Incoming GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios Statement on White House Event to Commemorate Stonewall
June 29, 2009 by Tom Ogletree, GLAAD's Associate Director of Special Projects
New York, NY, June 29, 2009 – Jarrett Barrios, incoming President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), today joined fellow lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates as well as President Obama and Mrs. Obama at a reception to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969 — when patrons at a New York city gay bar fought back against police brutality and harassment and set in motion a wave of activism.
“It was an honor to take part in this important event for the gay and transgender community with fellow advocates and my 17-year old son,” said Jarrett Barrios, incoming President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and former Massachusetts state Senator. “Today’s event, the first time that Stonewall was commemorated by the White House, was a symbol of the fact that the administration recognizes our community at a time when there has been growing frustration about his administration’s seeming reticence to follow through on campaign promises.”
“During his speech today, President Obama said that the road to equality is not only about changing laws, but about changing hearts. Indeed, legal advances are vitally important, but full equality requires us to move our culture – through conversations, living openly in our communities, and through media representations- to a place where gay and transgender Americans are accepted and understood.
“Our community will continue to advocate and will be watching closely to ensure Obama makes good on the promises he discussed today and during the campaign. At the heart of the issues discussed today are everyday Americans who want the same chance as everyone else to earn a living, be safe in their communities, serve their country, and take care of the ones they love.”
Related Posts:GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios Pens Washington Post Op-ed on Stonewall
June 29, 2009 by Tom Ogletree, GLAAD's Associate Director of Special Projects
WashingtonPost.com is running an opinion piece by Jarrett Barrios – former Massachusetts state Senator and incoming President of GLAAD – about his attendance at today’s White House event with President Obama commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Read an excerpt here:
“I have to admit I was ambivalent when I received the invitation, with its fancy curlicue script (truly, just like my sister’s wedding announcement) and a return address that read simply “The White House.” The problem is that I haven’t been as excited as I’d like to be about President Obama. I’d been excited by Candidate Obama. His campaign invited people like me and my husband Doug — gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans — into his aspirational vision of America the Possible. But, as President Obama, he has presided over an administration that has stumbled — sometimes symbolically, sometimes substantially — in its commitment to include us on the agenda.”
…
“When I told my 17-year-old son Javier about the reception, he could sense that I was torn. From across the dinner table, he looked straight at me: “Papi, you need to go to the White House, and you need to take me. It’s the President.” Not persuaded by that one, kid. “It’s the President, and he needs to see our family, too. To remind him that we’re counting on him.”
Click here to read the full article.
Related Posts:Kansas City Star to Include Wedding Announcement of Same-Sex Couples
June 5, 2009 by Tom Ogletree, GLAAD's Associate Director of Special Projects
More great news from America’s Heartland!
Yesterday the Kansas City Star – one of the Missouri’s largest newspapers – announced its decision to adopt a new inclusive wedding announcement policy, printing the announcements of Kansas’ same-sex couples for the first time in the “Celebrations” section of the paper. This news was met with excitement by folks around the region – but no one was happier than newlyweds Mike and Chuck Hewitt, who submitted the announcement that led to the official change in policy at the Star.
Following the news that Iowa had extended marriage to same-sex couples in April, Mike and Chuck Hewitt of Independence, Missouri, decided to travel to Iowa in order to finally have the chance to exchange wedding vows after 10 years together.
“Even though we had a commitment ceremony, when we had the legal ceremony it was like a little switch was flipped and it just felt complete,” said Chuck Hewitt to KMBC.
However, when the couple returned to their home state and began the process of submitting a wedding announcement with their local paper, the Independence Enquirer, they discovered that their announcement was not welcome. Disheartened but still excited to share their joy at their recent wedding with friends and neighbors, they called on the Kansas City Star next. According to Mike Hewitt, “All they had to do was look at the picture – ‘Two guys? No.”
News of their rejection reached local media outlets, and was picked up across Missouri and as far away as Quad Cities, Illinois. Both papers were approached for comment and told KMBC that they were following the state law of Missouri, which does not recognize marriage for same-sex couples. Following the media attention, however, and thanks to earlier conversations with GLAAD that helped to lay the groundwork for the change in policy, the Kansas City Star responded to the outpouring of reader comments about the news reports of non-inclusive wedding announcement policy.
According to Derek Donovan, reader representative at the Kansas City Star,
“At the time the couple contacted the Classified division last week, it was the first time I’m aware of that the question had been raised in a long time. The policy was put in place three publishers ago, before states began legalizing marriage and other unions between gay couples.
The Star’s senior management met last Thursday morning to review the old policy, and decided to change it. I replied to the TV reporter’s request for comment last week immediately after that policy meeting, but did not receive a response. The new ‘Celebrations’ will debut in the near future.”
Not only will the Hewitt family be able to share their good news with their local community, but the Kansas City Star’s change of heart makes the total of U.S. daily newspapers with inclusive policies reach 1,052 strong! How do we know? GLAAD has been studying the announcement policies of newspapers across the country, working for more LGBT-inclusive policies for more than six years now.
We launched our Announcing Equality campaign in 2002 after working with The New York Times to open its weddings and celebrations pages to same-sex couples – and then expanded the campaign nationwide, working with more papers to open their pages to same-sex couples. Back in 2002, there were only 70 daily papers in the U.S. willing to print a wedding/commitment ceremony announcement for a same-sex couple. With the Kansas City Star joining the list of LGBT-inclusive papers along with the Illinois Pantagraph late last year, this number jumps to 1,052.
You can see the happy couple’s reaction in their interview with KCTV5 here.
And for those curious about the feedback that the Kansas City Star has received about its new policy? Donovan says that the feed back has been almost “100% positive.”
“Day of Action” Planned for Freedom To Marry in New Hampshire
May 29, 2009 by Tom Ogletree, GLAAD's Associate Director of Special Projects
GLAAD’s Senior Media Field Strategist Adam Bass traveled to New Hampshire this week to support the media outreach and communications efforts of the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition (NHFTM). Adam will provide public education and communications support to NHFTM while they make their final push toward achieving the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in the state.
NHFTM is planning a “Day of Action” to coincide with the legislature’s next anticipated vote on HB73. This bill is one requested by the Governor of New Hampshire, as a condition to him agreeing to sign previously passed bills that would guarantee the freedom to marry.
Today, a committee of conference approved the bill, and sent it to a June 3 vote of the full House and Senate.
As part of our support of NHFTM to bring visibility to the “Day of Action,” we are encouraging bloggers and media outlets to cover the “Day of Action” and bring attention to the stories of the couples and families that are at the heart of this legislation as a way to change hearts and minds about the issue of marriage in New Hampshire.
Click here to learn more about more about the “Day of Action.” More information from NHFTM can be seen below:
The Time is Now!
DAY OF ACTION: Show your support for Marriage Equality, Individual Liberty, and Religious Freedom.
WHEN: June 3, 2009 at 9 AM – The Vote
WHERE: The State House Plaza, Concord
WHAT: Time to Stand Up and be Counted
One Vote! That was the margin of victory for the New Jersey based National Organization for Marriage’s attack on Equality. One Vote! On June 3rd let’s make history in New Hampshire. This will be the final vote on marriage equality and it will be close – WE NEED YOUR HELP TO WIN!
Please join us as we gather on the plaza of the State House to ask our legislators to support marriage equality and to witness an historic day in New Hampshire. This will be a time to thank the legislators who have taken a stand for all New Hampshire families by supporting individual liberties and religious freedoms, and ask them to vote yes on HB 73.
Marches and Rallies Take Place Across the Country in Response to Prop 8 Decision
May 27, 2009 by Tom Ogletree, GLAAD's Associate Director of Special Projects
Across the country, LGBT people and allies gathered in rallies and marches in repsonse to the California Supreme Court’s decision on Proposition 8.
The intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave.
GLAAD Senior Media Field Strategist Adam Bass was in attendance in West Hollywood, where crowds gathered and marched seven miles from West Hollywood to the corner of Hollywood and Highland – the site of the Kodak theater – and back.
During the march, chants calling for a new vote in 2010 burst out spontaneously during the march.
Media outlets noted the rallies were low key, with estimates of participation ranging from 1,000 to upwards of 15,000.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaking at the event in West Hollywood.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spoke to the crowd about the importance that LGBT people get out and share their stories. As reported by the Contra Costa Times, he said:
“We’re going into every neighborhood, every city. We’re going into every institution to have this conversation about the right of my first cousin John to have a family,” Villaraigosa said in a statement after the Supreme Court ruling. He was referring to his cousin, Assemblyman John Perez, D-Los Angeles, who is openly gay.
Comedian Kathy Griffin.
The West Hollywood rally was also attended by celebrities and public figures including West Hollywood mayor Abbe Land, actors Drew Barrymore and George Takei (who married his partner, Brad Altman, last year), and comedian (and GLAAD Vanguard Award honoree) Kathy Griffin.
Rallies took place in other parts of Los Angeles and throughout the state, including in Downtown Los Angeles at Pershing Square. GLAAD Media Advocacy & Research Fellow Moe Macarow attended the gathering, which was organized by the First United Methodist Church of L.A. and the United University Church, and included a march around Pershing Square to the chorus of “Ain’t Nobody Gonna Turn Me Around.”
Downtown L.A. march at 5th St. and Hill St.
Lt. Dan Choi also spoke up in Los Angeles about the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Prop. 8, telling the assembled crowd, “Love is worth it!” and speaking on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 about the importance of marriage equality and his recent discharge from the Army under the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. (You can watch the video clip at the bottom of this post.)
Other marches and demonstrations (notably in San Diego) took place in cities across the nation, including one that drew large crowds in New York. For images of rallies from across the country, check out the slideshow at Towleroad.com.
Report from Iowa
April 6, 2009 by Tom Ogletree, GLAAD's Associate Director of Special Projects
As the historic Iowa Supreme Court decision was handed down, GLAAD’s Media Field Strategist Sarah Kennedy was on the ground in the state to lend media relations assistance to One Iowa and other partner organizations working to bring visibility to this historic moment for our community. On April 4, the day the decision came down, One Iowa coordinated 10 celebratory rallies across the state, and GLAAD was excited to be on hand to help turn out broadcast and print reporters across the state. And there was quite a bit of media coverage.
Celebration of ruling at ISU Campus, Ames, Iowa. (Photo by Sue Ellen Tuttle.)
The Des Moines Register featured fantastic local coverage of the reactions of Iowans and the economic opportunities created by the decision. Register columnist Rekah Basu summarized many Iowans sentiments: “Change, however sweeping or fundamental, begins with one or a few individuals who recognize a wrong and put themselves on the line to right it. That’s America’s tradition – and today, once again, it’s Iowa’s pride.”
An overwhelming majority of the state’s Editorial Boards came out in support of the Iowa Supreme Court ruling, including Iowa City Press-Citizen, The Des Moines Register, The Quad-City Times, and The Ames Tribune.
Nationally, The New York Times‘ Editorial Board expressed their support of the Iowa decision, writing, “[The] ruling on gay marriage by Iowa’s Supreme Court is a refreshing message of fairness and common sense from the nation’s heartland.”
Iowan blogs Bleeding Heartland, God, Politics, and Rock ‘n’ Roll and Blog for Iowa praised their state’s decision while Krusty Konservative, The Real Sporer and Bold Color Conservative looked towards plans to appeal the decision with a voter initiative in 2012.
Rally at the Pentacrest in downtown Iowa City, Iowa, in support of the Iowa Supreme Court decision. (Photo by Alan Light.)
Queerty reviewed response of anti-gay activists to the ruling while The Huffington Post ran an article suggesting that the marriage equality strengthens marriage as an institution.
Anti-gay activists in Iowa have spent the weekend putting pressure on Iowa’s legislature and governor to pass an amendment to the state’s constitution to nullify Friday’s court ruling, which Towleroad addressed today. One Iowa is using their website to activate folks to help protect the freedom to marry in Iowa:
“Chuck Hurley and opponents of marriage are rallying NOW at the Iowa Capitol to overturn the Court’s decision! They’ve spent the weekend flooding our elected officials with anti-gay emails and calls in attempts to eliminate marriage equality. It’s critical that our elected officials hear from fair-minded Iowans like you TODAY! … CLICK HERE to email Gov. Culver”
GLAAD is proud to support the victory of Iowa’s LGBT Equality organizations – check back here for more reports from Sarah and OneIowa.
U.S. Will Support UN Statement on “Human Right, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity”
March 18, 2009 by Tom Ogletree, GLAAD's Associate Director of Special Projects
In an official statement today, U.S. State Department affirmed that the Obama administration-led U.S. government will support the UN Statement on “Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity.” The UN declaration urges the decriminalization of being gay and “condemns human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity wherever they occur.”
The full release can be found here.
—
UN Statement on “Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity”
Robert Wood
Acting Department Spokesman, Office of the Spokesman
Bureau of Public Affairs
Washington, DC
March 18, 2009
The United States supports the UN Statement on “Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity,” and is pleased to join the other 66 UN member states who have declared their support of this Statement that condemns human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity wherever they occur.
The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world. As such, we join with the other supporters of this Statement and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora.
—-
Several LGBT and progressive blogs have also picked up the story including Good As YouThe Huffington Post, The Hollywood Liberal, Joe.My.God, Queerty, and Towleroad.
Call to Action: Demand that Colorado Radio Host Trevor Carey Disavow Remarks Condoning Violence Against Transgender People
March 17, 2009 by Tom Ogletree, GLAAD's Associate Director of Special Projects
Earlier today, GLAAD issued a Call to Action in response to comments made by Colorado radio host Trevor Carey.
Here’s some of what it said:
In a disturbing diatribe on KNUS radio on March 14, host Trevor Carey engaged in a conversation with a caller in which both men condoned violence against transgender people, blaming slain Greeley, Colo. resident Angie Zapata, an 18-year-old transgender woman, for her own brutal murder.
(Transcript from Colorado Media Matters):
CAREY: And what the transgender segment of our society needs to be telling their type is, you don’t commit fraud because –
CALLER: No, that’s exactly what it was.
CAREY: A), you’re at least gonna get your teeth kicked in, and B) — [caller laughs] — here’s a story from Greeley that turned out very tragic, and you should pay attention to this, because -
CALLER: You know, when I was growin’ up in Greeley, I grew up in Greeley, that kind of stuff didn’t ever, you know, surface in this town. And it’s just sad, you know; my heart just weeps for all, everybody that’s concerned. But, you know, we gotta go back to basics. You’re a man or you’re a woman, and, like you said, if you’re fraudin’ somebody, then you deserve to have your teeth kicked in. Not necessarily hung or you’re killed, but it just — they shoulda known better, you know?
Carey sustained his gratuitously defamatory tone throughout the entire show, and his remarks during the segment – including a false representation of a conversation with a GLAAD representative – make it clear that his references to Angie and her tragic murder will continue to be disrespectful, abusive and inaccurate. The transcript and audio for the program can be found on the Colorado Media Matters website.
It was reported in The Greeley Tribune on March 13 that Carey had issues with following The Associated Press’ style guidelines on transgender people in talking about Angie Zapata’s story. GLAAD often works behind the scenes with media profession to educate them on terminology and best practices for fair,
Radio host Trevor Carey
accurate and inclusive reporting on LGBT people and issues (details can be found in the GLAAD Media Reference Guide). After reading about Carey’s comments in The Greeley Tribune, GLAAD reached out to him last Friday. Carey not only has a weekend show with KNUS, but also a morning show on KFKA in Greeley – where Angie was murdered.
Carey was unwilling to discuss the issues at hand over the course of a half hour conversation, and instead continued to bring up unrelated – and often offensive – topics about transgender people. The following night, he went on the air and made his defamatory claims, and while doing so, falsely characterized his conversation with GLAAD.
At the end of the day, there is no excuse for promoting violence against transgender people. As a news host, and as a media personality, Carey has a responsibility and obligation to treat Angie Zapata’s story with dignity and respect. He did not, and he needs to disavow his remarks.
Here’s how you can make your voice heard:
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Please contact Trevor Carey and ask him to disavow his remarks that condone violence against transgender people. Call on KFKA and KNUS to hold Carey accountable for his remarks and establish clear standards to ensure their media platforms will not be used to condone or promote violence towards any parts of the communities they serve.
Please forward this link to any of your friends and others who may also wish to take action. When contacting KFKA and KNUS, please ensure that your emails and phone calls are civil and respectful and do not engage in the kind of name calling or abusive behavior that we are expressing our concerns about.
Trevor Carey
Host, KNUS, “Trevor Carey” and KFKA, “AM Colorado with Trevor, Troy and George”
Phone: (720) 434-2714
trevorcareywork@aol.com
Justin Sasso
General Manager, KFKA
Phone: (970) 356-1310
justin@1310kfka.com
Kelly Michaels
Operations Director, Salem Communications (KNUS)
Phone: (303) 750-5687
kelly@salemdenver.com
For the New York Post, Help Should Begin at Home
March 17, 2009 by Tom Ogletree, GLAAD's Associate Director of Special Projects
Originally posted at The Huffington Post:
The New York Post seems to be awfully big on accountability lately.
Last week, the paper’s editorial staff praised school reform in New York for creating “great accountability on all levels.”
On Thursday, they slammed President Obama for signing the earmarks bill despite his reservations, citing his desire to view the bill as a “departure point for more far-reaching change” by saying, “Translation: We’ll do better next time. Sorry, Mr. President. That line may work in Chicago politics, but it doesn’t fly when you’re in the White House.”
On Friday, it was the accomplices in the Madoff Ponzi scheme that were in their sights: “This is one case that cannot be closed until the enablers — unwitting or otherwise — have been brought to account, too.”
The Post’s editors talk a big game about accountability but don’t seem particularly interested in holding themselves to the same strict standards.
Three weeks ago, a racist editorial cartoon by Sean Delonas sparked national outrage when it linked the shooting of a chimpanzee in Connecticut with President Obama and the passage of the stimulus package.
The community response was strong. Civil rights leaders staged protests outside of the Post offices, talking heads debated the cartoon endlessly on the 24-hour news networks, and advocacy groups from coast to coast — GLAAD included — expressed their disgust with the cartoon and the paper that saw fit to publish it.
In a rare move, NewsCorp CEO Rupert Murdoch printed an apology in the pages of the Post, saying he wanted to “personally apologize to any reader who felt offended, and even insulted.” He went on to say that, “we will seek to be more attuned to the sensitivities of our community.”
Sounds a little bit like trying to develop a standard of accountability. But what does it mean to “seek to be more attuned to the sensitivities of the community” when the paper has such a long history of defamatory treatment of so many different communities?
That treatment seems unlikely to change. Delonas publishes inane and defamatory cartoons about the LGBT community with depressing regularity, and the paper refuses to embrace even the most minimal standards of journalism when it comes to reporting on and selecting terminology to describe our community.
I have to wonder about the folks who go to work at the Post every day. Are they hoping to make it a place that values quality journalism or fair reporting? Or do they not care about the power of the press to educate, illuminate and inform the public, and just enjoy working for a tabloid?
Whenever I see headlines like “Free to Be He-She” or “Attack of the Killer Lesbians” or “Tranny Heaven,” I ask myself, are these well intentioned? Or do the people who write them approach their work with an attitude of “hey, to hell with basic journalistic standards and the implications for communities.”
It’s not just about the Post either. There’s some guilt by association — I can’t imagine how the folks over at the Wall Street Journal feel about their own journalistic credibility when the other NewsCorp paper in town runs headlines like, “Woman To Claim ‘Tranny Defense’ in Murder Trial.” Now that rumors have circulated that Murdoch has set his sights on the New York Times, I can’t help but feel concerned about what this means for the state of journalistic integrity in the news media capital of the United States.
Close to a month has passed since Murdoch apologized for the cartoon, but we haven’t seen any real change at the Post — Col Allen is still Editor-in-Chief, and Delonas’ cartoons appear on Page Six throughout the week. What is it going to take for the Post and for NewsCorp to take the concerns of the communities that they serve seriously?
The elders in my family always used to say that, “help begins at home,” and it might do the Post some good to follow that advice. The LGBT community isn’t the only one that’s nearing the end of its patience with those who refused to accept responsibility and — there’s that word again — accountability for their actions.
Colorado State Senator Makes Ugly, Divisive Remarks about the LGBT Community
March 3, 2009 by Tom Ogletree, GLAAD's Associate Director of Special Projects
Last Tuesday, GLAAD issued a statement and a Call to Action in response to comments made by Colorado State Senator Scott Renfroe. Renfroe made ugly and divisive comments about the LGBT community on the Senate floor last Monday during a debate on a bill that would allow gay and lesbian state employees to share health benefits with their partners.
“Homosexuality is seen as a violation of this natural creative order, and it is an offense to God,” Renfroe was quoted as saying in The Denver Post. “When we create laws that go against what biblically we are supposed to stand for, I think we are allowing to go forward a sin that should not be treated by government as something that is legal. We are taking sins and making them legally OK.”
According to The Denver Post, Renfroe also equated loving, committed relationships of gay and lesbian couples with murder and adultery, and suggested that there is Biblical support for executing people for being gay. He also says (while quoting Leviticus) of gay relationships, “they shall surely be put to death.”
ProgressNow Colorado captured the full audio:
Senator Renfroe is not only wrong in his assertions, but his divisive attack creates a hostile climate for the LGBT community, and Coloradans and the media in the state have an opportunity to stand up to these types of attacks.
Senator Renfroe represents Greeley, Colorado, and his comments this week show a great insensitivity to the community he serves. Greeley is still mourning last year’s tragic murder of an 18-year-old transgender woman, Angie Zapata. Angie was violently beaten to death last July, for no other reason than because she was transgender.
As Greeley residents still feel shock that this tragic hate crime happened in their community, it is especially hurtful for Greeley’s Senator Renfroe to make such charged and divisive comments on the Senate floor.
In April, the man accused of murdering Angie Zapata goes on trial in Greeley. But right now, on the floor of the Colorado State Senate, the Senator from Greeley is making comments that fuel a climate of fear and hostility towards LGBT people. That’s why it’s so vital that constituents make their voices heard when elected officials make hurtful, divisive remarks about the LGBT community, and why media outlets have a responsiblity to scrutinize these kinds of remarks and the consequences they have for the communities these officials serve.
Air Force Times Respectfully Explores Discrimination Transgender Veterans Face
August 28, 2008 by Tom Ogletree, GLAAD's Associate Director of Special Projects
The Air Force Times just published a very well-done piece exploring the discrimination transgender veterans face, a story that stands in marked contrast of the problematic media coverage we see on transgender people and issues. This military media outlet offers lessons to mainstream media in how to fairly and accurately write about transgender people and issues.
The article drew from an analysis of a Transgender American Veterans Association survey by the Palm Center at UC-Santa Barbara, in which transgender veterans reported their experiences with discrimination. This article delves further than Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The reporter explores how transgender veterans have problems getting the most routine care other veterans get with ease. On top of that, counseling, hormone therapy, and sex reassignment surgery are unavailable for veterans at VA facilities. The Palm Center’s press release states that 22% of respondents reported lack of respect from VA doctors, and 1 in 5 were questioned by an officer about their orientation, in violation of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Though the terminology in the article was not perfect (use of “sexual identity” when “gender identity” would be more accurate; use of inaccurate term “sex change,” rather than “sex reassignment surgery”), the reporter did an excellent job using correct pronouns and other transgender terminology. Overall, the reporter’s tone was thoughtful, respectful, and it paves the way for future coverage in outlets beyond LGBT press.
In a time when some mainstream news outlets continue to use outdated and inaccurate language to write about transgender people and issues, it is refreshing to see a military media outlet produce coverage that is so on target. Hopefully the respectful Air Force Times article will set the scene for future mainstream media coverage of transgender veterans.
