A Guide for Reporting on LGBT People in Georgia
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A Guide for Reporting SOUTHERN on LGBT People in STORIES Georgia WE ARE A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE GLAAD SOUTHERN STORIES PROGRAM 800.789.5401 MGBWHOME.COM GLAAD Southern Stories A Guide for Reporting on LGBT People in Georgia Getting Started 4 WE ARE A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE GLAAD SOUTHERN STORIES PROGRAM Terms and Definitions 5 Georgia’s LGBT History 6 When GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance report revealed that levels of discomfort towards the LGBT community are as high as 43% in America—and spike to 61% in the U.S. South— we knew we had to act. To accelerate LGBT Terms to Avoid 10 acceptance in the U.S. South, GLAAD is telling the stories of LGBT people from across the region through our Southern Stories initiative. We are amplifying experiences of LGBT people who are resilient in the face of inequality and Defamatory Language adversity, and building a culture in which they 11 are able not only to survive, but to also thrive. These are impactful stories with the power to change hearts and minds, but they are too often missed or ignored altogether. In Georgia, the LGBT community is making sure Best Practices in Media Coverage and steady progress, but the work to achieve 12 full equality and acceptance is far from done. On the ground in Georgia, we have enjoyed meeting and working with organizations like Georgia Equality and Lost-N-Found Youth and connecting with inspiring LGBT Georgians like trans homecoming queen Eris Lovell Pitfalls to Avoid 13 and Reverend Maressa Pendermon. More and more, Georgia sees communities of faith opening their arms to LGBT people; public officials listening to families, workers, and tax payers as they voice their need for equal protections; students creating supportive and inclusive spaces; and allies standing up Story Ideas 14 for their LGBT friends, family members, and neighbors. This guide will serve as a useful tool for the media as it works to effectively share the stories of LGBT people so that all Georgians Organizations 15 can live the lives they love. Sarah Kate Ellis GLAAD’s Assistance 16 GLAAD CEO & President 800.789.5401 MGBWHOME.COM 3 GLAAD Southern Stories A Guide for Reporting on LGBT People in Georgia Getting Started At first glance, Georgia lags behind the rest of the country when it policies and 19 districts that include gender identity. Together, these comes to protections for LGBT people. However, beneath the surface districts cover almost 60% of public school students in the state. 5 is a vibrant and diverse LGBT community that has built itself into an When it comes to open LGBT representation in government, Georgia incredible force for change over the last few decades, and is leading has elected out government officials since the late 1990s and the way to bring policy protections and cultural acceptance to LGBT continues to do so today. Cathy Woolard became the first out LGBT people in the state. elected official in Georgia when she was elected to the Atlanta City In April 2014, Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit seeking the right Council in 1997. Woolard went on to become the first woman and first for same-sex couples to marry in Georgia.1 The following January 29, out LGBT person elected to serve as Atlanta City Council President. U.S. District Judge William Duffey granted in part and denied in part Karla Drenner, who campaigned for State Representative in 2000, was a request to stay the proceedings in the case. Since the U.S. Supreme the first to be elected as an out LGBT person.6 Simone Bell, elected in Court ruled in favor of marriage equality nationwide, Georgia has 2009, is the first out African American lesbian to serve in a State House dismissed lawsuits that prohibited the freedom to marry. in the U.S. Rashad Taylor was outed as a gay man in 2011 during his term as State Representative, making him the first out LGBT African Culturally, acceptance for the LGBT community has increased 7 enormously over the past decade. An exit poll conducted for the American man in Georgia legislature. Cynthia Wright, Joan Garner, Associated Press on March 2, 2004 found that half of those who voted and Jane Morrison, out lesbians, all serve as elected officials at the county level, and Alex Wan became the first out LGBT Asian American in Georgia’s primary election opposed any legal recognition of same- 8 sex relationships. Only about 17% supported marriage equality, on Atlanta City Council in 2011. Most recently, Keisha Waites became 2 Georgia’s fourth out LGBT legislator in 2012 when she was elected and just 25% supported same-sex couples forming civil unions. In 9 a Public Policy Polling report published on August 8, 2013, almost a State Representative. decade later, 32% of Georgians supported marriage equality, while Georgia’s grassroots movements for full equality represent people 3 57% supported civil unions. Slowly but surely, the cultural needle is living at the intersections of multiple identities. African-American moving toward acceptance. and Latino LGBT communities, for example, continue to move Meanwhile, in that same 2013 poll, 72% of Georgians revealed that equality forward through advocacy organizations like LatinoLinQ they do not believe employers should be able to discriminate on and the National Association of White and Black Men Together. the basis of sexual orientation.4 Despite this encouraging statistic, These organizations prioritize communities with multiple minority however, non-discrimination legislation in the state does not include identities, helping to foster acceptance for the LGBT community in all sexual orientation or gender identity at this time. Thankfully, Georgia its diversities. does not have any statewide anti-LGBT curriculum laws that restrict This guide only captures a portion of LGBT Georgians’ lives and school faculty from discussion LGBT lives in the classroom. Statewide history. Our hope, however, is that it empowers and motivates media anti-bullying legislation fails to include protections based on sexual professionals to find and discover new stories, new angles to existing orientation or gender identity. However, there are 50 Georgia school but often overlooked stories, and a new framework for reporting on districts that include sexual orientation in their own anti-bullying LGBT individuals in the state of Georgia. Why the South? Why now? National Discomfort Southern Discomfort 27% Seeing a gay GLAAD recently commissioned Harris Poll to co-worker’s wedding measure attitudes towards LGBT Americans. 32% picture What we found is that even though 2015 has been an historic year for the rights of LGBT Americans, 29% Electing a gay beneath legal and policy progress lies a layer 35% politician of uneasiness and discomfort. While the public is increasingly embracing LGBT civil rights and 34% Attending a same-sex equal protections under the law, many are still wedding uncomfortable with having LGBT people in their 40% families and the communities where they live. Within these numbers, we find that Southerners 43% Bringing a child to a feel significantly more discomfort about their 50% same-sex wedding LGBT families, friends, and neighbors than is found in other regions of the country. 59% Learning my child was For more information, visit dating a transgender glaad.org/acceptance 61% person 4 GLAAD Southern Stories A Guide for Reporting on LGBT People in Georgia Terms and Definitions Sexual orientation – The scientifically accurate term for an Many transgender people are prescribed hormones by their doctors individual’s enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to change their bodies. Some undergo surgery as well, but not all to members of the same and/or opposite sex, including lesbian, gay, transgender people can or will take those steps, and a transgender bisexual, and heterosexual (straight) orientations. Avoid the offensive identity is not dependent upon medical procedures. term “sexual preference,” which is used to suggest that being gay, lesbian, or bisexual is voluntary and therefore “curable.” People need Trans – Used as shorthand to mean transgender or transsexual - or not have had specific sexual experiences to know their own sexual sometimes to be inclusive of a wide variety of identities under the orientation; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all. transgender umbrella. Because its meaning is not precise or widely understood, be careful when using it with audiences who may not LGBT / GLBT – Acronym for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.” understand what it means. Avoid unless used in a direct quote or in LGBT and/or GLBT are often used because they are more inclusive of cases where you can clearly explain the term’s meaning in the context the diversity of the community. Care should be taken to ensure that of your story. audiences are not confused by their use. Ensure that the acronym is spelled out on first usage. Transgender man – People who were assigned female at birth but identify and live as a man may use this term to describe themselves. Queer – Traditionally a pejorative term, queer has been appropriated They may shorten it to trans man. (Note: trans man, not “transman.”) by some LGBT people to describe themselves. However, it is not Some may also use FTM, an abbreviation for female-to-male. Some universally accepted even within the LGBT community and should be may prefer to simply be called men, without any modifier. It is best to avoided unless describing someone who self-identifies that way or in ask which term an individual prefers. a direct quote. When Q is seen at the end of “LGBT,” it typically means queer and/or questioning. Transgender woman – People who were assigned male at birth but identify and live as a woman may use this term to describe Homophobia – Fear of lesbians and gay men.