No Gold Medal for Homophobic Olympics Coverage
February 26, 2010
Jarrett Barrios, President of GLAAD, wrote about the problematic media coverage of Olympic Men’s Figure Skating, in The Huffington Post on Friday, February 26, 2010. Read the full article at The Huffington Post or on GLAAD Blog.
Jarrett Barrios
This post was originally published at The Huffington Post. See original post.
It was last week that MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Scarborough and co-host Willie Geist yukked it up about the Olympics, choosing to get their laugh lines in the area of Men’s Figure Skating:
WILLIE GEIST: Joe, I know you’re very, very excited about the uh Men’s Figure Skating tonight. It should be a real battle.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Well, it’s always, every four years I look forward to it. It’s a great chance for me to do a couple things at once. It’s usually where I get my nails buffed and polished while sitting there watching Men’s Figure Skating.
GUEST COMMENTATOR: One thing it does do though, it gives you a preview of what Willie will be wearing when he comes back here to New York.
Perhaps Joe and company should be congratulated for keeping their homophobia and gender stereotyping to at least a PG level. What, with talk radio personalities like Dallas KRLD-FM’s Gregg Henson “quipping” about US figure skater Johnny Weir: “We know you’re gay, queen. It’s your choice to live that ‘lifestyle.’” Gotta love talk radio for not holding anything back, huh?
As noted in GLAAD Blog’s coverage analysis, in both national and international sports media outlets, homophobic comments and jabs about male figure skaters who break gender norms, Johnny Weir in particular, dominated sports-oriented talk radio and television throughout the Vancouver Winter Olympics. One commentator even suggested Weir should undergo gender verification testing and another suggested Weir become a U.S. entry into the Women’s skating event.
The list of famous Olympians who are or were openly gay or lesbian is, well, short. And it’s easy to see why when outlets like the Chicago Tribune post polls asking whether people ‘cared’ whether Weir was gay or not when he competed during the 2006 Winter Games. The sports commentator’s impulse to analysis – even apparently harmless polls like the Chicago Tribune’s–is born of a deep and deeply troubling assumption in the minds of sports commentators that “it’s a man’s world” and that means gay people or those who break gender norms aren’t welcome.
The Olympics are intended to bring together a global community to celebrate diversity and sportsmanship. Can it be–even if for just these two weeks–Morning Joe lets Johnny Weir do his triple lutzes and lets the rest of it go? Or that editors and producers sit up and take notice: the whole world is watching and that means they’re watching the homophobic coverage and commentary, too, that perpetuates stereotypes, feeds a climate of intolerance, and ultimately can lead to violent acts against gay and transgender people.
At GLAAD, we triage cases everyday of bad behavior in the media because such anti-gay ridicule trickles down to shape how individuals treat members of our community and families. How does that happen? Here’s a story. A personal one. My son was ridiculed to the point of tears on his third day of baseball practice last year because he told some of his new teammates that he had two dads. Where did these boys get the idea that it was okay to say these things? We already know the answer–and that’s why Morning Joe and all the other put-down artists who call themselves journalists need a wakeup call.
Is this muzzling the media? How about we ask the question back to them: why are you refusing to cover those lesser-known Olympians who are out as gay or lesbian? This year’s problematic Olympics coverage comes after a refusal by mainstream press to cover those openly LGBT Olympic athletes like diver Matthew Mitcham during the 2008 Summer games and omit mentions of their partners in profile pieces.
To be sure, after GLAAD spoke with editors and producers regarding coverage of Weir, apologies issued forth. Stories were corrected online. That’s all important. But the real question is why it happened in the first place. And why it will happen again. To the sports media: Heal thyself. The industry needs to reflect deeply on how it covers sports, and how that coverage perpetuates stereotypes that can lead to intolerance and violence.
In the end, it seems Johnny Weir’s words sum it up the best:
“I’m totally for freedom on speech and voicing your opinion [but] I want them to think before they speak. I want them to think about not only the person they’re talking about but also the other people like that person. I want them to think about the other generations of people that they’re affecting by talking like that.”
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The author is the president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and a former Massachusetts state senator.
This post was originally published at The Huffington Post. See original post.
Related Posts:GLAAD President Featured in My Latino Voice/Presidente de GLAAD Fue Destacado por My Latino Voice
February 11, 2010
GLAAD President Featured in My Latino Voice
GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios was recently a featured voice on the web site myalatinovoice.com. Jarrett discusses his work at GLAAD, his family life and the factors that influenced him to attend Harvard, law school and then to run for the senate in Massachusetts. Get to know our president better by visiting the site at:
Presidente de GLAAD Fue Destacado por My Latino Voice
El presidente de GLAAD Jarrett Barrios ha sido destacado como una personalidad importante en el sitio de mylatinovoice.com. En la entrevista, Jarrett nos habla sobre su trabajo en GLAAD, su vida familiar, y los factores que influyeron a que asista a la Universidad de Harvard, luego a la facultad de derecho, y finalmente de entrar a la política y convertirse en senador estatal en Massachusetts. Para conocer mejor a nuestro presidente, visite al sitio: http://mylatinovoice.com/featured-voices/27-features/1513-jarrett-barrios-president-of-glaad-chats-with-my-latino-voice.html
Related Posts:Act Now: Protest Buju Banton’s Grammy Nomination
December 9, 2009
GLAAD has called on community members and allies to contact the Recording Academy and sign an online petition protesting the Grammy nomination of reggae singer Buju Banton’s ninth album “Rasta Got Soul,” and urging Recording Academy members to not support his nomination. The petition can be viewed here: www.glaad.org/bujubantonpetition
“Reggae singer Buju Banton’s anti-gay lyrics and the climate of hatred they create are a threat to the safety of gay and transgender people everywhere,” said Jarrett Barrios, President of GLAAD. “In a climate of increased anti-gay violence in this country and Banton’s home country of Jamaica, it is deeply disappointing that the Recording Academy would choose to laud the work of a singer who has advocated violence against the gay community.”
Buju Banton's nominated album "Rasta Got Soul."
In a popular song released in 1988 entitled “Boom Bye Bye,” Banton repeats the anti-gay slurs, “batty bwoy” and “batty man,” which are equivalent to the slur “fa**ot,” and says that they “have to die” and he will “shoot them in the head” or “burn them.” He continues to sing this song at his concerts today. The Associated Press has reported that the song “Batty Rider” from Banton’s 1993 record “Mr. Mention” glorifies the shooting of gay men.
In October 2009 Banton was quoted in news reports as saying “This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs ‘there is no end to the war between me and f—-t’ and it’s clear.”
“We call on the media to shine a spotlight on Banton’s history of anti-gay lyrics in coverage of this year’s Grammy Awards as well as the Recording Academy’s decision to honor him without taking steps to ensure his future career is not marked with promoting violence,” said Barrios.
In 2007, GLAAD issued an alert calling on Clear Channel to withdraw its sponsorship of its Power 105.1 station’s Reggae Carifest featuring Banton and Bounty Killer. Following publication of that alert, Clear Channel dropped its sponsorship of the event.
Related Posts:GLAAD Co-Sponsors Vigil for Jorge Steve Lopez Mercado
November 25, 2009
Hundreds of people gathered in New York City’s historic Greenwich Village Sunday, Nov. 22 to take a stand against anti-LGBT violence. The vigil was held in honor of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, the 19-year-old openly gay man who was brutally murdered more than a week ago in Puerto Rico.
The vigil, run concurrently with vigils in 15 other cities, was organized in conjunction with GLAAD and featured several prominent elected officials. GLAAD’s President Jarrett Barrios was a featured speaker.
“A lot of us who grew up Latino, grew up with this machismo ingrained in us, we need to examine what’s underneath,” said Barrios, a sentiment that echoed throughout the mostly Latino crowd.
The vigil was the latest public outcry after Juan Martinez Matos, 26, pled guilty to murdering Mercado. Matos, was also charged with three weapons and one count of hiding evidence.
Despite the evidence against Matos, the Puerto Rican government says it’s still “unclear” how it will prosecute him. Law officials speculate the government may try the case as a simple murder case (without it being designated as a hate crime) because Matos claims he “didn’t know the gender of Mercado.” But for many vigil attendees and elected officials across the country—that is unacceptable.
“This is a hate crime!” City Councilwoman Christine Quinn, the first openly lesbian Speaker of the City Council, told reporters. “The attack against any American because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is unacceptable, and will be prosecuted to the highest and fullest extent of the law,” she said.
There is mounting pressure on Attorney General Eric Holder to pressure the Puerto Rican government to try the case as a hate crime. If Puerto Rico agrees, this could be the first case tried under the new Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
For more pictures from the vigil, visit: “Remembering Jorge Steven Mercado, a vigil”
Related Posts:Become a GLAAD Facebook Fan: Win a Chance to Speak with GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios
November 24, 2009
Become a fan of GLAAD’s Official Facebook page at http://www.glaad.org/facebook by Friday December 4th and you could be selected to win a thirty minute phone call with GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios.
This is your chance to have a one-on-one conversation with the leader of the third largest LGBT organization in the U.S. Engage with Jarrett about where the movement is headed and share your thoughts about the role GLAAD should play.
Educating ESPN.com Readers on the Dangers of Homophobia in Sports
November 23, 2009
Recently, our president, Jarrett Barrios, wrote an article for ESPN.com outlining the dangers of homophobia in sports. The piece began with a condensed version of the Larry Johnson saga, and then shifted into a detailed description of GLAAD’s Sports Media Program.
Barrios explains GLAAD’s zero-tolerance approach to Larry Johnson’s use of anti-gay slurs and his subsequent suspension from the Chiefs. Despite his personal punishment, we are disappointed that the NFL is not using this as an important educational tool on the dangers of anti-gay attitudes and words. The sports world remains a very hostile environment for LGBT players, coaches, fans and allies “because when anti-gay epithets go uncorrected, it sends a message that it’s OK to denigrate gay people and their families.”
GLAAD’s Sports Media Program will continue to address the needs of amateur and professional athletes, until “openly gay athletes will be cheered, booed and treated just the same as their teammates.”
The accessible and prominent article will reach a wide audience of readers and offers and hopefully spark conversations. The article demonstrates to LGBT readers that they have a voice within sports culture, but it also serves to change the hearts and minds of many avid fans.
Related Posts:GLAAD Applauds Scholastic Inc. for Their Decision to Feature an LGBT-Inclusive Book in its Book Fairs
October 29, 2009
Earlier this week, members of the LGBT community alerted GLAAD that Scholastic Inc. was excluding Lauren Myracle’s Luv Ya Bunches from its book fairs across the country. The book features a young girl, Milla, being raised by lesbian parents. “Scholastic is offering Luv Ya Bunches in our Book Clubs. We decided we would not offer this title in Fairs… We review thousands of books each year and only a limited number can be carried in our channels,” was the statement on their Web site. Scholastic added that the company was still reviewing it for possible inclusion in the spring.
GLAAD reached out to executives at Scholastic to ask that the company reconsider its decision. In addition, Change.org, the web-based organizing community, generated over 4,000 signatures on its petition requesting that people make their voices heard.
After discussions with GLAAD and concerns from community members and allies, Scholastic yesterday issued the following statement: “Scholastic does not censor books…we are committed to a review process that considers all books equally regardless of their inclusion of LGBT characters and same sex parents. Having completed our review of Luv Ya Bunches, Scholastic Book Fairs will carry the title in our spring fairs for middle school. Scholastic is proud of our long history of providing books that will appeal to the wide range of interests and reading abilities of children in the many diverse cultures and communities we serve. Luv Ya Bunches is just one example.”
“We applaud Scholastic’s decision to include Luv Ya Bunches in its spring book fairs and appreciate the work already being done by Scholastic to promote the book in its book clubs,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “In communities across this country there are children like the character of Milla, who are being raised by loving and committed gay and lesbian parents. When children read about families like Milla’s, it helps reduce the kinds of intolerance, bullying and harassment that gay youth–and the kids of gay parents–often face on a daily basis.”
Related Posts:Approve Referendum 71 Maintains Slight Lead While GLAAD Continues to Contribute to Campaign
October 26, 2009
GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios, Senior Media Strategist Adam Bass and 20-plus volunteers made more than 4,000 phone calls on Sunday, October 25th.
GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios calls voters for Approve 71
The campaign released a tracking poll on Monday, showing that the hard work of Washington Families Standing Together (WAFST) is beginning to pay off. Although the polling shows a lead for the “approve” vote – this lead could easily be lost if lesbian and gay couples stop sharing their stories or if they fail to vote. This is why the last week of the campaign is so important.
GLAAD has been on the ground in Seattle assisting the WAFST coalition since August. We continue to be committed to helping Washington voters understand the real life struggles and successes of lesbian and gay couples and understanding the harms that would result if voters take away domestic partnership protections.
Related Posts:GLAAD Issues Statement to TMZ Regarding Mickey Rourke’s Tirade
October 9, 2009
Earlier today, TMZ alerted GLAAD to a video on their site of Academy Award nominated actor Mickey Rourke lamenting being unable to use the F-word freely. He proceeds to use the offensive anti-gay slur numerous times.
GLAAD issued a statement to TMZ today in response to their post showing Rourke repeatedly using and defending the F-word. Rourke is a part of a small list of celebrities who see the word as harmless. GLAAD does not agree. President Jarrett Barrios said:
“This is a slur that, regardless of what Mickey Rourke has convinced himself that it means, is often the last word that gay people, and gay youth in particular, hear before they’re bullied, harassed or assaulted.
Rourke is showing himself to be painfully ignorant of how this vulgar, abusive slur feeds a climate of anti-gay hatred, intolerance and violence.
Related Posts:Rourke either needs to figure this out, or media needs to stop giving him a platform for promoting these kinds of slurs.”
The Stars Come Out for GLAAD & SAG’s Out in Hollywood Panel
October 8, 2009
Last night in Los Angeles, a packed house turned out to celebrate National Coming Out Month as GLAAD partnered with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) to present Out in Hollywood III: The Rise of the LGBT Actor, a panel featuring notable out actors, producers, directors and casting directors discussing their experiences being openly LGBT in the industry.
Doria Biddle, co-host of The Frank DeCaro Show on Sirius/XM Radio, moderated the event which included Emmy-winning director Paris Barclay, casting directors Tammara Billik and Dan Shaner, and Academy Award-winning producer Dan Jinks. The LGBT actors on the panel were: Bryan Batt (Mad Men), Candis Cayne (Dirty Sexy Money), Wilson Cruz (He’s Just Not That Into You), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Michelle Paradise (Exes and Ohs), and Jonathan Slavin (Better Off Ted). Also speaking at the event were GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios, SAG Interim National Executive Director David White, SAG Secretary-Treasurer Amy Aquino, and SAG LGBT Committee Chairman Jason Stuart.
Stayed tuned as we’ll be posting video soon. In the meantime, check out the photos and quotes below:
“Until everyone is free, the experiment of America is not succeeding. We all
want opportunity.” ~ Bryan Batt
From left: Jonathan Slavin, Wilson Cruz, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Bryan Batt
“There’s a movement going on and I can’t separate my personal from my work.
To give in to bigoted ideals is not fair to me…If you’re not ready to be out, then you’re not helpful to the cause and you’re not doing me any favors” ~ Wilson Cruz
From left: Dan Shaner, Tammara Billik, Jonathan Slavin, Wilson Cruz, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Doria Biddle, Candis Cayne, and Paris Barclay
“They created a quantum shift in the world.” ~ Tammara Billik on the impact of
actors who were publicly outed, like Neil Patrick Harris and T.R. Knight.
From left: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Bryan Batt, Candis Cayne, Michelle Paradise, Dan Jinks, Paris Barclay, and Doria Biddle
“As a community, we’re always concerned when things are bad. We should also
write in when things are good.” ~ Paris Barclay, on using our voice to advocate
for the out images we support.
GLAAD Releases 14th Annual Where We Are on TV Study
October 1, 2009
Today, GLAAD released the14th annual “Where We Are On TV” study, a comprehensive review of scripted LGBT primetime characters in the 2009-2010 television season. After more than doubling last year,the overall number LGBT characters on broadcast networks continues a steady rise.
Glee's Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer)
The report shows that 18 LGBT characters will account for 3% of scripted series regulars in the 2009-2010 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.3% in 2006, 1.1% in 2007, and 2.6% in 2008. The number of scripted LGBT series regulars found on mainstream cable networks continue to decline, from 40 in 2007, 32 in 2008 to only 25 this year.
This research serves as a benchmark for GLAAD’s advocacy efforts of increases in LGBT characters and stories. The storylines and characters in the Where We Are On TV report will later be reviewed for GLAAD’s fourth annual Network Responsibility Index, released after May 2010 sweeps, which grades networks on overall LGBT impressions.
For this upcoming season, ABC continues to lead the other broadcast networks in LGBT representation, with eight LGBT characters out of 168 total series regular characters (5%), the highest number and percentage of LGBT characters of any network for the 2009-2010 season. Fox, which only two years ago featured zero series regular LGBT characters at the launch of the season, now offers four LGBT series regulars out of 105 (4%). NBC has three series regular LGBT characters (3%) out of a total of 126. The CW is showing gradual improvement with two LGBT series regular characters out of 69 (3%). Unfortunately, CBS continues to disappoint. Out of 132 series regular characters, none are LGBT.
On mainstream cable networks, the number of announced LGBT series regular characters dropped to 25 from last year’s total of 32. The presence of LGBT-focused cable networks here! and Logo, which program specifically for LGBT viewers, add an additional 27 series regular LGBT characters.
Stargate Universe's Camille Wray (Ming Na)
This marks the fifth year that GLAAD has analyzed the demographics of the race, gender and ethnicity of all the 600 series regular characters expected to appear on the broadcast networks in the upcoming season. Male characters continue to outweigh female characters 57% (345) to 43% (255) in overall numbers, while 77% (466) of all series regular characters are white, down 2% from last year. African American representation has remains at 11% (67) while Latino/a representation has dropped to 5% (27). GLAAD counted 23 Asian Pacific Islander characters (4%), four more than last season.
“Our analysis also shows where there’s still work to be done. This past year, we’ve seen real progress from many networks toward making their scripted programming more LGBT inclusive,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “At the same time, we continue to advocate that other networks including CBS follow suit and that networks across the board better reflect the diversity of the LGBT community.”
Complete results of GLAAD’s “Where We Are On TV” report can be accessed here.
Related Posts:Incoming GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios Statement on White House Event to Commemorate Stonewall
June 29, 2009
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
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:GLAAD Announces New President – Watch Welcome Video
June 17, 2009
GLAAD just issued a press release announcing that Jarrett T. Barrios, a former State Senator from Massachusetts, will serve as GLAAD’s new President. In the statement, Barrios is quoted as saying:
We’re making progress toward equality, but we’ll only achieve full equality if we change hearts and minds – and that’s what GLAAD is all about. We’re working for the day when every one of us is accepted, respected and valued for the contributions we make to this country. It’s an ambitious goal, but I know we can do it. I believe in our community, and I believe in our country.
Jarrett T. Barrios
Jarrett is an inspiring, new voice for the national movement. As a Latino and a parent, he will build bridges among communities. He is also an accomplished progressive leader and activist with the talent and experience to take GLAAD and our movement to new heights.
Laurie Perper, Co-Chair of GLAAD’s Board of Directors, also responded:
Jarrett’s advocacy and proven results are a natural fit with GLAAD’s work to shape our culture through the media and raise visibility for LGBT people and issues. GLAAD’s work to change hearts and minds is needed today more than ever. It’s the only way our community will see real change.
From LGBT advocate and author David Mixner:
In this historical battle for freedom for LGBT citizens, we need not only good leaders but great leaders. The selection by GLAAD of Jarrett Barrios to lead them in their invaluable work is simply brilliant. As a father, husband, former legislator and son of immigrants from Cuba, no one understands more than Jarrett what is at stake in this powerful moment in our history. What incredibly good news for the LGBT community to have him in a position of national leadership.
You can read much more about Jarrett Barrios’ background and achievements in our full press release. Also, watch his introductory video below:
Feel free to leave comments, questions and concerns for the new president below (to prevent trolls/spam you must be registered to make comments).
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