GLSEN’s E.D. Calls Out OK Senator’s Staffer On His Anti-LGB Message
September 30, 2009 by Amanda Morgan, GLAAD's Digital Initiatives Fellow
Last week media reported on various aspects of the Value Voters Summit, a yearly forum for ultra-conservatives. Last year, the summit made headlines for its wares depicting then presidential candidate Barack Obama as a racial stereotype. This year one of the more alarming things to come out of the summit happened during a breakout session titled “The New Masculinity,” which brought speakers together to discuss “principles and ideals for a new masculinism.” During this session, the final speaker, Michael Schwartz, Sen. Tom Colburn’s (R-Okla.) Chief of Staff, made this statement:
“But it is my observation that boys at that age [10 – 12 years of age] have less tolerance for homosexuality than just about any other class of people. They speak badly about homosexuals. And that’s because they don’t want to be that way. They don’t want to fall into it. And that’s a good instinct. After all, homosexuality, we know, studies have been done by the National Institute of Health to try to prove that it’s genetic and all those studies have proved its not genetic. Homosexuality is inflicted on people.”
Just days later, The New York Times published an article online titled Coming Out in Middle School, which also appeared in the New York Times Magazine. The article profiles several gay and bisexual youth from across the country, some of whom live in Oklahoma. Though the article’s subjects came out in middle school, two report being aware of their sexual orientations earlier, at age ten and eleven. The article also references studies that put the mean age for recognizing same-sex attraction at age ten.
In response to Schwartz’s remarks, Dr. Eliza Byard, Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Education Network (GLSEN), who is also quoted in the Times article, penned a piece that was published in the Huffington Post, titled Colliding Realities In America’s Middle Schools.
Byard delivers a cautionary tale, urging readers to consider:
“…the clash of those two realities–10-year-olds intolerant of gay people and 10-year-olds realizing they are gay–playing out in both hidden and public ways every day in school hallways.”
She goes on to quote stark statistics from the recently released GLSEN Research brief:
“The brief reveals that middle school LGBT students reported rates of harassment and assault that were significantly higher than those reported by high school LGBT students: more middle school students had been verbally harassed, and a shocking 63% had heard homophobic remarks made by school staff. About two of every five LGBT middle school students had been assaulted – punched, kicked or threatened with a weapon – at school, as compared to “only” one in five of the high school respondents.”
This information is stark indeed and bears ill portent if Schwartz’s remarks are left unchecked by the media. His statements very clearly reinforce and even encourage homophobia in youth who are already, according to GLSEN’s data, committing acts of harassment and violence against their LGBT peers more frequently in middle school than high school.
During the course of his speech, where he addressed what men who are already good husbands and fathers can do to change the culture, Schwartz noted:
“If you don’t have love in you life it’s not a very complete life and yet we fail to talk about it to our sons and to their friends. They’re the ones that need to hear it the most.”
Perhaps someone ought to remind him that LGBT youth are deserving of that same love, acceptance and familial support, and that includes a life free from fear of harassment and violence.
Related Posts:Federal Court Dismisses Langbehn’s Lawsuit over Hospital Visitation Rights
September 30, 2009 by Anna Wipfler, GLAAD's Transgender Advocacy Fellow
On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida dismissed Lambda Legal’s lawsuit on behalf of Janice Langbehn, Lisa Pond’s partner of 17 years who was kept from her bedside during her final hours of life in the Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2007. 
Agreeing with the Public Health Trust of Miami Dade County’s motion to dismiss, the court ruled that “the hospital has neither an obligation to allow their patients’ visitors nor any obligation whatsoever to provide their patients’ families, healthcare surrogates, or visitors with access to patients in their trauma unit.”
Lisa Pond suffered a fatal brain aneurysm at age 39 just before she, Janice, and their three children were to depart on a Caribbean cruise for gay families on February 18, 2007. She was rushed off the ship to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where officials refused to let Langbehn or their children see Pond for eight hours until a priest came to deliver her last rites, by which time Pond had already slipped into a coma.
One of the most shocking components of Langbehn’s experience, as laudably reported by the New York Times last May, was her reception by Jackson Memorial social worker Garnett Frederick, who informed her that she was in an “antigay city and state,” and that despite producing the necessary legal papers, they would not recognize her power of attorney authority. Frederick denies making the comment. The court dismissed the case without deciding whether Langbehn had been discriminated against.
Jackson continues to deny that LGBT patients and families are treated differently at their facility. The Miami Herald quoted Jackson Memorial spokeswoman Jennifer Piedra saying in their news release, “We have always believed and known that the staff at Jackson treats everyone equally, and that their main concern is the well-being of the patients in their care.”
In Lambda Legal’s press release the day of the decision, lead counsel Staff Attorney Beth Littrell [said], “The court’s decision paints a tragically stark picture of how vulnerable same-sex couples and their families really are during times of crisis.”
Langbehn’s latest posts to her family blog reveal a deep sense of despair in the wake of the court’s decision:
“I wanted to win so that you – gay or straight – could be with your loved one as well as bring in your children to hold your loved one’s hand while they could sense you – so that you could begin the grieving process – but all was for not. I am sorry.”
GLAAD has worked with the Langbehn family from the beginning of their ordeal, helping with media strategy and media trainings. They are in our hearts at the difficult time and we will continue spotlighting their story and the stories of countless others who are denied basic protections like hospital visitation.
The court has given Lambda and the Langbehn-Pond family until October 16th to review the ruling and consider all legal options. We will continue to keep you updated about the progress of her fight to ensure equal treatment of all families.
Related Posts:What to Watch: Wednesday
September 30, 2009 by Callan Koenig, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Fellow
If you thought Glee couldn’t get any better you thought wrong since the fabulous Kristin Chenoweth will be stopping by the club to help spice things up. After all, the Wicked vet does know a thing or two about showstoppers!
Wednesday, September 30
8:00 pm Mercy, NBC (1 hr) NEW
As Veronica tries to fix her marriage, Sonia woos a cop, and newbie Chole develops a hard edge to her soft soul. Tune in for gay nurse Angel, played by out actor Guillermo Diaz.
8:00 pm The New Adventures of Old Christine, CBS (30 min) NEW
Christine and Richard bump into old college friends and are shocked by how they look. Out comedian Wanda Sykes co-stars.
Recent Emmy winner Kristen Chenoweth drops by the Glee club
8:00 pm America’s Next Top Model, The CW (1 hr) NEW
Tyra’s behind the camera on this colorful photo shoot where she wraps the girls in bright fabrics. Ms. Lulu better bring it! With only 11 girls remaining, who will become America’s. Next. Top. Model?
8:00 pm So You Think You Can Dance, FOX (1 hr) NEW
For the first time ever, Fox’s popular dance competition is airing a fall installment. The fabulous Cat Deely and company are holding the fifth round of auditions. Who will be the first dancers to make it to the Vegas round? Watch and find out!
9:00 pm Modern Family, ABC (30 min) NEW
How will Mitchell and Cameron fare when there’s a bicycle thief in their midst? Hopefully they can keep their cool long enough to make it through family dinner at Jay and Gloria’s.
9:00 pm Glee, FOX (1 hr) NEW
Fabulous recent Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth guest stars as a former classmate of Will’s brought in to spice things up in glee club. While it appears to be going well, one member thinks otherwise.
10:00 pm Top Chef, Bravo (1 hr) REPEAT
In case you missed last week’s here it is again as the chefs must create a dish for illusionists Penn and Teller. Plus chef Michelle Bernstein guest judges.
The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later
September 29, 2009 by Seth Adam, GLAAD's National News Fellow
The New York-based Tectonic Theatre Project will debut an 80-minute epilogue to its bestselling play ‘The Laramie Project’ on October 12 in more than 130 theatres nationwide.
The Laramie Project is based on more than 200 interviews with residents of Laramie, Wyoming following the death of Matthew Shepard, a 21 year-old University of Wyoming student who was savagely beaten and left for dead in October 1998 after his killers learned that he was gay.
The epilogue, titled The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, documents how Laramie has changed a decade after Shepard’s death.
The new piece also features a disturbing 11-minute dialogue with one of Shepard’s killers, Aaron McKinney. The Associated Press, which obtained an advance copy of the script, noted McKinney’s alarming reflections on the brutal murder in an article published Tuesday.
McKinney says that he has little remorse for the crime, but none whatsoever for Shepard:
Yeah I got remorse. But probably not the way people want me to. I got remorse that I didn’t live the way my dad taught me to live… As far as Matt is concerned, I don’t have any remorse.
McKinney is also quoted in the script as blasting Matthew’s mother, Judy Shepard, who now devotes her life advocating for the passage of federal hate crimes legislation that would protect LGBT people:
[Of Judy Shepard] Still, she never shuts up about it, and it’s been like 10 years.
The Associated Press article goes on to say that McKinney admits that “he still dislikes gays and that his perceptions about Shepard’s sex life bolstered his belief that the killing was justified.”
The epilogue’s October 12th debut will mark the 11th anniversary of Shepard’s death and will be performed by more than 1,000 actors, both professional and non-professional, across the country.
GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios will take part in a reading of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later at Boston’s Emerson College on October 12th at 8pm. Tickets are free of charge. For more information, please visit: http://www.maj.org/events/2009/Laramie.cfm
Related Posts:What to Watch: Tuesday
September 29, 2009 by Callan Koenig, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Fellow
It’s a double dose of dancing tonight with Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. While the former is already into results, the latter is still in auditions. Which one to watch? That’s what DVR is for!
Tuesday, September 29
8:00 pm 90210, The CW (1 hr) NEW
Annie’s past keeps haunting her as the nephew of the man she ran over attends West Beverly. Plus lesbian editor Gia (Rumor Willis) and Silver have to interview him for the school paper! Meanwhile Dixon and Sasha have a run-in with a trunk full of porn and Liam tells Naomi the truth about prom night.
8:00 pm Hell’s Kitchen, FOX (1 hr) NEW
There are only five chefs left and they must make a dish that looks as good as it tastes. Lesbian contestant Tennille is still hanging in there and could take the competition. Watch and see what happens!
The fabulous host of SYTYCD, Cat Deeley
9:00 pm Melrose Place, The CW (1 hr) NEW
What goes around can really come around as Ella finds herself in a very vulnerable situation being blackmailed by the new girl on the block.
9:00 pm Dancing With the Stars, ABC (1 hr) NEW
It’s the second round of results. Who will remain in the competition? Watch and find out!
9:00 pm So You Think You Can Dance, FOX (1 hr) NEW
For the first time ever, Fox’s popular dance competition is airing a fall installment. The fabulous Cat Deely and company are holding the fourth round of auditions. Who will be the first dancers to make it to the Vegas round? Watch and find out!
10:00 pm Flipping Out, Bravo (1 hr) NEW
Jeff Lewis and crew are back for a third season, but with the economy in the toilet, flipping houses isn’t such a lucrative option. Maybe they can take a page from Zoila’s book and clean them? Yeah, right! Better watch and see what happens!
10:00 pm The Naughty Kitchen with Chef Blythe Beck, Oxygen (1 hr) NEW
This new series follows Chef Blythe Beck, the executive chef at Dallas restaurant Central 214, as she and her colorful crew cook up healthy servings of drama. Among Beck’s staff are gay employees Curtis and Sam.
Vogue Evolution Returns for the ABDC Finale
September 28, 2009 by Jonathan Rosales, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Manager
Vogue Evolution, the all-gay and transgender dance crew on Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew, returned to the hit MTV show last night for the season four finale after being eliminated earlier this month.
The nine crews that started the season were divided into groups of threes for judge’s choice collaborations. Judge Lil Mama, who ran into some controversy with the LGBT community earlier in the season, selected Vogue Evolution to perform with Artistry in Motion and We Are Heroes, the eventual winners of the competition. The fabulous new super crew performed a showstopping routine to “Girls On the Dance Floor” by Far East Movement.
You can check out to whole episode below:
Related Posts:National Coming Out Day Billboard ‘Ripped to Shreds’ in Memphis
September 28, 2009 by Seth Adam, GLAAD's National News Fellow
Memphis Flyer reported on Monday that a billboard which depicted a U.S. Marine alongside the words “I’m gay and I protected your freedom” was “ripped to shreds” late Friday night. The billboard was sponsored by the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC) and was meant to highlight National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11.
The marine featured on the billboard is Tim Smith, a Memphis local. Smith served from 2001-2004 and was discharged under the discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy just 20 days before he was set to deploy to Iraq.
“We choose not to be stopped by fear. Instead, our community unites in solidarity and with the belief that we too deserve equality,” said MGLCC director Will Batts in a statement released on Saturday. “Although we are saddened by yesterday’s hateful expression of intolerance, we are proud of the local Memphian that chose to be the face on the billboard.”
Four other billboards, also sponsored by MGLCC, are still intact across the Memphis area.
Memphis Commercial Appeal reported on Monday that MGLCC has spoken with Clear Channel, which owns the billboard, and plans have been made to have the billboard restored.
GLAAD will continue to update readers on the media’s coverage of this incident and updates can be found on GLAADblog.org.
Related Posts:Tyra Banks Show Features Story of Teen’s Alarming Attempt to Turn Straight
September 28, 2009 by Tania Torres, GLAAD's Religion, Faith & Values
Tyra Banks interviewed sixteen-year-old Jeffrey who was the subject of a dramatic video posted on YouTube by Manifested Glory Ministries in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where ministers targeted him for a “casting out of evil spirits.” The video shows Jeffrey flailing on the floor surrounded by several church members who call out for the “homosexual demon” to exit the boy’s body—and of him throwing up during the process.
Jeffrey, still sixteen, shared that he was aware of being gay at age five and began to date other boys when he became a teen. He reached out to counselors at True Colors, a pro-LGBT youth organization but three days after a gay prom, sponsored by True Colors, he participated in the exorcism and now says the “evil spirit” is gone but the removal of attractions is “a process.”
Tyra brought on both the ministers from Manifested Glory Ministries and Kamora Herrington of True Colors to discuss the impact of “the belief that gay people are going to hell and are possessed by evil spirits.” Ms. Herrington said that she deals with the harm of these beliefs every week in her work with young gay people— and that too often kids harm themselves because of these beliefs.
GLAAD continues to provide resources to journalists about so-called “ex-gay” programs. When the exorcism video first came out in June, GLAAD directed The Associated Press to speak to the Rev. Roland Stringfellow, who spoke firsthand as an African American who had been subjected to exorcisms as a young gay man. He said he was put in front of the church as members shouted “demon of homosexuality come out of him” and said, “it caused nothing but shame and embarrassment.”
It is also important that media outlets who cover this topic know that the American Psychological Association recently concluded there is no scientific evidence that therapies to change orientation work—and these attempts can be harmful.
Related Posts:What to Watch: Monday
September 28, 2009 by Callan Koenig, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Fellow
NBC’s Trauma joins the Monday night line up which follows the paramedics first to arrive to an accident. Be sure to stay tuned for the introduction of a no doubt bad ass gay character.
Monday, September 28
8:00 pm How I Met Your Mother, CBS (30 min) NEW
Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) decides to take Marshall on a guys’ night out and Ted goes on a blind date with a girl he already went out with year earlier.
8:00 pm Heroes, NBC (1 hr) NEW
Claire deals with the aftermath of inadvertently revealing her powers to her new lesbian friend Gretchen. Elsewhere, Peter deal with the repercussions of his heroic acts and meets another woman with abilities. Samuel goes deep to retrieve memories of his brother and Matt battles inner demons as Sylar reappears in his mind.
8:00 pm Dancing With the Stars, ABC (2 hrs) NEW
Fifteen celebrities remain as they try to master the art of dance in the show’s ninth season. Donny Osmond, Melissa Joan Hart, Michael Irvin, Chuck Liddell, and Aaron Carter are amongst the competitors. Openly gay choreographer Bruno Tonioli returns to judge.
8:00 pm House, FOX (1 hrs) NEW
House is out of the hospital and back to work with the promise of making big changes in his life. While away Foreman fought for House’s job putting his relationship with Thirteen in jeopardy. With a difficult new case, maybe only House can solve it.
Cast of Trauma
9:00 pm Trauma, NBC (1 hr) SERIES PREMIERE
Set in San Francisco, new series Trauma reveals the dangerous world of hard working first-responder paramedics. It’ll soon become clear why everyone isn’t cut out for this job! Among the people who are cut out for the stress is a yet-to-be-revealed gay character. Tune in to find out who it is!
9:00 pm Gossip Girl, The CW (1 hr) NEW
Old habits die hard as Serena fears Carter is reverting back to his old ways. Meanwhile Blair and Chuck go toe-to-toe on an auction bid, Vanessa grows suspicious of Scott, and sneaky Georgina guns it for Dan. Hopefully Jenny and Eric will pop up for some good old-fashioned high school drama.
9:00pm Greek, ABC Family (1 hr) NEW
Oh no, ZBZ is slipping in the ranks! Casey takes it upon herself to make sure ZBZ gets back to the top and plans a fab photo shoot for Lamda Sig’s calendar. Too bad a silly freshman pledge has convinced everyone to boycott. Is ZBZ doomed to be on the bottom of the Greek hierarchy forever?
10:00 pm The Rachel Zoe Project, Bravo (1 hr) NEW
The doctor’s orders are to take it easy. But how can she with Paris Fashion Week quickly approaching. To add to the stress Rachel must chose between Brad and Taylor to go to a high-fashion event. What will Rachel do?
Apple Responds to GLAAD Concerns About Problematic Advertisement
September 25, 2009 by Amanda Morgan, GLAAD's Digital Initiatives Fellow
UPDATE: We heard back from an Apple publicity representative who told us this ad has not run since 2006 and is no longer featured on the company’s website. We explained why the ad was problematic and urged Apple NOT to produce ads with similar themes in the future. They assured us the company is committed to diversity and thanked us for the outreach. GLAAD will continue to encourage companies to produce fair, accurate and inclusive advertisements.
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After being alerted by constituents about a problematic ad for Apple‘s iMovie, we investigated these complaints and were disappointed to see the usually witty Mac advertisers resort to mocking transgender people in order to sell their product.
The ad features model Gisele Bundchen, who is supposed to be the embodiment of a home movie made using iMovie. After the Mac presents Gisele, the PC presents a person wearing a dress identical to Gisele’s, in a wig, with no breasts, a five o’clock shadow and an abundance of exposed chest hair.
The ad ends with the line:
“Work in progress?”
GLAAD is concerned that Apple would resort to anti-transgender stereotypes as an adverting strategy. We have reached out to the company and asked that they pull the ad. We will keep you updated on our communications with Apple.
Related Posts:NBC’s SNL and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Defame Caster Semenya
September 25, 2009 by Jonathan Rosales, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Manager
Last week, we reached out to NBC with complaints about a joke told at the expense of champion South African runner Caster Semenya during September 17th’s episode of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday.
Although NBC listened to our complaints, the network has yet to issue a statement, an apology or give an acknowledgment that the joke was in poor taste.
Please contact NBC and voice your serious concerns about this joke. Ask NBC to apologize and cut the joke from future airings.
Sharon Pannozzo
NBC Publicity
Sharon.Pannozzo@nbcuni.com
This week, a viewer also alerted us to a recent segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live! titled “Kids Weigh In” which perpetuated a series of severely insensitive media reports questioning Caster Semenya’s gender.
“Kids Weigh In” was introduced with a monologue by Kimmel that quickly shifted from comedic to offensive when he reported on the rumors surrounding Semenya. Among several distasteful comments, Kimmel referred to Semenya as a “hermaphrodite,” and to her hairstyle as a “hermafro.”
Kimmel’s reference to Semenya as a “hermaphrodite” is in itself offensive—the term is outdated and stigmatizing. The use of such a term was only one of the many problems that the segment illustrated—Kimmel later commented on the IAAF testing of Semenya’s gender saying, “if it takes three months to figure out whether you’re a woman or not, then you probably aren’t.”
During the segment, several children were asked to decipher the athlete’s gender, because according to Kimmel, “kids are the most honest people in the world.” In the interviews, eight children were shown a photograph of Semenya and asked if she was male or female.
Although the video clip was intended to be a humorous take to the gender debate surrounding Semenya, the end result proved to be defamatory.
GLAAD is currently reaching out to ABC and Jimmy Kimmel Live! about the segment. To voice your concerns please contact:
Aime Wolfe
Aime.wolfe@abc.com
Maine Education Officials Dispute Claim that Marriage for Same-Sex Couples will be Taught in Schools
September 25, 2009 by Seth Adam, GLAAD's National News Fellow
The Maine-based newspaper Sun Journal reported on Wednesday that the anti-LGBT ‘Stand for Marriage’ organization has come under fire for misleading voters about marriage for same-sex couples.
In a television advertisement that began airing this week, ‘Stand for Marriage’ alleges that extending marriage protections to Maine’s same-sex couples “has everything to do with schools.” The ad features a Massachusetts couple who tells the story of how their 7 year-old son’s teacher read a book to the class about one prince marrying another prince.
Maine’s Department of Education spokesperson David Connerty-Marin, however, disputes the claim that providing marriage protections for same-sex couples would make any difference to the state’s education policies:
Seeing as there is nothing in Maine education law or rule that even mentions marriage, I think it’s quite unlikely that changing the rules about marriage would encourage anyone to change what they are teaching in the classroom.
Connerty-Marin goes on to point out that there is nothing that prohibits Maine’s teachers from addressing the issue of same-sex couples in the classroom today:
There is nothing that would prohibit a teacher – two years ago, 10 years ago or a year from now – from reading a book to your child that you don’t like. Your recourse would be to talk to your child’s teacher, principal, superintendent or school board and ultimately work to change policies or change the people who sit on that school board if you don’t agree with those.
Jesse Connolly, campaign manager for the No on 1/ Protect Marriage Equality campaign also weighed in on the issue in the Sun Journal article:
To say that gay marriage is going to be taught in school is totally, 100 percent false in my opinion. There are gay and lesbian families in Maine that have kids in public schools, so if you’re asking if those families are already acknowledged in the classroom by teachers, then I would say yes. But that has nothing to do with this campaign or bill.
AMERICAblog author John Aravosis notes that the ad’s scare tactic is not only similar to the fear based approach used in California’s Proposition 8 battle, it is exactly the same. Aravosis points out that the ad reuses the exact footage of the Massachusetts couple featured in the anti-LGBT ‘Yes on 8’ campaign last fall.
These are extreme views in any context and we believe that Maine voters will see through this cast of characters and focus on the real issue of treating all Maine families with dignity and respect… The fact that the ‘Yes on 1’ campaign would literally repackage the same ad their California consultants used in California is a testament to the national outsiders pushing their agenda on the voters of Maine. This is nothing more than a tired national playbook concocted by California political consultants and the national groups that pay their way.
GLAAD will continue to monitor the media’s coverage of Maine’s fight for marriage equality. Updates can be found on glaadBLOG.org
Related Posts:National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to be Observed on Sept. 27
September 25, 2009 by Seth Adam, GLAAD's National News Fellow
The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) alongside the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (GBC) has coordinated the second annual ‘National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day’ which will be observed this Sunday, Sept. 27.
NAPWA is working in close collaboration with companies such as MTV, Facebook, Kenneth Cole and various others on a public education campaign that stresses the importance of regular HIV/AIDS testing.
“The commitment of these companies, combined with the work of partners like NAPWA and CDC, will make a critical difference in the fight to defeat HIV/AIDS,” said John Newsome, Vice President, U.S. Impact Initiative for GBC.
For more information, please visit NAPWA’s National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day page here or the GBC’s press release here.
Related Posts:What to Watch: This Weekend
September 25, 2009 by Callan Koenig, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Fellow
Sundays are bigger then ever with the return of all your faves, including Desperate Housewives and The Amazing Race. Watch as gay brothers Dan and Sam McMillen take on eight countries in 21-days in the most incredible race around the world.
Friday, September 25
10:00 pm Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO (1 hr) NEW
This no-holds barred news show is broadcast live, so you never know what to expect. Bill regularly discusses LGBT issues and features gay panelists and commentators, so check it out!
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Saturday, September 26
9:00 pm Color Splash, HGTV (30 min) NEW
Gay interior designer David Bromstad reworks living spaces. Tonight he makes over a master bedroom in high fashion style.
9:00 pm Making His Band, MTV (1 hr) NEW
Since Sean “Diddy” Combs’ other music series did so well, he has decided to use this spin-off to document the formation of his own band for his upcoming tour. Competing for one of the coveted back up singer spots is the talented Jaila Simms, a transgender woman from Chicago. Can this fabulous singer win a spot in Diddy’s new band? Better watch and find out!
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Sunday, September 27
Gay brothers Dan and Sam fight to win The Amazing Race
7:00pm Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, ABC (2 hr) SEASON PREMIERE
In part one of this two hour premiere, the team travels to Wisconsin to rebuild the Huber family’s dilapidated farmhouse. In part two, the new house is revealed to the decorated firefighter and his family. Patricia Heaton helps with the build. The show features openly gay designer Eduardo Xol.
7:30 pm American Dad, FOX (30 min) SEASON PREMIERE
It’s a Veterans’ Day celebration on this season five opener and Steve is chosen to sing the national anthem, but not if Stan doesn’t think he’s ready. Plus omnisexual alien Roger is desperate to watch the Barbara Streisand special but can’t without the pay-per-view codes being held by Stan. Stan should know better than to get in the way of a queer alien and his Barbara!
8:00 pm The Amazing Race, CBS (2 hrs) SEASON PERMIERE
The seven-time Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Competition Series returns with its 15th installment as 12 couples start out in LA, including gay brothers Dan and Sam McMillen. After a team is eliminated before even crossing the starting line, the remaining 11 pairs jet off to Japan, the first stop on a 21-day, 8-country race around the globe! Go team McMillen!
8:00 pm The Simpsons, FOX (30 min) SEASON PREMIERE
After 21 seasons can The Simpsons still bring it? You bet! In the 21st season opener, Seth Rogen guest stars as a celebrity fitness trainer. Hopefully lesbian Patty and her sister Selma will close by to tell Homer how he’s really doing!
The frisky females of Wisteria Lane
9:00 pm Desperate Housewives, ABC (1 hr) SEASON PREMIERE
The winds are changing on Wisteria Lane, as the sixth season gets under way. Who will be revealed as Mike’s bride: Katherine or Susan? And what’s this business about poor Lynette being pregnant again?! Meanwhile, Bree struggles to break free, while Gaby’s teen niece moves in. Plus there’s fresh meat on the block as a new family comes to town.
10:00 pm Brothers and Sisters, ABC (1 hr) SEASON PREMIERE
We find the Walkers rather stressed in this fourth-season opener, with Kitty harboring a devastating secret and Nora and Holly being forced to work together to plan an engagement party for Justin and Rebecca. With Tommy still soul searching in Mexico, Sarah in France, and Kevin busy, who will wrangle the Walkers?
10:00 pm Mad Men, AMC (1 hr) NEW
Little Ms. Housewife Betty gets involved in local politics and a disturbing incident makes Don reevaluate his future. Plus Peggy receives a beautiful gift.
10:30 pm Entourage, HBO (30 min) NEW
Lloyd drama is temporarily put on the backburner as Ari’s old mentor and now nemesis stops by to talk business. Drama is all nerves about his Melrose Place audition, Turtle sees Jamie-Lynn off at the airport and Eric goes to the doctor.
Sea Change in the Churches
September 24, 2009 by Tania Torres, GLAAD's Religion, Faith & Values
Back in June, we published a round up of LGBT issues on the docket for a cluster of denominations. The result was a sea change in the churches. Here are the exciting results:
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH USA
The Presbyterian Church USA led the way this summer as it voted on a constitutional amendment on ordination equality. Ratification by the required half of the 173 regional presbyteries was not expected so LGBT faith leaders worked with GLAAD to keep the focus on “growing support.” Early in the voting, regions like North Carolina, Alabama, Texas and Arkansas voted for equality. GLAAD helped LGBT Presbyterians blast an early media release through Religion News Service which laid emphasized messages of “growing support” and “churches are changing” to shape coverage of all LGBT church stories. When the vote was final, four LGBT Presbyterian groups worked with GLAAD on a media release. The Associated Press carried the “change” message nationwide.
MENNONITE CHURCH
Young LGBT and allied Mennonites made national news for the first time ever as they protested anti-LGBT policies and practices in the Mennonite Church. GLAAD helped young and old alike to get their voices into media. Wearing pink and prepped with talking points, young people expertly used the media to tell the Mennonite Church USA Assembly, June 30 – July 5, in Columbus, Ohio, that youth are leaving the church because of discrimination against LGBT church members. Hundreds of Mennonite pastors signed an open letter calling Mennonites to heal the harm done to LGBT people.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
In July, bishops and elected deputies gathered for the Episcopal Church’s triennial General Convention in Anaheim, California, where they bravely moved forward, despite high-profile opposition, to approve a resolution to officially allow ordination of gay and lesbian priests. They affirmed that God could call anyone to ordination, including people in same-sex marriages or partnerships. Shortly after the ban was lifted, two Episcopal dioceses announced the nomination of openly gay and lesbian priests for bishop. The Convention also recognized transgender rights and inclusion, and delegated the task of proposing blessing rites for same sex-couples.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
The watershed event of the summer was when the mother church of Protestantism, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, voted for inclusion at their biennial Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis on August 17-23. After decades of struggle, the body was ready to vote on an inclusive Social Statement on Human Sexuality as well as ministry policies that allow clergy to be in committed same-sex partnerships. After defeating an attempt to change the voting rules, the body took on the Social Statement on Human Sexuality. For passage it required 2/3 of the 1000 plus voting delegates to support it. When the electronic vote was projected, people gasped. The vote was precisely 66.67%. Expert long-term strategies by the LGBT Lutheran coalition combined with GLAAD’s spokesperson training and media pitching helped bring about these mounmental changes. When the third and final vote was taken on LGBT concerns, the ELCA put the icing on the cake by dropping the celibacy requirement for gay clergy and allowing clergy to be in same-sex unions. Change happened!
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
The United Church of Christ, the first mainline denomination to support full equality for LGBT people, held its General Synod in June. At the weeklong event, UCC representatives approved a resolution to support diversity education in public schools and to encourage other denominations to build ecumenical support for basic respect for all people, including LGBT individuals and families.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
The Unitarian Universalist United Nations office, which now has a staff person designated for sexual orientation and gender identity work, initiated an action of immediate witness against the ongoing violence targeting gay men and lesbians in Iraq. With hundreds of victims in recent years, the church is raising awareness and actively encourages advocacy on the issue.
