll in the past eight months to show an outright majority of Americans in favor of marriage equality.
“Trump is sending the message to the 1 million gay couples who are raising approximately 2 million kids in the United States that they shouldn’t be treated equally. He wants their viewership for his shows and their money at his properties (Gay and lesbian travelers spend an estimated $17 billion a year for tourism), but Trump doesn’t want to allow them the same dignity and respect as all loving couples and families. This is both an unfair and unwise business practice.”
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Saturday, April 30, from 2 to 8 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale at the Royal Palms Resort, 2901 Terramar Street. Monthly pool parties for bears, cubs, chubs, chasers and friends. Join them at the new Royal Palms Resort and Spa for the Official Opening Party of Splash with live deejays and more. The Royal Palms Boutique Hotel offers luxurious rooms, a full bar, a café serving great food and a full service spa and gym. And yes… a clothing-optional heated pool, so come in your swimsuits or your birthday suit… the choice is yours. As appreciation for your continued support of Bear Codes, they are extending to those that RSVP for the opening party event only, no cover charge (normal cover is $7). You must RSVP on Facebook to receive the free entry and you can only RSVP yourself. There will be an RSVP list at the door. Help spread the word and invite your friends on the invite link on the event page and give them a chance to RSVP and get the newest hottest pool party grand opening for free. Splash will be held monthly.
BEAR NATION T-DANCE
Tidal Wave kick-off party featuring Bear D.J. Bill James, spinning the classics and the music you love to dance and sing along to. Hot bear contest for a chance to win a VIP pass to Tidal Wave events during Gay Days in Orlando. Sunday May 1, 6 to 11 p.m. at The Manor Entertainment Complex, 2345 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. No cover. Hot man dancers and flaggers too. $15 import beer buckets, $12 domestic beer buckets, $10 Malibu Rum buckets and $20 Mojito pitchers.
KYLIE
Kylie – Aphrodite Live 2011 Tour in Fort Lauderdale. Saturday, May 7, from 7 to 11:00 p.m. at the Bank Atlantic Center, 1 Panther Pkwy in Fort Lauderdale.
IGLTA’s ANNUAL GLOBAL CONFERENCE
Unleash your hidden talents at IGLTA’s Annual Global Convention. Professionals from around the world will unite in Fort Lauderdale May 10-15, 2011, to network, educate, brainstorm and take LGBT tourism to unprecedented levels. Educational programming, Unleashed 2.0, will serve as the cornerstone of future business development. Sessions will cater to all experience levels in social media, internet marketing and new travel technology trends to help you reach customers in a more efficient way. Mark your calendars now! This will be the must-attend event of 2011. Don’t let your competitors leave you behind.
Shangela live!
Friday, April 29, from 9:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Club Sugar, 2301 SW 32nd Ave. in Coral Gables. Alex Infiniti and Club Sugar proudly welcome Shangela, the controversial star of this season’s “Rupaul’s Drag Race”. Love her or hate her, see her perform live and in person! In the Main Room, House Music by resident DJ Jarell. In the Spice Lounge, Hip Hop and Latin Music by DJ Dave. Shows by divas T.P. and Sasha Lords and hosted by Alex Infiniti. 2 for 1 drinks ‘til 11:30 p.m. $5 house drinks and $4 domestic beer all night. And many more surprises.
MEET ME AT THE MOVIES!
The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, a critically acclaimed event, is based in the world-renowned historic South Beach neighborhood and screens films and videos in locations throughout Miami-Dade county and Ft. Lauderdale. The 13th Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival starts on April 23 and will run through May of 2011. Watch for more details.
THANK GLAAD IT’S FRIDAY!!!
Thank GLAAD It’s Friday in South Florida featuring ABSOLUT® VODKA!
GLAAD with Mark’s List presents national networking event series for young LGBT professionals and straight allies in South Florida, featuring ABSOLUT ® Vodka, this April!
Set in popular venues, TGIF events include hosted ABSOLUT® Vodka cocktails, one-year GLAAD memberships, special guest hosts and nightly prize drawings as well as the opportunity to network and meet with like-minded professionals. Purchase a TGIF Series Pass to help GLAAD amplify the voices within our community and see for yourself why so many people love to “Thank GLAAD It’s Friday!”
Special guests will be Glenn Douglas Packard (Emmy-nominated Choreo-grapher & LGBT Advocate), Daniel Miagany (International Male Cover Model & LGBT Advocate).
Friday, April 29 & May 20, 20119 pm – 11 pm Lords South Beach, 1120 Collins Blvd
Miami Beach, FL
SIZZLE MIAMI
May 26 – 29, 2011, in Miami. Party-seekers from around the world
convene in sunny Miami, Florida, celebrating life, pride and liberty. Originally a one-day occurrence, Sizzle Miami has evolved into a 5-day smorgasbord of captivating day-time events and pulsating nightlife. Although Sizzle participants are mostly comprised of African-Americans and Latinos, all races are welcomed and encouraged to participate.
For more info, visit www.sizzlemiami.com.
INTERPOL
Thursday, Apr 28, from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Ritz Ybor, 1507 East 7th Avenue in Tampa. $24 advance tickets, all ages.
Pride on 7th
Saturday, April 30, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Ybor City. Pride on 7th is back and plans to welcome more than 10,000 attendees for its second annual festivities. The Umbrella Management Group, which is led by Jorge Alvarado, an entertainment visionary, has planned a full day of activities in support of unity within our community. Pride on 7th has expanded its space and its offerings this year. The event will be in the heart of Ybor City along Centro Ybor and will include many more activities including an anti-bullying march, a BINGO night, Miss Pride on 7th pageant and a red carpet finale. The event will also feature a family area, business vendors, live deejay and a special celebrity performance from Cazwell, a very popular artist within the gay and lesbian circuit. Pride on 7th is on Saturday, April 30th. The event will kick off at 9am with the anti-bullying walk and culminate with a red carpet dance party at G-Bar, an Ybor nightclub. Attendees are asked to donate $10 to Pride on 7th community beneficiaries. There is more information on Pride on 7th available at www.prideon7th.com.
Bear soup mix
Saturday, May 12, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the Flamingo Resort, 4601 34 Street in St. Petersburg. Special daily rate of $59.99. For reservations use code #1013. Make your reservations soon. All bears are welcome invite your friends and their friends.
THE SUNDAY BBQ IS BACK
Ybor Resort and Spa, 1512 8th Ave. (15th Street) in Ybor City. Every Sunday at 5 p.m. Lots of hot flavorful guys here lining up for some buns, wieners and other tasty items. Come on down and put some sun on those buns in our open-air tropical Asian-themed patio with Jacuzzi. Remember: what happens at the resort stays at the resort.
GAY BOWLING
First Thursday of each month from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Dunedin Bowling Lanes, 405 Patricia Avenue in Dunedin.
For more information, call (727) 736-1282.
COUNTER-PROTEST THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH
Friday, April 29, from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. at Dr. Phillips High School, 6500 Turkey Lake Road in Orlando. Westboro Baptist Church is protesting homosexuality in our school. We need to counter-protest them to show that we will not be fazed by their disgraceful and hateful rhetoric. Invite everyone you know to come out and support us. They ask that you please refrain from becoming violent or showing up under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. Feel free to bring a sign, but please keep the message positive. Prove to them that love overcomes hate any day of the week.
MISS HEART OF ORLANDO PAGEANT
Miss Heart of Central Florida Pageant, Monday, May 2, from 7 to 10 p.m. Radisson Hotel – Orlando, 8444 International Drive in Orlando. An official prelim to The Miss Heart of Florida Pageant. The pageant’s goal is to offer a fairly judged outlet for female illusionist interested in growing in their craft and gaining more experience by competing. If you are interested in joining the Heart of Florida family, this is the first step in doing so. General admission $15, (advanced seating) or $20 at the door. Entry fee is $125 after April 20th.
Contestant dancers $10. Categories include creative presentation, evening gown, question and answer and talent, Special guest judge: the reigning Miss New York, Claire Buffie. Winner receives $500 cash, photoshoot with Lindy Melendez, crown, and paid Ticket to Miss Heart of Florida; 1st runner-up $300 cash and paid ticket to Miss Heart of Florida, 2nd runner up $200 cash. Entertainers include: Tasha Long, Addison Taylor, The Minx, Conundrum, Aspen Love and Kathryn Nevets.
For information, contact Ron Hankey, (727) 510-2857 or Karl G Von Hahmann at (863) 651-2117. www.heartoffloridafi.com.
CUCA LA RACHA @ CAMP DRAG
Wednesday, May 25, from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Parliament House, 410 N Orange Blossom Trail (W Livingston St) in downtown Orlando. Come see Cuca drag it up at Camp Drag. You never know what this crazy girl is going to end up doing so come out to be surprised and entertained.
ORLANDO BLACK PRIDE
May 31 to June 5, 2011; Orlando Black Pride brings thousands of LGBTers together for a long weekend of events and entertainment. There are parties for the fellas, the ladies and everything in between and you can find all the great events on the official website. So head out to Orlando and get ready to party… www.orlandoblackpride.com.
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