Variety Ad Targets The View

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the Black AIDS Institute, and the National Black Justice Coalition took out a full-page ad in variety on Monday to demand that ABC and The View correct misinformation the popular morning program spread about African-American men and HIV infection on June 22.

According to part of the ad, “On June 22, ABC’s The View aired inaccurate information about HIV, blaming African American gay and bisexual men for increased HIV rates among straight African American women. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has publicly disproven this myth. And since June 22, thousands of people have written to ABC, asking that The View provide correct information to viewers. Unfortunately, those requests have been greeted with silence from both ABC and The View.”

The June 22 episode focused on the Food and Drug Administration’s ban against gay and bisexual men giving blood. Host Sherri Shepherd and guest host D.L. Hughley perpetuated the falsehoods about African-American men and AIDS in their comments.

GLAAD issued a call to action on June 24 urging viewers to contact the show and ask for a retraction. More than 3,000 people participated, according to GLAAD.

Today Show Wedding Contest Won’t Include Gay Couples

A request from GLAAD that the Today show amend the wording on the application for its Modern Love wedding competition was declined, with a spokesperson for the show saying the winning couple had to be able to legally marry in the state of New York.

“For the TODAY show wedding, the couple must be able to be legally married in New York, which is where the wedding will take place,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation asked Today to change its application for the contest after it was pointed out that the form lists only “bride” and “groom” as the options for couples to choose.

GLAAD writes on its blog: “'Today' has chosen New York to stay within budget, since most of its key crew and core operations are located there. While we understand production constraints and recognize this is not the 'Hometown Wedding' contest, it’s still disappointing that same-sex couples who can legally marry in Iowa, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Washington D.C. are not eligible to participate with 'Today' since the show’s contest requires a legal wedding in New York. 'Today' should also consider New York same-sex couples who can legally marry elsewhere and are recognized by the state.”

Perez to GLAAD: 'I'm the Victim'

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation released a statement on Monday that censured gay blogger Perez Hilton for his use of antigay slurs during an alleged confrontation with will.i.am, Fergie, and other members of the Black Eyed Peas early Monday morning in Toronto.

Now the celebrity blogger has responded.

"I am saddened GLAAD chose to victimize me further by criticizing me for how I non-violently dealt with a very scary situation that, unfortunately, turned violent," Hilton said in a statement. While I doubt I will get an apology from GLAAD, nor do I expect one, I would just hope people know how difficult it is to intellectualize a situation and think rationally when a thug disguised as a musician is screaming at your face and intimidating you. I am just very fortunate and grateful that nothing more serious happened to me."

Hilton initially claimed via Twitter that will.i.am punched him in the face, although the band's manager, Polo Molina, later claimed responsibility for the act and turned himself in to Toronto police.

In a video Hilton posted about the incident after the MuchMusic Awards, he said that he "made the split-second decision" to hurl the gay slurs because he believed they were "the worst possible thing that thug [will.i.am] would ever want to hear." Hilton said he told will.i.am, "You're gay and stop being such a faggot."

While GLAAD condemned the violence against Hilton as "unacceptable," the organization devoted most of its statement to his use of the antigay language.

"These are vulgar antigay slurs that feed a climate of hatred and intolerance toward our community," said Rashad Robinson, senior director of media programs at GLAAD. “For someone in our own community to use it to attack another person by saying that it is, quote, ‘The worst possible thing that thug would ever want to hear,’ is incredibly dangerous. It legitimizes use of a slur that is often linked to violence against our community. And it sends a message that it is OK to attempt to dehumanize people by exploiting antigay attitudes.”

GLAAD had asked Hilton to apologize for his use of the slurs.

Giuliano Steps Down From GLAAD

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced Wednesday that its president, Neil Giuliano, will step down later this year to pursue “personal interests” and complete a book about his personal and professional life.

Giuliano has been president of GLAAD for 3-1/2 years. Prior to his work with GLAAD, Giuliano was mayor of Tempe, Ariz., and was a university administrator and faculty associate at Arizona State University.

"I have informed the national board of directors of my decision to step down as president later this year and look forward to a successful and smooth transition of leadership for GLAAD," Giuliano said in a statement released by the organization. "It's been an honor and privilege to work professionally in the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality for the last 3-1/2years. The views of the American people on LGBT issues are clearly moving in the right direction, toward supporting full equality, and it has been a great experience to serve on the front lines, leading an amazing organization at such a historical time in the movement."

GLAAD reported in a press release that under Giuliano’s watch, the nonprofit's annual budget increased from $7.5 million to $11 million. Giuliano has been influential in orchestrating projects including outreach to gay youths and faith communities and 2007’s acquisition of the Sundance Film Festival’s Queer Lounge.

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ABC News’ Nightline Presents In-Depth Feature About Transgender Executive
Media coverage of transgender issues can too often be plagued by sensationalism and inaccuracy.

Laudably, ABC News’ Nightline avoided both in an in-depth March 6 report about transgender Microsoft executive Megan Wallent. The story, titled "A Stunning Secret," sensitively discussed why Wallent decided to transition in mid-life and how that decision affected her wife, children and colleagues. While the story honestly acknowledged the difficulties Wallent and her wife faced during her transition, ABC News reporter Neal Karlinsky explained that Wallent received more acceptance and support from her loved ones and co-workers than expected. The story concluded with the encouraging message that, regardless of where they are in life, people need to acknowledge and be open about who they are. "...we always try to tell our kids, you have to be true to yourself," Wallent explained. "You have to be who you are. You have to be honest with yourself.”

READ RELATED ARTICLE:http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4394493=1

TAKE ACTION:GLAAD encourages you to contact ABC News’ Nightline and thank them for sensitively chronicling the life of a transgender person.
CONTACT:http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3428117