Media Trainings Gene Robin MSNBC Take Action! HIV/AIDS Bug Chasers Rolling Stone stina Aguilera GLAAD Media Awards USA Today Families Matter Boy Meet ESPN Eye Angels in America osie O’Donnell Jerry Thacker Gallup Massachusetts Canada Marriage Eq ames Dobson Anti- Industry Kent in2 Scalia 003Lawrence v. Texas Santorum Hate Crimes Sakia Gunn Bella Evang ational Black Justice Coalition Brides Opinión Bishop Gene Robinson Integ Media Trainings Sabado Gigante AP Announcing Equality Time HBO Harvey Milk School “Fag Song” Bravo Write Now! was there. Massachusetts Canada Marriage E New Year’s Hate Crime In Cincinnati – january After media outlets in Cincinnati downplay coverage of the hate-motivated New Year’s ‘Rolling Stone’ Chases Bugs – GLAAD MSNBC’SANTI-GAY SAVAGE calls on Rolling Stone to publicly correct Eve of Gregory Beauchamp (who GLAAD FOCUS gross errors of fact and attribution in an was shot to death by a man yelling homo- In February 2003, MSNBC announced it article about “bug chasers,” men who phobic slurs), Associate Regional Media would launch a show featuring viru- actively seek HIV infection. When the anti- Director Michael Young works with local lently homophobic radio host Michael gay Traditional Values Coalition exploits reporters to examine the unique nature of Savage. MSNBC’s Savage Nation pre- the article’s inaccuracies to claim bug- hate-motivated violence. The resulting sented GLAAD an opportunity to focus chasing is an “epidemic,” GLAAD partners media coverage and community activism national attention on cable news’ grow- with HIV/AIDS experts to urge media to leads the city council to introduce and pass ing embrace of right-wing homophobes debunk the TVC’s fabrications and publish a hate crimes law the following month. and debunk the right’s empty claims of accurate information about the context, liberal . scope and impact of this complex issue. february In addition to a high-profile media visi- Exposing Thacker’s – Protesting the ‘Fag Song’ – GLAAD calls bility campaign (including coverage in , the Washington When anti-gay activist Jerry Thacker is the New York community to action after Post and USA Today), GLAAD launched named to the Presidential Advisory an incident where Power 105.1 D.J.s start an advertiser education initiative and Committee on HIV and AIDS, GLAAD ranking celebrities as “bad boys, middle virtual protest at GLAAD.org — includ- exposes attempts by Thacker supporters boys or fag boys” and burst into a sponta- ing more than 10,000 e-mails sent to to systematically delete evidence of his neous, defamatory ‘fag song’ on the MSNBC and its sponsors. As a result, homophobic rhetoric from the Internet station’s highly rated morning show. Procter & Gamble and General Mills and pitches the story to national media. Thousands of activists listen to the offen- joined more than two dozen companies Following intense media scrutiny of his sive clip — the first-ever use of multimedia in refusing to support Savage Nation — anti-gay rhetoric, Thacker quickly with- audio at GLAAD.org — and deluge the sta- forcing MSNBC to fill ad time with PSAs. draws from consideration. tion with protest e-mails. Within days, station executives apologize and assure GLAAD’s work culminated in MSNBC’s GLAAD that the DJs will no longer be cancellation of Savage Nation on July 7 allowed to use such defamatory language. after Savage referred to a caller as a “sodomite,” saying “You should only get GLAADLAWRENCE FOCUS V. TEXAS Pilot Lighting – GLAAD meets with TV AIDS and die, you pig!” — exactly the producers and executives throughout kind of GLAAD had warned After the U.S. Supreme Court early 2003, offering suggestions on con- MSNBC about. Savage Nation’s demise announced in December 2002 that it tent and terminology for dozens of TV put networks on notice that extending would hear Lawrence v. Texas, Lambda pilots and providing resources for more the reach of homophobes like Michael Legal’s challenge to Texas’ law, inclusive characters and stories. Among Savage will not go unchallenged. GLAAD teamed with Lambda to coordi- the shows GLAAD consults on: ABC’s It’s nate media outreach and strategy around a case that focused unprece- All Relative, Fox’s A Minute With Stan dented national attention on gay and Hooper, CBS’ Two and a Half Men, and and raise more than $2.4 million for civil liberties. Fox’s 2004 drama Wonderfalls. GLAAD’s work. Winners and honorees include Six Feet Under, The Laramie Knowing the high stakes involved, march Project, Teen People, USA Today, Rosie GLAAD’s Communications Team — led O’Donnell, Diane Sawyer, Christina by Director of Communications John Exposing ‘Don’t Ask’ Insanity – GLAAD Aguilera, Eric McCormack, Stockard Sonego — developed a multi-faceted works with Servicemembers Legal Channing, and B.D. Wong. media outreach and education cam- Defense Network (SLDN) to focus media paign, including: ongoing outreach to attention on the U.S. military’s dismissal Santorum’s Slander – After Sen. Rick key political and legal writers, opinion of highly qualified Arabic linguists simply Santorum (R.–Pa.) compares same-sex columnists, editorial page editors and for being gay. As part of its work to high- relationships to , bigamy and adul- television booking producers; develop- light wartime issues facing closeted gay tery — and likens to ment of a detailed Lawrence resource and lesbian soldiers and their families, bestiality and pedophilia — in an kit at GLAAD.org (accessed more than GLAAD also works with SLDN to create a interview, GLAAD push- 10,000 times); and a USA Today op-ed “Gay Military Personnel, Don’t Ask Don’t es for media coverage of Santorum’s by Executive Director Joan M. Garry Tell, and Wartime Deployment” media homophobia, challenging journalists to examining the transformation in cultur- resource kit at GLAAD.org. examine the implications of such rhetoric. al attitudes and media visibility since GLAAD also works closely with local and the court’s 1986 Bowers v. Hardwick New GLAAD.org Launches – As part of its national LGBT groups to develop media decision upholding sodomy laws. $1.1 million Digital Initiative, GLAAD offi- strategy in response to Santorum’s attack. When the Supreme Court struck cially launches the new GLAAD.org. Under Seeing in Color – Under People of Color down sodomy laws on June 26, the daily direction of Digital Content Media Director Mónica Taher’s leader- declaring that gay and lesbian Manager Matt Lum, the new GLAAD.org Americans are “entitled to respect for features message boards, polls, an innova- ship, GLAAD launches a major initiative their private lives,” the landmark tive Take Action center, audio and video to expand visibility of and support for decision set off a firestorm of media multimedia libraries, chats, weekly Stories LGBT communities of color. GLAAD’s ini- coverage that quickly transformed to Watch, and much more. tial focus on Spanish-language media into a discussion of marriage rights, results in the removal of a stereotypical setting the stage for GLAAD to play a april gay character from Univision’s Sabado critical role in shaping the cultural Gigante followed by the show’s first-ever and media discussion that would Stars Power the GLAAD Media Awards – discussion of LGBT issues; extensive cov- dominate the latter half of 2003. The 14th Annual GLAAD Media Awards erage of Lawrence v. Texas and marriage honor 2002’s outstanding media images issues on Univision, CNN en Español and across major Spanish-language newspa- pers; an article in People en Español on july august Buenos Aires’ first civil union ceremony; Taking on the Anti-Gay Industry – As Consecrating Bishop Robinson – and GLAAD op-eds in La Opinión (Los same-sex civil marriage takes center-stage Renna and Central Regional Media Angeles) and El Nuevo Herald (Miami). in the national dialogue, GLAAD spokes- Manager Tim Rusch provide resources to people debate anti-gay industry groups local and national media covering the may (including the , Episcopal General Convention and its the Traditional Values Coalition and confirmation of the Rev. V. Gene Telling Sakia’s Story – Sakia Gunn, a Concerned Women for America) through- Robinson as the church’s first-ever open- 15-year old African-American lesbian, is out July and August on CNN, ly gay bishop. Rusch works closely with fatally stabbed May 11 while waiting with Channel and MSNBC. groups such as Integrity and Claiming friends for a bus in Newark, N.J., after hav- the Blessing to provide media with LGBT- ing refused a man’s sexual advances by Here Come the ‘Brides’ – GLAAD’s Cathy affirming voices directly from the telling him she was gay. GLAAD’s News Renna provides resources and back- Convention floor, and GLAAD continues and Regional Media teams offer support ground to Brides magazine for a feature to work with media throughout 2003 as to the family and work with The New York article on same-sex weddings — the first they cover the events leading up to Times and CNN to focus media attention such piece ever published in a major Robinson’s consecration. on Sakia’s story and the need for safe bridal publication. After The New York spaces for Newark’s LGBT youth. Times reports on the Brides feature, Announcing Equality Anniversary – Renna discusses the article on CNN and Launched in August 2002, GLAAD’s ‘Essentials’ Training – GLAAD’s Regional MSNBC. Announcing Equality Project aimed to Media team leads MediaEssentials train- double in one year the number of news- ings at the National Coalition of Brandon Teena Revisited – Northwestern papers that accepted same-sex wedding Anti-Violence Programs conference. Under Regional Media Manager Calvin Fleming announcements. At the one-year the guidance of Regional Media Director has several conversations with the head of anniversary of the campaign, GLAAD Glennda Testone, GLAAD performs 27 the Associated Press Omaha Bureau after has successfully tripled — from 69 to trainings in 22 cities across 19 states, an AP writer refers to the late Brandon 209 — the number of gay-inclusive serving over 600 LGBT and allied activists Teena (Boys Don’t Cry) with female pro- papers, including papers in 47 states in 2003 with issue-oriented trainings on nouns, identifying him as a “cross-dressing and in all 25 of ’s top media marriage, religion, youth and hate crimes. woman” and claiming he “posed as a man.” markets. GLAAD’s campaign dramatical- Among 2003’s GLAAD MediaEssentials par- Holmes subsequently drafts ly increases the profile of same-sex ticipants: PFLAG, the Federation of reporting guidelines for his bureau and unions as marriage equality begins to Statewide LGBT Groups, Marriage shares them with national AP editors. dominate the national debate. Equality, Dignity/USA, Leadership Lambda, and attendees at Creating Change and the Hate Crimes Increase in Nebraska, Anti-Trans Hate Crimes Rock D.C. – Models of Pride Youth Conferences. Kentucky– GLAAD’s Southeastern Regional Within one week, two transgender Media Manager Chalee Snorton works with women — Emonie Spaulding and Bella june the Kentucky Fairness Alliance to focus Evangelista — are brutally murdered attention on Kentucky’s deficient hate while another, Punama Walker, is shot Gay Summer of ’03 – Following the his- crimes law following the hate-motivated and seriously wounded in a series of toric Lawrence v. Texas decision and murder of Richie Phillips, a gay resident of unrelated hate crimes. GLAAD staff work throughout the summer, GLAAD works Rineyville, Ky. And GLAAD’s Calvin Fleming with D.C.-area activists, helping develop with reporters and producers to success- offers terminology guidelines to media and community media strategy and calling on fully pitch dozens of articles examining support to the Omaha, Neb. community English and Spanish-language journalists the explosion in LGBT media visibility following the murder of a transgender to address and correct problematic cover- exemplified by the phenomenal success Latina named Selena Álvarez-Hernández. age and disrespectful pronoun usage. of Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Boy Meets Boy and CBS’s Amazing Race 4. GLAAD also helps Queer Eye’s Fab Five intense debate over marriage — encourag- prepare for media interviews in advance ing them to share the stories of same-sex of the show’s launch. GLAAD FOCUSMARRIAGE couples, examine the rights and protec- GLAAD in ‘USA Today’ – USA Today tions denied gay and lesbian families, and publishes a GLAAD op-ed (the third in From the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial question the escalating vitriol of the anti- 18 months) by Executive Director Joan M. Court ruling to the expansion of protec- gay industry and its attempts to write Garry examining the cultural revolution tions for same-sex couples in , discrimination into the U.S. Constitution. and from the historic granting of marriage that preceded Lawrence. In 2003, GLAAD Working as part of a marriage-focused licenses in Canada to the anti-gay rhetoric op-eds also appear in the Minneapolis coalition of key legal and political groups of , Justice Star-Tribune, , the Austin (including the , and , the debate over mar- American-Statesman, PR Week, La Opinión, Lambda Legal, the ACLU and the Gay and riage equality dominated newspaper El Nuevo Herald, The Advocate, and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders), headlines — and much of GLAAD’s work — dozens of regional LGBT papers. GLAAD also developed a comprehensive throughout 2003. online Same-Sex Civil Marriage resource In-Flight Invisibility – Upon receiving Following the Lawrence decision, GLAAD’s kit — viewed over 15,000 times — and con- reports that same-sex kisses had been John Sonego, Glennda Testone and Cathy tinues to lead development of community edited out of in-flight versions of Far From Renna led a campaign planning process media strategy and messaging around Heaven and The Hours, GLAAD meets with that mapped out GLAAD’s two-year strate- marriage. And with the marriage debate Delta, American Airlines and U.S. Airways. gic priorities surrounding marriage. expected to intensify amid the 2004 elec- All three airlines re-evaluate their policies GLAAD spent the rest of the year working tions, GLAAD will continue working to and commit to fair, consistent standards with reporters covering the increasingly ensure that our stories are told. for gay and straight content. Total Recall – GLAAD reaches out to political reporters covering the California recall, asking them to explore Arnold of widespread, hateful rhetoric by anti-gay Schwarzengger’s actual stance on key GLAAD FOCUSHATE CRIMES industry leaders. civil rights issues rather than accept his From Cathy Renna’s appearance alongside Gregory Beauchamp. Sakia Gunn. Selena vague public statements as evidence of the family of Sakia Gunn on CNN, to Chalee Álvarez-Hernández. Richie Phillips. Emonie being “pro-gay.” Southwestern Regional Snorton’s work with the Kentucky Spaulding. Bella Evangelista. Six lives tragi- Media Manager Eddie Gutierrez also calls Fairness Alliance in the wake of Richie cally cut short by hate-motivated violence on reporters and producers to examine Phillips’ murder, to Mónica Taher and against the LGBT community in 2003. Six the major candidates’ positions on AB Michael Young’s work to correct inaccu- stories that GLAAD’s News, Regional and 205, the recently passed expansion of rate, insensitive media reporting on the People of Color Media teams worked to California’s domestic partnership law. D.C.-area of Emonie Spaulding make sure journalists could not ignore. and Bella Evangelista, GLAAD urged september According to the National Coalition of reporters to consider the impact of hate Anti-Violence Programs, the months fol- violence, the continuing invisibility of vic- Families Matter: The Fall TV Season – lowing Lawrence v. Texas saw a dramatic tims who are transgender and people of GLAAD releases its annual Fall TV Season surge in anti-LGBT hate crimes — a trend color, and what can be done to stem the Analysis, including an index of broadcast fueled by an explosion of LGBT cultural tide of hatred and violence against the and cable network LGBT characters at and media visibility coupled with months LGBT community. GLAAD.org. Media outlets across the country report GLAAD’s concerns over the continuing lack of in broad- prepare for her appearance on NBC’s to the publishing outlet. On its first day, cast TV characters — as well as GLAAD’s Today show and providing research for seven GLAAD.org visitors submit letters praise of shows like It’s All Relative, fea- her essay in USA Today. to (two of which were published) in response to an ill-con- turing network TV’s groundbreaking Writing the Book on Resources – representation of a gay family. ceived column about “gay fatigue.” In GLAAD also publishes its Covering Hate 2003, more than 250,000 people “Take Anti- on ‘’ – Crimes media resource kit for journalists Action” at GLAAD.org and access the CNN’s features a one- at GLAAD.org, offering spokesperson site’s Multimedia Library resources. sided, hour-long interview with Focus contacts, detailed background on hate on the Family founder James Dobson, crimes, and essays by anti-violence december who uses his appearance to insult LGBT experts. During 2003, GLAAD also pub- couples, saying gays and “cannot lishes media resource kits on Lawrence Poll Bias, Sensationalism at the ‘Times’ – be a family” and claiming same-sex cou- v. Texas; Same-Sex Civil Marriage; Don’t When The New York Times publishes a sen- ples “want to destroy marriage.” GLAAD Ask, Don’t Tell; Black History Month and sationalistic front-page story touting the immediately contacts the show’s produc- Asian Pacific American Heritage Month; results of a dubious Times/CBS News poll ers and sends out a GLAAD Alert, as well as resource kits for inclusive on the Federal Marriage Amendment resulting in over 20,000 e-mails via Valentine’s Day, Pride Month and (FMA), GLAAD publishes a GLAAD Alert GLAAD.org protesting Larry King Live’s Holiday season feature articles. protesting and calling attention to the embrace of Dobson’s anti-. story’s misleading inaccuracies. The november Times’ public editor subsequently writes a Gallup-ing Toward Fairness – GLAAD lengthy essay examining the article’s flaws, meets with the Gallup Organization to Remembering AIDS & ‘The Reagans’ – addressing many of GLAAD’s concerns. discuss the terminology used by the When anti-gay industry leaders pressure polling group, successfully encouraging CBS to cancel The Reagans miniseries, GLAAD Joins Black LGBT Coalition – them to cease identifying being gay as GLAAD directs media attention toward GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign an “alternative lifestyle” and labeling conservative groups’ re-writing of the (HRC) and others join author Keith gay men and lesbians as “homosexuals.” history of President Reagan’s silence on Boykin as co-founders of the National AIDS and his administration’s hostility Black Justice Coalition. As media commit- Harvey Milk School Opens – GLAAD toward the gay community. GLAAD suc- tee chair, People of Color Media Manager works closely with the Harvey Milk cessfully pitches articles exposing the Jasmyne Cannick supports the coalition’s School to develop and implement media right’s revisionism efforts in The New campaign to generate black support for strategy, participating in daily conference York Times and the Times. marriage equality and opposition to the calls in the weeks before the school Federal Marriage Amendment. opens. GLAAD staff are present on ‘Mass.’ Elation, Confusion – In the wake opening day, providing media relations of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial And the Nominees Are… GLAAD expertise and helping coordinate Court’s affirmation of same-sex couples’ announces the nominees for the 15th community support for the school. right to marriage equality in Goodridge Annual GLAAD Media Awards at a gala v. Dept. of Public Health, GLAAD chal- event in Dallas. Among the nominees: october lenges the media — many of whom Angels in America, Queer Eye for the misreported the decision — to examine Straight Guy, Under the Tuscan Sun, : Five Years Later – As and report the case clearly, fairly and People en Español and more than 130 media prepare to cover five-year obser- accurately. The day of the decision, other projects – including GLAAD’s vances of the death of Matthew Shepard, GLAAD’s Joan M. Garry discusses the first-ever nominees in Spanish-language GLAAD focuses attention on the surge in implications of the landmark ruling on categories. For a full list of nominees and hate crimes since the Lawrence decision CNN’s NewsNight with Aaron Brown. special honorees, visit GLAAD.org. and the continuing media invisibility of anti-LGBT crimes — particularly those Taking Action ‘Write Now!’ – GLAAD.org launches Write Now!, a daily activism against people of color and the transgen- 1-800-GAY-MEDIA der community. GLAAD also works opportunity connecting visitors to unique closely with Judy Shepard, helping her stories and providing a feedback channel www.glaad.org