glaad notes
by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation
Healing the lame
Ride BMX, a youth-oriented magazine for
freestyle BMX riders, recently responded to
concerns over its frequent use of the word “gay”
as a pejorative. One example: a photo caption
in the April/May 1999 issue read: “This has to
he the gayest sport ever, frisbee golf.”
After concerns were raised by a San Fran
cisco bicycle store owner who had placed ads
in the magazine. Ride SADf editor Mark Losey
explained in a letter that the publication spoke
the “same language as its readers” and that the
term is “not intended as a sexual epithet.”
glaad explained to publisher Brad
McDonald that while readers might use the
term with no intended malice toward gays, the
social stigma of its pejorative use negatively
impacts gay and lesbian teens.
In response, McDonald said: “GLAAD
raises an interesting point in taking exception
to the use of the word ‘gay’ as a synonym for
‘lame’ in Ride BMX magazine. While the ori
gin of the use of the word in this way is clearly
derogatory towards homosexuals, I do not be
lieve that this is the intent of most people who
Use the term today. However, it is understand
able that many people find this usage hurtful.
Ride BMX magazine strives to be inclusive to
individuals from all backgrounds, and for that
reason we will use our best efforts to eliminate
this usage of the word ‘gay’ in future issues.
While I am under no illusion that Ride BMX
magazine will change the language habits of
America’s youth, we will do our small part to
stop perpetuating the use of this expression.”
Write Ride BMX and its parent company.
Times Mirror Magazines, and thank them for
addressing the community’s concerns. Contact:
Brad McDonald, Publisher, and Mark Losey,
Editor, Ride BMX, 1530 BrookhallowDr., Suite
A, Santa Ana, CA 92705; Martha H. Goldstein,
VP Corporate Communications, Times Mir
ror, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA
90053; email: martha.goldstein@tm.com.
Funny business
For 28 years and through 10,000 comic
strips, Gary Trudeau, winner of a Pulitzer and
a 1995 GLAAD Media Award, has created a
venerable body of work with his daily strip,
“Doonesbury.” The strip has paved the way for
a generation of animators and comic book art
ists to deal honestly with socio-politically pro
gressive themes, to satirize and critique gender
roles, and to contest social mores and norms.
“Doonesbury” has been groundbreaking. In
a recently unfolding plot line, it has focused on
the impending marriage of Mark Slackmeyer,
“the only FM disc jockey known to have outed
himself on the air,” to his life partner, conser
vative commentator Chase Talbott. The series
has a story arc that began with the fallout from
the couple’s announcement of their commit
ment ceremony and evolves with the growing
acceptance on the part of Reverend Scot and
other members of the “Doonesbury” cast.
This plot line has drawn criticism from con
servative readers. Commend Universal Press
Syndicate for standing by such uncompromis
ing and sensitive subject matter. Contact: Lee
Salem,VP and Editorial Director, Universal
Press Syndicate, 4520 Main St., Kansas City,
MO 64111-7701; fax: 1-800-255-6734.
Elementaiy journalism
Nationally syndicated columnist Brent
Bozell wrote a scathing indictment not metely
of the documentary It’s Elementary, but of ho
mosexuality itself in a recent piece entided “Gay
Lifestyle Promoted on PBS program.” Bozell,
executive director of the Conservative Victory
Committee, has used the controversy surround
ing It’s Elementary to spew anti-gay venom.
Bozell falsely labels the work “pure propaganda”
and frames it as something that “flies in the
face of not only public broadcasting’s supposed
commitment to balance but also common sense
and decency.” As Bozell’s rant draws to a close,
he takes aim at disparaging those who supported
this film — the National Endowment for the
Arts and newly-appointed US Ambassador
James C. Hormel.
Tell Creators Syndicate that this column was
sensationalistic and a thinly-disguised attack
against our community. Contact: Katherine
Searcy, Editorial Director, Creators Syndicate,
5777 W. Century Blvd., #700, Los Angeles, CA
90045-5677; fax: (310) 337-7625.
Son rise
In a poignant June 20 article entitled “Mak
ing Men: The Boy Who Doesn’t Fit In,” Boston
Globe writer Mitchell Zuckoff chronicles the
story of one Arkansas father’s decision to move
his family from their longtime home in order
to protect his openly gay son. Zuckoff describes
the Wagner family’s hometown of Booneville
as a “Bible Belt town of 3408 people, where
homosexuality is still seen by many as proof of
the devil,” and father Bill Wagner says “out here
you get killed for being different.”
Wagner’s upbringing and history in Arkan
sas are described in detail — as a means of re
lating the natural difficulties one would expect
he’d face in leaving his home. But Zuckoff tells
us that for Wagner, the choice was easy: “All he
knew...was that it was a father’s place to do the
best he could for a son.” Later, he describes
young Willi’s coming out, in which the 14-year-
old said: “Mom...Dad...I’m...gay. I don’t think
I’m gay. I don’t want to be gay. I just am.” He
also relates Bill’s calm reaction to his son’s com
ing out: “It wasn’t that Bill didn’t know that
some men explode at such news, he just couldn’t
see why. ‘I think a lot of fathers have a negative
reaction because they think it reflects on him,
or his manhood or something, and it doesn’t.’”
In the end, Zuckoff ties the two Wagners
together, beginning with a description of Bill’s
tenderness at the scene of a hate crime com
mitted against Willi, leading to his accompa
nying Willi to a Pride rally in Tulsa, and clos
ing with a touching scene from Willi’s first gay
and lesbian prom.
Thank the Boston Globe for this piece —
unusual in its quality for even a paper so fre
quently GLBT-inclusive. Contact: Gregory L.
Moore, Managing Editor, Boston Globe, 135
Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester, MA 02125-3338;
fax: (617) 929-2098; email: letters@globe.com.
Stars and bars
The Nashville Tennesean reported in its June
18 edition that Grammy Award-winning coun
try superstars Trisha Yearwood and The Mav
ericks headlined a! benefit for a local makeup
artist diagnosed with cancer. What made the
event particularly interesting was that it was
held at a local gay club called The Connection,
and, in the Tennesseans words, “is believed to
be the first time that a country artist [has] played
an openly gay venue in Nashville.” After the
show, Yearwood put the performance in per
spective, “It’s just not an issue for me. I have a
lot of gay fans, and I’m sure there’s a real cool
mixture out there.” Avid Ellen fans may remem
ber that the artist was one of many singers who
performed on the now-cancelled show.
The Tennessean resisted the temptation to
sensationalize the event and chose to report an
interesting story about an industry not usually
perceived as being close to the community. The
Mavericks and Yearwood have used their voices
to support our community more visibly than
perhaps any other country artists outside of
Garth Brooks (a GLAAD Media Award-win
ner who used his hit single “We Shall be Free”
to advocate for gay and lesbian equality).
Thank the Tennessean and the two perform
ers for their acceptance and willingness to help.
Contact: Gail Kerr, Managing Editor, The Ten
nessean, 1100 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203;
fox: (615) 726-8928; email: letters@tennessean.
com; Trisha Yearwood, do MCA Records, 60
Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203; The
Mavericks, do MCA Records, 60 Music Square
East, Nashville, TN y72Gb. T
Take The Latest Q^POLL
Studies show that gay men have a higher risk of contracting Hepatitis
than the general population. Have you been vaccinated for the disease?
July 24,1999 T PAGE 19
Do You Have What
It Takes To Make
The Cut At Norman
Russell?
Norman Russell Salon & Spa is looking
for energetic, dependable, image con
scious people who have a passion for
the beauty industry.
Assistants needed to work with superb senior
stylists* Norman Russell Salon & Spa
offers one of the top
educotional programs in
the industry. You'll be t
working with some of ]V[ADM A M
the best in the business, ilUillllml
irrr e®ell
call Edward Normon SALON & SPA
or John Greene at
704.332.6772
SALON & SPA
1804 Cleveland Avenue
At East Boulevord
Let me help you or your friends
celebrate INDEPENDENCE from
rent by becoming a homeowner!
Call me today for all the details
on the local real estate market!
Visit my website at
www.carolreinard.com
or email me at careinard@aol.com
CAROL A. REINARD, ABR, CMRS
Relocation Specialist, BROKER
COLDWELL BANKER
FLOUHOUSE, REALTORS
6548 Carmel Road
Charlotte, NC 28226
Office
Voice Mail
Out of Town
Web Site
(704) 509-4798
(704) 458-4857
1-800-314-1701
www.caroireinard.com
coLoiueu.
BANKER □
FLOUHOUSE,
REALTORS®
Not Sure
Vote at www.qr-notes.cxsm
If you are terminally ill and
considering selling your
life insurance policy...
We can help:
We represent you, not the
buyer, in the sale of your life
insurance policy.
Our simplified process offers:
• Strict confidentiality
• Quick professional service
• No fees or obligations
• Highest cash payments
• Informational Resources
Positive Living Resources
Tips the Scales in Your Favor.
Available 24 hours
1-800-398-5177
Positive Living Resources donates a portion of all proceeds to local and
national associations dedicated to fighting HIV and AIDS.