LGBT Organizations Urge Advocates and Allies to Remember Slain Teen Lawrence King
February 9, 2010
February 12th, 2010 marks the second anniversary of the Lawrence King murder. King, an eighth-grader from Ventura, CA, was shot in the head and killed by a classmate in 2008 because of his perceived sexual orientation and gender expression.
GLAAD, GSA Network, GLSEN, Ventura County Rainbow Alliance, Human Rights Campaign, National Center for Lesbian Rights and Equality California are urging LGBT advocates and allies to honor King’s memory and call for an end to violence and harassment in the classroom directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Here is an update on what some organizations are doing:
GSA is hosting a vigil at Los Angeles City Hall at 7 o’clock P.M. Their site provides individuals with an action guide offering tips on how you can honor King’s life and how to mobilize and inform those in your community. Here is an excerpt:
Inform:
- Ask your administration to let your Gay-Straight Alliance club make an announcement on the PA system asking for a 30 second vow of silence to remember Lawrence King. Include who he was and why remembering him is important for you and your school.
- Make an altar for Lawrence King to visually represent the violence LGBTQ students face. Ask to display it at school. Include the time and place where your GSA meets so students can get more involved with your club.
- Write a letter to your campus newspaper demanding that violence against LGBTQ people stop. Write about Lawrence King and why it’s important for your school to stand up to hate. Give the time and place where your GSA meets.
- Organize an anti-violence assembly at your school. Invite speakers who can either talk about Lawrence King’s live and death or about the violence in schools against LGBTQ youth.
- Work with other students or groups on campus to organize a “No Violence Week.” Have discussions, show movies, or make posters about the violence and bullying in our schools.
Read the complete guide here.
On GLSEN’s “Remembering Lawrence” web page, they asking those to register events and join Facebook and MySpace groups to show their support. Here is a list of registered events so far
California
Spectrum Lawrence King Vigil
Camarillo, California
Friday, February 12, 2010
6:00 PM
Location: California State University Chanel Islands
Co-Sponsored By: Spectrum Center for Multicultural Engagement Center for Civic Engagement Housing and Education
Questions: http://vcra.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=4520621&highlight=vigil kari.moss@csuci.edu
Remembering Larry
Culver City, California
Friday, February 12, 2010
All Day
Location: 4401 Elenda St
Co-Sponsored By: Culver City High School Gay Straight Alliance
Remembering Lawrence King
Los Angeles, California
Friday, February 12, 2010
7:00pm
Location: Los Angeles City Hall – South Steps
On First St. between Main and Spring
Co-Sponsored By: GSA Network
Questions: www.gsanetwork.org/lawrenceking daniel@gsanetwork.org 213.482.4021
Remember Lawrence King
Los Banos, California
Friday, February 12, 2010
3:30
Location: Los Banos High School
Co-Sponsored By: Gay/Straight Alliance
Questions: nnelson@losbanosusd.k12.ca.us
Illinois
Remember Lawrence
Mattoon, Illinois
Friday, February 12, 2010
All Day
Location: Lake Land College
Co-Sponsored By: BGLADD (Bisexuals, Gays, Lesbians, and Allies to Develop Diversity) of Lake Land College, Mattoon, IL.
Questions: http://www.myspace.com/b_gladd
Minnesota
End the Violence
Blaine, Minnesota
Friday, February 12, 2010
11:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m
Location: Blaine High School
Co-Sponsored By: Blaine High School Gay Straight Alliance
Texas
Time for A Change presents: remembering Larry
Southlake, Texas
Friday, February 12, 2010
6:00 pm
Location: Bicentennial park
Co-Sponsored By: Time for A Change
Questions: T4c.me Info.timeforachange@gmail.coM 214.578.0119
Virginia
“I Love Larry”
Arlington, Virginia
Friday, February 12, 2010
All Day
Location: Wakefield High School
Co-Sponsored By: The Wakefield High School Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Questions: jclisham@arlington.k12.va.us 703-228-6711
Candle Light Vigil
Univ Richmond, Virginia
Friday, February 12, 2010
6:30pm
Location: Forum on Campus
Co-Sponsored By: Student Alliance for Sexual Diversity
Questions: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=292384489684&ref=mf sasdur@gmail.com
Register your event online here.
The Ventura County Rainbow Alliance is hosting an event at California State University Channel Islands campus sponsored by Spectrum (the gay/straight student alliance), the Center for Multicultural Engagement, the Multicultural and Women’s & Gender Student Center, School of Education, Student Housing and the Center for Community Engagement.
Learn more about their event here.
Related Posts:LGBT Developments Around the Country
January 19, 2010
Every week at state and local levels, there are numerous developments on key issues that deeply affect our community—marriage, hate crimes and employment discrimination, to name a few. GLAAD is ensuring the media is paying attention.
Here is a brief summary:
District of Columbia: Court rules down marriage referendum
A D.C. Superior Court judge ruled Thursday that same-sex marriage opponents do not have a right to call for a referendum to determine whether such unions should be legal in the District.
The decision, a major victory for gay rights activists, makes it more likely that the District will begin allowing same-sex couples to marry in March.
In the 23-page ruling, Judge Judith N. Macaluso affirmed a D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics decision that city law disallows the ballot proposal because it would promote discrimination against gay men and lesbians. Macaluso also concluded that previous court decisions outlawing same-sex marriage in the District are no longer valid.
Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), the sponsor of the D.C. Council same-sex marriage bill signed last month by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), called the decision “thorough and far-reaching.”
“The ruling, which addressed the substantive legal issues before the court, sustains the District’s tradition of treating all citizens equally under the law,” Catania said.
The election board has twice ruled that a referendum on same-sex marriage would violate a city election law prohibiting such a vote on a matter covered by the Human Rights Act, which outlaws discrimination against gays and other minority groups.
California: Mitrice Richardson’s family files million dollar claim against L.A. police department
The family of Mitrice Richardson, an African-American lesbian who has been 
missing since she was released from the Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff’s station in September of 2009, has filed a multimillion-dollar claim against Los Angeles County. The family claims that that the Sheriff’s Department personnel acted negligently.
The Los Angeles Times wrote:
The claim mentions a number of officers who interacted with Richardson, 24, from the time she was arrested at Geoffrey’s, a Malibu restaurant, for not paying her $89 dinner bill, until her release into the night without her car, cellphone or purse.
“We feel they had a duty to keep her there,” said attorney Leo Terrell, who filed the claim on behalf of Richardson’s mother, Latice Sutton; her father, Michael Richardson; the missing woman; and her estate. “If they felt she had a mental issue, they had an obligation to hold her.”
The deputies could have held her for a mental evaluation. But the Sheriff’s Department has steadfastly maintained that in the hours it did detain her, she appeared and talked rationally. A department spokesman has said the department felt, if anything, that it had a legal obligation to release her in a timely manner.
The claim, which was filed last week, alleges negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and wrongful death, according to Terrell.
LAPD Homicide Det. Chuck Knolls, who has been investigating the disappearance of the Cal State Fullerton graduate for months, expressed surprise that wrongful death was included.
“As far as we know, she’s a missing person,” said Knolls, who was part of an extensive search of the Malibu Canyon area Saturday. No sign of Richardson turned up, nor is there any evidence she was a victim of a crime.
Terrell acknowledged the possibility that she could turn up alive — in which case, he said, he would remove the wrongful death portion of the claim as well as the reference to Richardson’s estate. But he filed the claim as he did, he said, to make the six-month window after the alleged negligence occurred.
Maryland: Equality Maryland ED writes letter to The Baltimore Sun
In the January 11th, edition of The Baltimore Sun, Executive Director of Equality Maryland, Morgan Meneses-Sheets wrote a letter to the editor addressing her concerns about recent comments about quality of life crimes made by radio Radio host Ed Norris, a former Baltimore police commissioner and superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
I am writing in response to Ed Norris’ recent comments on the priority list that mayor-in-waiting Stephanie Rawlings-Blake should commit to (Jan. 10). I was appalled to see that of all of the criminal justice issues that plague this city, he chose to point a finger and suggest additional prosecution of some of the poorest and most disenfranchised people — the homeless and sex workers. The fact that he had the nerve to label panhandling and prostitution as “quality of life” crimes demonstrates just how out of touch many people continue to be.
Those who would stand out on Light Street or MLK on a frigid January day do not do so to drive people away. It is a cry for help — a cry that should truly be a priority of our incoming mayor. Furthermore, this commentary included yet another person pointing their finger at sex workers and blaming them for the ills of our society rather than considering what would put someone in a position where they would risk their lives on the streets everyday.
It is a fact that a large number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth who are ejected from their homes feel they have no other option than to participate in survival sex. Our city’s shelters and transitional homes are not only under-funded but are also largely segregated in rigid gender categories that do not meet the needs of transgender individuals. There is a dearth of beds available to young people who find themselves on the streets. Additionally, many members of the LGBT community are fired for no reason or forced into low wage positions that make it nearly impossible to get by.
Instead of focusing on punitive measures that simply address the symptoms, let’s talk about the real problems, such as discrimination. Don’t put another marginalized person in jail when we should be creating and maintaining job training, fully accessible public programs and affordable, equitable housing. Let’s be a community that honors the dignity and respect of all people. Now, that is truly a quality of life issue.
Michigan: Police Make Arrest in Benton Harbor Attack
Police have made an arrest in a possible hate crime that occurred in December at 
a Benton Harbor, MI gas station. Calvin Wright, 23, is accused of repeatedly punching a gay man. Wright is being held on suspicion of aggravated assault.
South Bend’s NBC affiliate WNDU reported:
23-year-old Calvin Wright of Benton Harbor is accused of attacking another man outside a gas station on December 12th.
He was arrested over the weekend at an area restaurant. That’s according to our Read It/Watch It partners at the Herald Palladium. The victim claims he was beaten because he is gay.
We interviewed the victim last month, but out of fear, he asked us to hide his name, face and voice.
“Get to know a gay person before you judge them because you don’t know who they are,” said the victim. “They’re all around you. They’re your uncle, your aunt, your brother, your sister.”
Police have not confirmed that the attack was because of sexual orientation.
GLAAD will continue keeping up with the latest developments on LGBT issues around the country.
Related Posts:Federal Suit Challenging Prop. 8 Begins Monday
January 8, 2010
A federal lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of a ban on marriage for same-sex couples will begin Monday in what is a landmark case for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, The Associated Press reports.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker will preside over the case filed by Kristin Perry and her partner of 10 years, Sandra Stier, after their marriage was revoked by the state. Perry and Stier were one of approximately 4,000 California couples who exchanged nuptials in San Francisco in 2004 when Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered city officials to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Those licenses were later invalidated.
Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo are joint plaintiffs in the case.
Star attorneys Theodore Olson and David Boies will argue that California’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples, known as Proposition 8, does not serve a legitimate public purpose and was prompted by legally inadmissible religious beliefs. Olson and Boies are best known for their head-to-head match in the “hanging chad” debacle during the 2000 presidential election.
“Proposition 8 violates the federal guarantees of equal protection and due process,” the Olson-Boies brief states. “Proposition 8 denies same-sex couples the right to marry in a unique historical context in which the denial can only be deemed a declaration of inequality.”
The case will be recorded and broadcast online via YouTube with a delay.
The plaintiffs, Perry, Stier, Katami & Zarrillo released the following statement about the case:
We and our relationships should be treated equally under the law. Our goal is to advance the cause of equality for all Americans, which is the promise that makes this nation so great.
GLAAD will continue to follow the media’s coverage of this landmark case. Updates can be found on GLAADblog.org
Related Posts:Sea Change in the Churches
September 24, 2009
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.
Mormon LGBT Group Challenges LDS on Anti-Gay Practices
September 22, 2009
Affirmation Gay and Lesbian Mormons celebrated 30 years of support and advocacy on September 18-20. More than 200 members from across the country convened in Salt Lake City, Utah, to explore next steps toward equality in the Mormon Church and society.
GLAAD staff was on hand to provide media assistance for a press conference where Affirmation launched its “Keep Them and Love Them” website. The site provides accurate information in accessible language to prevent family and church rejection when a loved one comes out. People who are coming out, their families and church leaders need accurate information to reduce homelessness, despair and suicide.
Robert Moore/Photo Courtesy of Salt Lake Tribune
Affirmation’s director of youth work, Robert Moore, shared his story of being a seventh generation Mormon who was thrown out of his family’s home as a teen when they discovered he was gay. He was homeless for many months but worked to support himself. Today, he says, “We cannot keep treating our young people like trash.”
GLAAD staff helped Affirmation with media releases and prepared them for follow-up television interviews. With coverage by the Salt Lake City Tribune, the Deseret News and local Fox TV, hundreds of thousands of Utah residents know that gay Mormons are shining a light on the harm caused by misinformation and discrimination.
The high profile role of Mormons in the Proposition 8 campaign in California mobilized an increasing number of pro-LGBT Mormons and ramped up additional political actions to urge Utah government officials and Mormon leaders to support pro-LGBT legislation and families with gay members. While up-front funding of anti-equality work has diminished, leaders in Iowa recently pointed toward the well-known anti-equality group, National Organization for Marriage, as a conduit for Mormon monies.
Affirmation’s media engagement paves the way for two separate early October meetings with Utah Governor Gary Herbert. One is with the Foundation for Reconciliation and the other is with leaders of Equality Utah. Both meetings were precipitated by earlier media work by the Foundation for Reconciliation as assisted by GLAAD in response to Utah’s Governor comparing legal protections for LGBT people to legal protections for “blue-eyed blonds.”
Related Posts:Harvey Milk Inducted to CA’s Hall of Fame; Next Stop ‘Milk Day’?
August 27, 2009
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Schriver announced on Tuesday that LGBT rights pioneer Harvey Milk will be inducted into the state’s ‘Hall of Fame’.
The couple noted that each of the 13 inductees “embody California’s innovative spirit and have made their mark on history.”
The Milk honor, however, comes amidst a debate surrounding a new state bill that would honor the slain supervisor by deeming May 22 as ‘Milk Day’ in the Golden State. The Associated Press writes that the bill “would designate Milk’s birthday, May 22, as a ‘day of special significance,’ but not an official holiday.” That bill awaits approval from the CA Assembly before reaching the Governor’s desk.
But as The Sacramento Bee reports, it was just last year that Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed a nearly identical bill because it would be more appropriate, he believed, to honor Milk on a local level.
The governor’s decision to include Milk in the state’s Hall of Fame, however, may imply that Mr. Schwarzenegger now recognizes Milk as a much more influential figure than he had first thought.
Schwarzenegger spokesman Francisco Castillo clarified in Tuesday’s Sacramento Bee that “The governor does recognize the positive impact that Harvey Milk had globally and nationally.”
Milk’s legacy recently garnered national attention after President Barack Obama honored the LGBT rights stalwart with the Presidential Medal of Freedom – an award bestowed on individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural, or other significant public or private endeavors. The president noted that Milk’s “voice stirred the aspirations of millions of people.”
In any case, the governor’s office said no decisions have been made regarding the new bill. In fact, Schwarzenegger has taken to his twitter page to ask the public’s opinion on Harvey Milk Day.
GLAAD will continue to share the media’s coverage of Harvey Milk Day. Updates can be found on GLAADblog.org
Related Posts:Openly Gay Captain Hopes to Act as Bridge Between LGBT Community and Sheriff’s Office
August 26, 2009
Raymond Gregory has become the highest ranking openly gay person in one of the nation’s largest sheriff’s office, reports the Press-Enterprise. As captain, Gregory, 45, will oversee sheriff’s jails in Riverside County, California.
As the article notes, relationships between law enforcement officials and the LGBT community have historically been strained. The 1969 Stonewall Riots, the event often considered the beginning of the gay rights movement, was sparked by tensions between the New York police force and the LGBT patrons of the Stonewall Inn. Modern police forces have become more equitable in hiring practices, including being more inclusive of women, minorities, and LGBT people.
Gregory acknowledges the unique position that he is in, and he considers himself as part of a bridge between the LGBT community and the sheriff’s office. He has also said that he would like LGBT people better represented throughout the police force in order to be more like community.
Greg Miraglia, author of the book “Coming Out From Behind the Badge”, says that Gregory’s story is an inspiration. He said that the environment has changed for gay officers since he left the police force in 1978 and compares it to equality for women in the police force. He said, “It’s very much the same thing that women went through when they were first hired in the ’70s and ’80s.” He believes that more officers that come out, the better accepted gay officers will begin to be within the ranks.
Bringing acceptance to the police force is one of Gregory’s goals, and he acknowledges that the sheriff’s office has come a long way.
Last year Gregory orchestrated the Sheriff’s office participating in Palms Springs pride events. The captain, who legally married his longtime partner when California had marriage equality in 2008, got to ride on a float and it became the first time that the Sheriff’s department had participated in Pride events.
On gaining such notable career advancement in a field not necessarily known for their admirable treatment of LGBT people, Gregory said, “It shows that’s not a barrier anymore.”
Related Posts:UPDATE: Fresno Rebuffs Anti-Gay Informercial with LGBT Faith Documentary
July 3, 2009
For the past several months, my colleagues and I have been responding to the anti-gay infomercial Speechless: Silencing Christians. Our work with community partners in responding to the deceptive infomercial paid for by the American Family Association (AFA) has led us to organize in Kansas, California, North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan and several other states.
Because of our collaborative efforts with community leaders, I have a wonderful update to share with our readers. And our latest development to debunk the myths associated with the infomercial hails from Fresno, California.
On June 22, local grassroots organizers alerted us that KMPH FOX-26 aired the AFA infomercial. I specifically received urgent tweets from Gayrainarmy, k8cch14 and jace78. After conducting some initial research, GLAAD blogged about the incident and provided contact information for local community members to share their concerns with the station. You can find that here.
One Fresno community member even contacted two other local ABC and CBS affiliates and asked them to share their perspectives on the local FOX affiliate airing the infomercial.
ABC 30 said:
We will never show anything like that and I can’t believe Fox would do something like that. We have gone through great lengths to make sure stuff like that never goes out on the air, and we will continue to.
CBS 47 also stated:
We would never do anything like that, and I’m going to have my assistant check to just to be sure that is not going on here.
KMPH station management was quick to replied to the concerns expressed by community members. I was forwarded a statement from the Senior Vice President and Director of Programming Debbie Sweeney.
Debbie Sweeney wrote:
I want to thank you for your very well thought out response to the paid program KMPH aired last night at 11:00 p.m.
Please know that the program was a paid infomercial and based on the amount of response the station has received, I guarantee you it will not air again.
Again, thank you for taking the time to voice your concerns we truly appreciate hearing from you.
The local FOX affiliate wanted to make amends and agreed to air For The Bible Tells Me So, a LGBT faith documentary exploring Christian traditions and their intersection with sexual orientation. The affiliate also agreed to air the film at no charge.
GLAAD immediately contacted Daniel Karslake who produced and directed the documentary to request permission for it to be aired on FOX-26. Daniel then spoke to The Sundance Channel that owns exclusive rights to air the documentary on television.
After some discussions with the network, Sundance granted permission to allow For the Bible Tells Me So to air on FOX-26. Now, Fresno viewers will be able to tune in this Sunday, July 5 at 11:00pm PST to watch the LGBT faith documentary. **PLEASE SEE NOTE BELOW**
GLAAD will continue to follow this story. Please check back with us for updates.
Have an update to share with GLAAD? Send me a tweet on Twitter at @Andy_Marra
*Note – We are also receiving reports about the anti-gay infomercial airing on WGRZ NBC 2-TV in Buffalo, NY. GLAAD constituents have reported it being aired on June 27 from 7:00-8:00pm EST. We will be looking into this further and update our readers after the July 4 holiday.
———-
**UPDATE: I just exchanged tweets and emails with @GayRainArmy and @jace78. KMPH will not be able to air For the Bible Tells Me So this Sunday, July 5 at 11pm PST. The station is editing out language and gestures to make it ready for Fresno viewers. KMPH is working with the documentary’s producer and director Daniel Karslake to air an edited version very soon. I’ll keep you posted on when they’re ready to air this amazing documentary.**
UPDATE: KRXQ Responds to GLAAD’s Call to Action
June 2, 2009
Yesterday, we alerted our readers to our work with Trans Youth Family Allies in responding to a reprehensible May 28 segment on the Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning radio show. The show is heard in Sacramento, California on KRXQ 98.5FM and Reno, Nevada on KDOT 104.5FM. You can find our original blog post about the defamatory comments here.
In a vile diatribe, radio show hosts Rob Williams and Arnie States spent more than a half hour making highly offensive comments about transgender children when discussing a recent story about a transgender child and her parents’ decision to support her transition in Omaha, NE.
The two hosts encouraged child abuse as a so-called “cure” for their gender identity with even one host later suggesting shock therapy. You can listen to the entire segment here.
Hosts of the show Rob Arnie & Dawn
Yesterday, we reached out to KRXQ management to raise our deepest concerns and demand an apology for the radio broadcast. We not only called, but also emailed the KRXQ General Manager, John Geary.
GLAAD received a reply from Mr. Geary on Tuesday, June 2 at 9:21am EST.
He wrote:
I was out of the office yesterday, so I have yet to hear the segment in question. Let me review it and get back to you later today. Thanks. – John
After waiting for hours with no response, GLAAD issued a Call to Action demanding the radio hosts to apologize for encouraging violence against transgender children.
Because of the many supporters who reach out to the station and hosts, we received a phone call from John Geary at 5:00pm EST today. Geary let us us know that he took our concerns seriously and he claimed to have read all of the emails sent to him about the radio segment.
Geary also told us that the hosts plan to address this issue in the 7:00am PST (10:00am EST) hour on their Wednesday, June 3 broadcast (listen live here).
GLAAD has sent over key resources on transgender issues to inform the radio hosts on what kinds of obstacles transgender people face.
In 2008, Ruby Molina was murdered in Sacramento for being a transgender woman.
Rob Williams and Arnie States have become active contributors to a vicious cycle of ill-informed and cruel rhetoric. Such hateful speech has already shown its devastating effects on transgender people and the communities they belong to.
In 2008 alone, the Transgender Day of Remembrance reported 21 murders of transgender and gender non-conforming people, including:
- January 21, 2008: Adolphus Simmons, 18, (Charleston, SC) who was gunned down while taking out the trash;
- February 10, 2008: Sanesha Stewart (Bronx, NY), stabbed by an acquaintance and left to die alone in her apartment;
- February 12, 2008: Lawrence King, 15, (Oxnard, CA) shot in the head by a 14 year old fellow classmate
- February 22, 2008: Simmie Williams, 17, (Fort Lauderdale, FL) who was shot an dkilled; no arrests have been made;
- July 1, 2008: Ebony Whitaker, 20, (Memphis, TN) who was shot near a daycare center; no arrests have been made;
- July 21, 2008: Angie Zepata, 18, (Greeley, CO) who was beaten to death in her own apartment with a fire extinguisher;
- August 20, 2008: Nakhia Williams, 29, (Louisville, KY) who died 10 days after she was shot and beaten by a group of people outside her apartment;
- September 21, 2008: Ruby Molina, 22, (Sacramento, CA) who was found dead in the American River by fishermen in September;
- November 9, 2008: Duanna Johnson, 42, (Memphis, TN) who was shot to death just weeks ago by unidentified assailants on Nov. 9 after making news earlier when she was beaten by police officers in February. Johnson’s lawsuit against the city of Memphis was still pending at the time of her murder.
- November 14, 2008: Lateisha “Teish” Cannon, 22, (Syracuse, NY) who was shot inside her car with her brother and friend;
- December 26, 2008: Taysia “Taysha” Elzy, 34, (Indianapolis, IN) who was shot and killed along with her boyfriend.
In 2007, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects (NCAVP) reported that 16% of their overall reports were motivated by anti-transgender bias, and that 231 transgender women filed reports of violence. Since violence is often underreported, and the identities of transgender murder victims often misreported, there is no way to know accurate numbers.
It should also be noted the Human Rights Campaign estimates that transgender Americans face a one-in-12 change of being murdered. Statistics from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) show that in schools 14.2% of transgender students report being physically assaulted as a result of their gender expression, while 30.4% experienced physical harassment.
We hope Rob Williams and Arnie States consider these important and sobering pieces of information when addressing the issue tomorrow.
GLAAD will be monitoring tomorrow’s response by the hosts. Please continue to check back for any possible updates or alerts on this developing story.
A Fresno Nos Vamos! – To Fresno We Go!
June 2, 2009
Photo Courtesy of Colleen Broderick
Este 30 de mayo, miles de activistas LGBT y sus amigos y aliados viajaron a Fresno para protestar la decisión de la corte suprema del estado de California, la cual no anuló a la Proposicón 8. La Proposición 8 fue aprobada por aproximadamente 52% de los votantes el 4 de noviembre y eliminó el derecho de matrimonio civíl para parejas del mismo sexo, un derecho que la corte misma otorgó en su fayo de mayo del 2008.
Se veían muchos individuales, parejas y familias Latinas entre los miles protestando en Fresno, incluyendo Christine Chavez, nieta de César Chavez, quien inspiró muchísimo al grupo de manifestantes. Hemos visto tambien mucha cobertura excelente en los medios en español sobre este tema, incluyendo en el programa en Noticiero Telemundo y Despierta America de Univision.
Es alentador ver a tantos Latinos y Latinas contando sus historias en los medios y asi cambiando mentes y corazones. Asi es que llegaremos a contar con millones más de aliados.
On May 30, thousands of LGBT activists and their supporters travelled to Fresno to protest the California Supreme Court decision refusing to overturn Proposition 8. Proposition 8 was approved by approximately 52% of state voters on November 4 and eliminated the right to marriage for gay couples.
Many Latinos were among those gathered in Fresno, including Christine Chavez, the granddaughter of César Chavez who inspired activists with her words. We’ve seen excellent coverage in Spanish-Language media of the marriage decision, including on Noticiero Telemundo and Despierta America on Univision.
Photo Courtesy of Colleen Broderick
It’s great to see so many Latinos telling their stories in the media, helping to change hearts and minds, which is how the LGBT community will soon count millions more allies to our cause.
Tori Amos Speaks Out Against Prop. 8
May 13, 2009
Singer Tori Amos, who is the daughter of a United Methodist minister, is disappointed with California voters for passing Prop. 8. She told UK’s Attitude magazine that outlawing same-sex unions was un-Christian:
Courtesy of Out.com
A lot of people were saying, ‘Well you have to understand that a lot of the voters are Democratic and Christians, the ones that had an issue with rights for the gay community’. And I would say how, in any way, is that the Christian path?
This isn’t the first time that Amos has spoken on marriage equality and her religious beliefs. Asked by Spinner on how religion is often used as an argument against marriage for same-sex couples, Amos stated that intolerance and the need to dictate how others live their lives “is the greatest sin of all.”
Amor, Dulce Amor: Retratos de Parejas y Familias LGBT/Love Sweet Love: Portraits of LGBT Couples & Families
May 13, 2009
Photo credit: Gideon Mendel / Foto tomada por: Gideon Mendel
If you haven’t already done so, please visit a website called 13lovestories.com that offers a wide selection of moving, well-shot portraits of LGBT couples and families, many of them Latino/a.
You can also visit the exhibit at one of many locations, below, and check out this story in the Los Angeles Times.
Si ya no lo has hecho, por favor visita un sitio del Internet llamado 13lovestories.com, en el cual se encuentran videos emocionantes y muy bien contadas de parejas y familias LGBT, muchos de ellas/as Latinas.
Tambien puedes ver la exhibición de fotos que es parte del proyecto y leer esta historia en el Los Angeles Times.
Upcoming screenings:
- Santa Monica College May 20 (1900 Pico Blvd Santa Monica, 90405)
- The Abbey May 26 (692 N Robertson West Hollywood 90069)
- 13LoveStories.com Exhibition Sites/Sitios de Exhibición de 13LoveStories.com
- Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk May 14
- Santa Monica College May 18 (1900 Pico Blvd Santa Monica, 90405)
- LA Pride June 12-14 (San Vicente between Santa Monica and Melrose)
- Meet in the Middle (Fresno) This is a statewide action taking place the Saturday after the California Supreme Court announces its decision on overturning Proposition 8.
20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Hold Final Event in San Francisco
April 30, 2009
The 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards season will come to a close on Saturday, May 9 at the Hilton San Francisco in California. The always hysterical comedian Chelsea Handler will be on hand to host the show and announce winners!
Chelsea Handler
After a fantastic line-up of celebrities and special guests joined GLAAD to show their support for LGBT-inclusive media images, in New York City on March 28 and Los Angeles on April 18, we have more famous faces that will help us celebrate the 20th anniversary of the culture-changing Awards.
You can be part of this extraordinary night by purchasing your tickets to the silent auction, Awards dinner, and after party. And this year, we’ve announced special $100 show only tickets!
Special guests and presenters scheduled to attend, include:
Calpernia Addams
Megan Cavanagh
Gabrielle Christian
Michelle Clunie
Laverne Cox
Wilson Cruz
Robert Gant
Dan Jinks
Jason Lewis
Mandy Musgrave
Suze Orman
Simon Rex
Eduardo Xol
Judge David Young
Awards will be presented onstage in the following categories: Outstanding Television Movie, Outstanding Reality Program and Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine.
Chad Allen
Actor and producer Chad Allen will receive the Davidson/Valentini Award, which is named after Craig Davidson, GLAAD’s first executive director, and his partner Michael Valentini. The award is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community. Through his acting roles and film projects, Allen has amplified the voices of LGBT community.
Just in 2008, in addition to appearing as openly gay detective Donald Strachey in here! Networks’ The Donald Strachey Mystery Series, Allen served as a producer on the film Save Me, which offered audiences a look into the world of so-called “ex gay ministries.” The Donald Strachey Mystery Series is nominated for Outstanding Television Movie this year and Save Me is a nominee for Outstanding Film – Limited Release.
Not only is Chad Allen an advocate as an actor and producer but he has been a vocal supporter for marriage equality in interviews with news outlets including CNN’s Larry King Live.
Dustin Lance Black
Dustin Lance Black will receive a Special Recognition Award for his work to raise visibility of our community as a screenwriter on the films Milk and Pedro. And who could forget his moving acceptance speech calling for marriage equality at the Academy Awards this year while wearing a white knot.
Geoff Callan & Mike Shaw, the filmmakers responsible for the documentary Pursuit of Equality will take home the San Francisco Local Hero Award. The film is an emotionally charged documentary that puts a face on American citizens who strive for marriage equality and gives viewers an inside look at Mayor Gavin Newsom’s decision to allow the first same-sex couple to exchange their vows. This past year, Callan and Shaw took the film across California to fight the anti-gay Proposition 8.
The San Francisco Awards will also include two very special performances by out pop music phenomenon Matt Alber and extraordinary violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg with the New Century Chamber Orchestra.
The GLAAD Media Awards wouldn’t be where we are today without the help of our corporate partners. More than 100 corporate sponsors are showing their support, including National Presenting Partner IBM and Local Presenting Partners ABSOLUT® VODKA and Prudential. GLAAD is also grateful to the event’s Platinum Underwriters Comcast, TimeWarner and University of Phoenix. Allstate Insurance Company, American Airlines, Barefoot Wine, Disney/ABC Television Group, HMS Media, Herb Ritts Foundation, New York City Marriott & Renaissance Hotels, Renaissance New York Hotel, MillerCoors, NBC Universal, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Southwest Airlines, The Terry Watanabe Charitable Trust and Wyndham Hotel Group support the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards as Underwriter Partners.
Don’t miss out… Click here and purchase your tickets today!
Carrie Prejean: Beauty or Bryant?
April 29, 2009
Carrie Prejean and Anita Bryant
Miss California, otherwise known as Carrie Prejean, is back in the spotlight.
Earlier the Miss USA contestant came under fire because of her on-stage response to a question about the right for same-sex couples to marry. This time around she’s taking the personal and making it political.
Politico reported today the beauty queen is teaming up with the National Organization of Marriage to produce a second ad attacking marriage equality. The official announcement will be made tomorrow at a press conference being held at the National Press Club. The anti-gay group is reportedly doling out $1.5 million dollars for their television ads.
But that’s not all. Before tomorrow’s DC press conference, the losing Miss USA contestant made a pit stop in Lynchburg, Virgina to speak at Liberty University, an anti-gay college founded by the now deceased Rev. Jerry Falwell.
Carrier Prejean at Liberty University
It sounds like Prejean may be trying to channel a little bit of Anita Bryant. The retired beauty queen won Miss Oklahoma in 1958 and was a second runner-up for Miss America in 1959. Bryant became notoriously known for her anti-gay organizing efforts across the country.
Bryant went on to become the Flordia Citrus Commission spokeswoman but later lost the gig due to a nationwide boycott of orange juice by the LGBT community and bad publicity for her anti-gay efforts.
Button from the orange juice boycott
Just like orange juice toting Bryant, Ms. Prejean is in the minority among her peers. It was just reported that former Miss California and former Miss USA winner Shanna Moakler will be appearing in an ad campaign protesting California’s Proposition 8, the statewide initiative that overturned marriage for gay and lesbian couples in November 2008.
Former Miss California contestants Raquel Beezley and Tamiko Nash donned tiaras and appeared in the ads produced by NO H8. Brook Lee also shot for the ad campaign. Lee started her beauty queen career in 1997 as Miss. Hawaii and later went on to become Miss USA and Miss Universe.
Below you can see some historic media coverage of Anita Bryant and her anti-gay tirades:
GLAAD Issues Statement on Media Coverage of Miss USA Controversy
April 21, 2009
Earlier today, Neil G. Giuliano, president of GLAAD, responded to media coverage of the controversy surrounding the current Miss California, Carrie Prejean, and her response to a question during the Miss USA Competition on Sunday.
You can click here to read details and the full press release:
Much of the media’s coverage of this story seems to be missing the main point, which is that what Prejean said is simply inaccurate. Contrary to Prejean’s claim that people can choose who they want to marry, loving, committed gay and lesbian couples are in fact denied that choice in all but a few states, and all such couples are also denied the federal security and protections that come with marriage.
America should in fact be a place where all people – gay and straight – can choose to marry the person they love, but that choice continues to be denied to loving, committed gay couples. GLAAD urges media covering the controversy to focus attention on real gay and lesbian couples who, because they continue to be excluded from marriage, are prevented from being able to take care of and be responsible for each other.
