GLAAD
MEDIA AWARDS: FAIR, ACCURATE AND INCLUSIVE?
FemmeNoir
A Web Portal For Lesbians Of Color
GLAAD
MEDIA AWARDS: Los Angeles, California - January 24, 2005 -
Each year the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards
recognizes and honors members of the media for their fair, accurate and
inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
communities and the issues that affect our lives.
This past year was groundbreaking for gays in Black journalism.
From Black churches supporting or opposing gay marriage to the alarming rise in
HIV infection rates among Black gay and bisexual men, Black journalists tackled
issues considered taboo by many and generated the beginning of an open and
honest dialogue in a community that isn't necessarily willing or ready to
discuss the L, G or H word.
That is why the absence of any substantive recognition of Black journalists
among this year's (GLAAD) nominees is so shocking. Black journalism plays an
important role in covering issues that are important to Americans of African
Descent who happen to also be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
In the area of overall newspaper coverage, the National Newspaper Publisher's
Association (NNPA), a 65-year-old federation of more than 200 Black community
newspapers from across the United States featured monthly columns written by
Black gay and lesbian journalists. The columns dealt directly with gay issues in
the context of Black America. GLAAD and others were quick to attack George
Curry's column on gay marriage, but ignored Kai Wright's follow up or NNPA's
fair and balanced response to the reaction to Mr. Curry's column.
There were also regular major feature stories in the Los Angeles Wave
Newspapers, L.A. Watts Times, New York Amsterdam News,
Atlanta Daily World, Washington Afro American, the Dallas Examiner,
Rolling Out Magazine and others.
The Electronic Urban Report, the leading source for daily entertainment news
with over 60,000 visitors per day, consistently ran op-eds on gay issues in
2004. Both Afrcana.com and Blackplanet.com addressed LGBT
issues in 2004.
Several Black journalists at mainstream papers addressed gay issues in the
context of Black America. Los Angeles Times reporter Gayle Pollard- Terry
syndicated piece "A Shout Rings Out" (October 16, 2004), which profiled
Black gay Christians drew national attention. New York Times reporter Lynette
Clementson's article "Both Sides Court Black Churches In the Battle Over Gay
Marriage" (March 1, 2004), also drew national attention and ignited a series
of similar articles in the Black press. Award winning syndicated political
columnist Earl Ofari Hutchinson wrote several timely op-eds on gay marriage in
2004 including "Gay Marriage Is No Threat to the Black Family. None of
them were nominated for outstanding newspaper article.
Black Entertainment Television (BET) Nightly News and America's Black
Forum produced several segments in 2004 addressing gay marriage. Again a no go
for GLAAD's outstanding television journalism category. The Oprah Winfrey
Show was nominated but not for her widely heralded "Down Low" segment
featuring Black gay men, but rather for her more GLAAD appropriate piece "The
11-Year-Old Who Wants a Sex Change."
In the area of radio, nationally syndicated shows The Bev Smith Show and
Tavis Smiley on NPR consistently addressed the issue of gay marriage and
HIV/AIDS among Black men who have sex with men in 2004.
Ebony Magazine, the oldest Black magazine in the country ran an article
penned by Congressman John Lewis on the debate of gay marriage that received
much attention. Essence Magazine followed suit with a series on Black sexuality
addressing gay and lesbian issues.
2004 also saw the introduction of a then DVD series, now television series
Noah's Arc. Noah's Arc is America's first Black gay television
series. GLAAD missed an opportunity for a special recognition here. Set to debut
this summer on MTV's Logo, the Black AIDS Institute and the Human Rights
Campaign sponsored a national tour promoting the show last year. With an
aggressive marketing and publicity campaign, the series quickly caught the eye
of network executives. At the end of the tour, Noah's Arc had screened in
over 22 cities within 8 months, garnering press coverage ESSENCE, the
Los Angeles Times and the Advocate.
There were several Black gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender themed films
produced in 2004. In addition to the critically acclaimed "Brother to
Brother", Maurice Jamal's "The Ski Trip" garnered national attention
on the film festival circuit and later signed with MTV's Logo. Faith Trimell's
lesbian film "Black Aura of an Angel" along with Debra Wilson's "Butch
Mystique" told powerful stories of Black lesbians.
Once again GLAAD has failed to live up to it's mission of "promoting and
ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the
media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender
identity and sexual orientation."
Maybe GLAAD should add a parenthetical to its mission statement. A possibly more
accurate mission statement might read "promoting and ensuring fair, accurate
and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of
eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual
orientation [for people who are not Black."]
GLAAD expects more than 5,000 people to attend the media awards ceremonies,
raising more than $3 million for the organization's work. However, in a time
when equality for sexual minorities is front and center in the political,
ethical and moral discourse in America, GLAAD's stated mission is vital. Fair,
accurate and inclusive reporting is critical to lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender people, regardless of race.
Maya Angelou said, "When we know better, we do better." Surely, after
nearly 20 years, GLAAD knows better.
About Phill Wilson
Phill Wilson is founder and Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute, the
only Black HIV/AIDS think tank in the United States. The mission of the
Institute is to stop the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Black communities by mobilizing
Black institutions and individuals in efforts to confront HIV/AIDS. The
Institute develops and interprets public and private sector HIV policies,
conducts trainings, offers technical assistance, disseminates information and
provides advocacy from a uniquely and unapologetically Black point of view.
Bio:
http://blackaids.org/WILSON_BIO.htm
Jasmyne Cannick
email:
phone: (213) 353-3610 / (213) 249-0739