A year of dynamic changes... how visibility is winning hearts and minds to advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans.
| By Neil G. Giuliano | Contact  Neil G. Giuliano served as President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) at the time he wrote this article. Prior to GLAAD, Neil served for ten years as mayor of Tempe, Arizona (1994-2004). During this time, he was active with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, served on the Board of Directors and as Vice-Chair of the National Advisory Council of the National League of Cities, and is profiled in the book Trailblazers: Stories of America’s Openly Gay Officials.
Neil received his B.A. from the Hugh Downs School of Communication and his M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration, both from Arizona State University.
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LESSONS FROM 2007
A new year is a unique opportunity to look back and determine how to move forward. We faced many challenges in 2007. The year began with remarks charged with violently anti-gay sentiment, including Tim Hardaway’s “I hate gay people” rant and the now infamous Snickers® Super Bowl ad where two men take violent action to prove their masculinity after accidentally kissing.
We also saw sorrowful personal stories played out in the media; Susan Stanton, the city manager of Largo, Fla., was fired because she is transgender; in Pueblo, Colo., 15-year-old Anthony Hergesheimer was taunted and beaten because he is gay; and in Seattle, Charlene Strong was initially denied access to an emergency room to be with her dying partner. Though the stories themselves are tragic, I’m encouraged because each of them received fair, accurate and inclusive news coverage as a result of GLAAD’s media advocacy work. Their stories were told widely, and they have changed hearts and minds about our issues and quest for full equality.
As we move into a dynamic year of change with the upcoming presidential election, we also bring with us numerous victories shared with many partners. GLAAD focused media attention on Rev. Alicia Heath-Toby and Saundra Toby-Heath’s legal victory in New Jersey, which granted gay and lesbian couples civil unions in the Garden State. And when comedian Jerry Lewis, actor Scott Caan and Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach Phil Jackson made offensive anti-gay remarks, GLAAD’s quick response and authority as a media resource resulted in community outrage, educational opportunities and prompt apologies.
VISIBILITY IN 2008
January already has 2008 off to a busy start. On Tuesday, January 22, GLAAD congratulated director Cynthia Wade and producer Vanessa Roth on the nomination of their film, Freeheld, for an Academy Award® in the category of “Best Documentary Short Subject.”
Freeheld documents the struggle of New Jersey Detective Lieutenant Laurel Hester in her effort to transfer her pension to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree. With less than six months to live as cancer spreads to her brain, Laurel battles the Ocean County Freeholders, her elected officials, to give to Stacie what heterosexual married couples receive automatically. The film captures both the very public and urgent dispute with the Freeholders, as well as Laurel and Stacie’s intensely private struggle as they come to terms with losing one another.
Freeheld shows the power that personal stories have to change hearts and minds and to move a community to action. Though the film’s impetus was the discrimination that gay and lesbian couples face, it is ultimately about the triumph of spirit and how a community came together to do the right thing.
A CALL TO ACTION
The same day we celebrated this acknowledgement of our visibility, GLAAD and the community were saddened by the tragic death of Heath Ledger. His Oscar®-nominated role as Ennis del Mar in Brokeback Mountain changed hearts and minds in immeasurable ways, and I, for one, will always be grateful for the special place he has in the community’s media history.
Some took this sad loss of life as an opportunity to spout their anti-gay sentiments. In the hours immediately following the announcement of Ledger’s death, Fox News host John Gibson cruelly mocked Ledger’s death and his role in Brokeback Mountain during his January 22 John Gibson Show radio broadcast. During the show, Gibson played an audio clip from the film of Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, Jack, telling Ennis, “I wish I knew how to quit you.” Gibson then coldly quipped, “Well, he found out how to quit you.” Then, after playing another audio clip from the movie of Ledger’s character saying, “We’re dead,” Gibson mockingly said, “We’re dead,” and played the clip again.
Beyond his mockery of Ledger’s role in the Academy Award®-winning film, Gibson called the actor a “weirdo” with “a serious drug problem,” and callously speculated on the circumstances surrounding Ledger’s death. Gibson had previously mocked Brokeback Mountain – calling it a “gay agenda movie” on his Fox News TV program in 2006.
Simply put, Gibson’s remarks are sickening. That he could exploit this tragic death, at a time when family and friends are grieving, shows a level of insensitivity that is beyond the pale. GLAAD’s statement mourning Ledger’s death had already made papers around the country, including USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle, and with Gibson’s comments, our media programs team launched a national call to action.
Following GLAAD’s alert, there was a flood of comment to Fox News from the community. Recognizing our leadership on the issue, CNN’s Headline News had GLAAD’s Senior Director of Media Programs Rashad Robinson on Prime News with Erica Hill to outline our position. In the wake of GLAAD’s alert and the public outcry, Gibson offered a statement regarding his remarks on the January 24 broadcast of Big Story with John Gibson saying, “I’m sorry that some took my comments as anti-gay and insensitive… Once again, to anyone offended by my comments, I’m sorry.”
HOLDING MEDIA ACCOUNTABLE
Despite Gibson’s acknowledgement of the public response to his comments, Fox News’ silence speaks to the media corporation’s implicit approval that anchors have the freedom to use any opportunity, no matter how tragic, to spout intolerance. What is further exasperating is that Fox News gives someone like this a media platform and still calls him a “professional.” Media have a responsibility to report on issues for what they are. It is unacceptable to use a human tragedy such as this to wink and nod around homophobia.
With the commitment our donors make to support our advocacy work, GLAAD is able to respond to such incidents with an authority that is understood to be the media advocacy voice for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. As we embrace 2008 with all of its challenges and opportunities, we need you standing with us as we work to effect even greater change.
