GLAAD Educates Future Journalists about LGBT Issues
March 27, 2009
Last week I attended the College Media Advisers Convention in NYC to meet with student journalists from across the country. In my work as a Media Field Strategist for GLAAD, I work with journalists every day to educate them on fair, accurate, and inclusive LGBT media coverage.
GLAAD’s Young Adult Media Program works with college journalists and educates using our College Mdia Reference Guide. I presented a workshop about reporting on LGBT issues, and found that the students had great questions.
The room was full of editors-in-chief, arts and entertainment editors, copy editors, and general assignment reporters. Student journalists wanted to know which pronouns to use for 
transgender and genderqueer students, why “alternative lifestyle” isn’t the best term, and how to ensure their coverage is well-done.
Though many of the students had either written or edited a story on LGBT folks for their campus newspapers, one had a particularly troubling story–the newspaper’s adviser, a private college faculty member, had taken the newspapers’ Associated Press Stylebook (which is considered to many, the “Bible of Journalists”) and ripped out the pages that explained the terms “gay” and “transgender.”
Though it was fantastic to hear an editor-in-chief engage us on his challenges and successes while editing a story on a genderqueer student, there fact that even one student newspaper was without the tools to fairly and accurately report on LGBT students is disheartening!
After many of the almost two dozen student journalists in the workshop gave their support for the student, I ensured she had a copy of our Media Reference Guide to take back to her campus. It includes excerpts from the AP Stylebook’s pages on gay and transgender issues, so now her newsroom will have the right tools!
The students in the workshop were from private and public universities, all the way from Maine to Hawaii. Each student publication that was represented at the conference (more than 200) was given a copy of GLAAD’s College Media Reference Guide. Engaging future professional journalists will help ensure their future coverage of our community is fair, accurate, and inclusive!
Survey Shows Greater Support for Marriage and Civil Unions Among Young Evangelicals
March 19, 2009
A new poll of young evangelicals shows greater levels of support for LGBT issues. The poll of 2,000 young adults with conservative religious views in Political Research Associates’ Spring 2009 edition of Public Eye reported that young believers are more than twice as likely (24% to 10%) as their elders to support same-sex marriage.
Another 32% support civil unions—totaling 55%. Public Eye argues that the trend of coming out at a younger age to one’s friends is contributing to young evangelicals’ changing their perception to positive views on marriage for same-sex couples.
An earlier survey, conducted by the conservative Barna Group in 2007, found that 80% of the 16 to 29 year old evangelical churchgoers who responded to the survey felt that present-day Christianity shows “excessive contempt and unloving attitudes towards gays and lesbians.” The Barna assessment also added that churches were not helping young people relate to their gay friends.
Shannon Garcia – “What Does the Transgender Day of Remembrance Mean to You?”
November 20, 2008
The Transgender Day of Remembrance will be observed this Thursday, Nov 20. To commemorate the day, GLAAD will be blogging about issues relevant to the Day of Remembrance throughout the week.
We asked transgender people and allies to respond to the question “What does the Transgender Day of Remembrance mean to you?” This response is from Shannon Garcia.
Shannon Garcia
Shannon Garcia is the President of TransYouth Family Allies, Inc., a business owner, and the mother of six children, including a beautiful 9 year old affirmed female daughter who transitioned at the age of 6. She speaks at schools, social service agencies, health care facilities, universities and conferences nationwide educating and advocating on behalf of transgender and gender variant children and their families.
When I think of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, I have mixed emotions. I feel sadness and sorrow over those who have lost their lives due to senseless hatred and violence. I feel anger over not being able to help those who were taken before their time. I also feel energized and a renewed sense of commitment.
Each year at this time, I am reminded of why the work we all do in this community is so important. None of us want even one more person to die senselessly simply because they are transgender or don’t meet society’s expectations for how they should dress, act or look.
I am given a fresh sense of hope that we can and ARE indeed making a difference. We are making huge strides in educating students, educators, lawmakers, healthcare providers, work places and others all across the country on the myths and facts of what it means to be transgender. People are learning tolerance and understanding every day that will hopefully save lives.
I know as we move forward and make progress against oppression, bias and lack of education, Brandon Teena, Gwen Araujo, Lawrence King, Ian Benson and all of the other transgender angels in Heaven are smiling and spreading their wings. That makes me smile.
Chicago’s Proposed School Would Keep LGBT and Ally Students Safe
September 23, 2008
The below post is by Sarah Kennedy, the Central Region’s Media Field Strategist here at GLAAD.
My brother is not gay. He is, however, an ally. He grew up with two openly gay siblings, and at his Midwestern high school he stands up for kids who get bullied because they are gay or people think they’re gay. In fact, he’s just about the only one there who does.
An ally supports Harvey Milk H.S. students
This past Thursday, Chicago Public Schools held a community forum at Chicago’s Center on Halstead to give community members the opportunity to discuss the proposed school. The Chi Town Daily News reported that the plans were well received and that during a “lengthy question and answer session, most audience members voiced support for the project.”
Reading through the media coverage of the proposed school, I thought of how amazing it would have been for me growing up in the Midwest if I had the option to go to a high school where I felt comfortable – and safe – being myself. As a former closeted high schooler, and as somebody who now worries about the safety of the students my brother tells me about, I’m excited Chicago is starting to take these steps.
I remember hearing about the Harvey Milk High School when it opened five years ago in New York City, and the way the media latched on to the story. The school was designed around the needs of at-risk LGBT students, yet the news stories weren’t about students‘ safety or anti-gay bullying. Instead, the focus was on the sensationalistic aspects.
People all over the country questioned the idea of Harvey Milk High School, rather than discussing how truly difficult it can be for an LGBT student to simply walk down the hallway. Sure, my younger brother would stick up for you, but he’s the rare exception, and with teachers who aren’t equipped to intervene it can lead to disastrous situations.
Students who are the victim of bullying, harassment and violence because of their orientation and how they express themselves, like Lawrence King, are not always in an educational environment where faculty and staff have the capacity to ensure their safety and well-being.
Beyond feeling safe from bullying and harassment, there is the basic need to feel okay about yourself at school. I wasn’t out in high school, not because I was afraid of physical harassment, but I wasn’t in an environment where I believed I could have led a sort-of-normal life at school, free from being ostracized.
I’m hopeful that conversation around this school will contribute to a larger national conversation about school safety for LGBT kids. The best option is always to have students feel comfortable and safe at any school. Until that becomes a reality, schools that focus on the safety of LGBT students may just be our best bet.
