GLAAD Supports Local Activists’ Successful Efforts to Prevent Anti-Gay TV Program from Airing
February 11, 2009
On Monday morning, we heard concerns from community members about the anti-gay infomercial Speechless: Silencing the Christians, created and distributed by the anti-gay organization the American Family Association. When we found out the program was scheduled to air in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Columbus, Ohio, we reached out to partner organizations on the ground to find out more information and support local efforts.
After viewing the infomercial, the intent was clear - it was designed to perpetuate a climate of hostility toward our community and to create a culture where we are less safe, less secure, and where our families are put in harm’s way.
Since Monday, we have been working with local community members in Grand Rapids, offering them assistance as they led efforts to mobilize community members to express their concerns to the station management at WOOD-TV (NBC), where it was set to air.
The organizing was led by Colette Beighley, who serves as assistant director of the LGBT resource center at Grand Valley State University and a GLAAD-trained spokesperson. Colette is also serving as the community’s lead spokesperson on the issue, and she continues to work with GLAAD on media monitoring and interview prep this week.
Thanks to the efforts of community members on the ground, WOOD-TV first postponed the airing. The station then said it offered the American Family Association another timeslot. General Manager Diane Kniowski said: “We made a gesture of the 2-3 p.m. Saturday time period. It’s been 24 hours and we had no response. Our station is being bombarded with calls and messages, and we find ourselves in the middle of someone else’s fight. Ours was a fair offer and we are removing ourselves from this matter.”
WSYX-TV (ABC) in Columbus, Ohio, has also decided to postpone airing the anti-gay informercial after hearing concerns from community members, and will issue a decision later after the general manager has had an opportunity to review. A new air date has not been set.
The anti-gay infomercial aired in Traverse City, Michigan (WPBN – NBC); Toledo, Ohio (WUPW – Fox); and Charlotte, North Carolina (WJZY – The CW) on Saturday, Feb. 7, with very little fanfare, and the information aired with no traction. Yesterday afternoon Equality Toledo issued an action alert urging community members to engage in dialogue with WUPW about their decision to air this anti-gay programming.
Many Wins for the LGBT Community Since Election
December 19, 2008
While much of the media is still concentrating on the passage of anti-gay legislation back in November, many gains for LGBT equality are being made across the nation.
- Just yesterday, our community and elected officials made these changes!
- Columbus, Ohio, and Binghamton, NY’s, city councils both, extended their nondiscrimination laws to include discrimination based on gender identity and expression.
- Sioux City, Iowa’s, city council decided to delay action on a proposal that would publicly oppo
se marriage equality. - A federal judge denied Birmingham, Alabama’s, request that the court dismiss an anti-gay discrimination lawsuit.
- Ankeny, Iowa’s, school board denied a request to bar children from reading the children’s book And Tango Makes Three, which features two male penguins who raise a chick together.
- New York’s governor mandated that gay parents be allowed to appear on birth certificates.
- And since the election:
- Nov. 12: Same-sex couples legally wed in Connecticut for the first time.
- Nov. 14: Michigan’s House voted to extend hate crimes protections to the LGBT community.
- Nov. 18: Vermont Sen. John Campbell introduced a marriage equality bill.
- Nov. 25: a Florida judge declared the state’s anti-gay adoption law unconstitutional.
- Dec. 1: Indiana’s leaders said a ban on marriage equalityis unlikely in ‘09.
- Dec. 5: Alaska’s Senator-elect told the New York Times he supported partner benefits for gay couples.
- Dec. 8: Cleveland, Ohio, enacted a domestic partner registry and the Virginia Supreme Court granted child-visitation rights to lesbian parent
- Dec. 9: Iowa’s Supreme Court began hearings on marriage equality case Varnum v. Brian.
- Dec. 10: the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission released a report that explains the state’s civil union law is not adequate, and that the legislature must take action to ensure marriage equality.
With the discouraging losses on Nov. 4, it’s important to point out all of our steps forward and to know that for the most part these issues have been covered by the media in a fair, accurate, and inclusive way. Fair media visibility of our community on the local level-everywhere from Florida to Alaska to Iowa-makes a big change in the way our neighbors perceive us.
In addition to the media coverage in your community, sharing your story with your community helps change hearts and minds too! Check out GLAAD’s Announcing Equality toolkit to learn all of the ways to share your story locally: http://www.glaad.org/AnnouncingEquality/
Top Stories Today – 09.04.2008
September 4, 2008
National News:
The New York Times – McCain Policies Differ Sharply From Party Plank
The New York Times – Smoother Transitions
Associated Press – Pentecostalism Obscured in Palin Biography
Regional News:
San Francisco Chronicle (CA) – EDITORIAL: Palin Seizes the Night, But Questions Remain
The Columbus Dispatch (OH) – Church Turns Pop Lyrics Into a Bit of Brimstone
San Francisco Chronicle (CA) – Mayor Puts S.F.’s ID Card Program on Hold
ABCNews.com (VA) – No Gay Sex, Please; We’re from Virginia
Missoulian (MT) – Missoula Launches Stop Bias Crimes Campaign
Detroit Free Press (MI) – Hamtramck Ordinance Question Has to Change
Lawrence Journal-World & News (KS) – Violence Against Gay, Lesbian Residents Sparks New Group
Press-Telegram (CA) – Man Considered Suicide Before Killing
Miami Herald (FL) – OP-ED: Losing Miami-Dade Schools’ TRUST Program Would Set Gay Students Adrift
Lawrence World Journal - Violence against gay, lesbian residents sparks new group
International News:
ABC News (Australia) – Govt Introduces Legislation to End Same-Sex Discrimination
Sify News (Australia) – Lesbian Couple In the Dock for Kissing on Dubai Beach
From the Blogs:
Towleroad – Fran Drescher Fights Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment in California
*On Log Cabin’s Endorsement of John McCain (click here for video)
Gay News Blog – Gay Republicans: GOP on ‘wrong side of history’
Queerty – Log Cabin Warns GOP Not To Be On “Wrong Side” Of History
Good As You – Video: Remind us to never ask Patrick Sammon to define ‘inclusive’
Gay Patriot – Why Log Cabin McCain Endorsement is HUGE
Towleroad – Killer of Gay Teen’s Gloating Explanation: ‘Because I Wanted To’
Joe. My. God. – NY Gov Wins Gay Marriage Challenge
Good As You – Dude calls our unions fake; We say: ‘ They’re real — you can touch ‘em if you want ‘!
Pam’s House Blend – Exodus launches special pray-away-the-gay program for women
Towleroad – EXCLUSIVE: Mayor Bloomberg to Announce Comprehensive Initiatives Combating Anti-Gay Bulling in NYC Schools
