GLAAD Loves ABC and So Should You

by Zachary Violette
New England Blade

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) on Monday, July 14 released its second annual GLAAD Network Responsibility Index, a report that maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of GLBT people on television.

ABC, with shows like “Brothers & Sisters,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Ugly Betty,” again received the highest ranking of the five broadcast networks; NBC and Fox remained the two lowest-scoring networks, with their GLBT-inclusive hours dropping slightly from the previous season.

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19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, Sunday, April 27, 2008 – Sally Field, T.R. Knight, Rachel Griffiths, Matthew Rhys, Garry Marshall, Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Kimmel, Sofia Vergara and Zoe Saldana were among the dozens of celebrities who joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) as it honored Janet Jackson, Rufus Wainwright, and Herb Ritts, and presented awards for Outstanding Drama Series, Comedy Series, and Reality Program last night in Los Angeles at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the issues that affect their lives.

At the ceremony, Ellen DeGeneres presented Janet Jackson with GLAAD's Vanguard Award, honoring media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

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Gay rights group leaves Manchester Hyatt event

view backstory here

from the Union-Tribune newsroom

SACRAMENTO - A gay rights organization that's upset by Doug Manchester's funding of a same-sex marriage ban has withdrawn from an event scheduled for the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced that it has withdrawn from a "Pride Rocks" event scheduled for the summer at the Hyatt owned by Doug Manchester. The event celebrates gay pride.

Manchester, a local developer, contributed $125,000 to a drive to put a same-sex marriage ban before voters in November. Backers of the ban have said this week that they have gathered enough signatures to qualify the proposed constitutional amendment for the ballot.

The president of the gay and lesbian alliance , Neil Giuliano, said in a news release that Manchester's decision to fund an initiative that would "hurt loving, committed gay couples makes it impossible for us" to take part in an event that promotes his hotel.

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Hispanics Shine In S. Fla. GLAAD Media Awards

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (CBS4) ― Hollywood Florida played host to the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, honoring bit Hispanic names in the media for the work they've done supporting and promoting causes of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community (GLBT).

Wilson Cruz--who you might remember from his roles as Rickie, in TV's My So Called Life, and as a drug dealer in the movie Party Monster—won the Visibilidad Award, honoring gay professionals who have been able to promote equal rights for the GLBT community. Miami music impresario Joe Granda also presented an Special Recognition Award to reggaeton star Ivy Queen, for supporting the gay community in her shows.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards pay tribute to members of the media that represent the GLBT community in an accurate and fair light.

Other honorees include Daniel Shoer Roth, for Best Newspaper Columnist. Shoer writes a column for CBS4 News Partner, El Nuevo Herald, and touches upon a topics of social justice in our local community, including those affecting the GLBT people.

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Gay Marriage in Iowa and the Pending Apocalypse

Upon hearing news of Polk County Judge Robert Hanson's ruling smiting Iowa's prohibition on same-sex marriage, I grabbed my well-thumbed copy of James Dobson's "Marriage Under Fire," hopped in my Sin City getaway car, and fled Des Moines before God had a chance to destroy the capital city with fire and brimstone. I had to reach moral high ground before it was too late. While crossing the county line, I was tempted to look back and steal one final glimpse of the capital city aflame.

But when I looked in the rear-view mirror, I felt disappointed. A firestorm had not consumed my place of birth; I had not turned into a pillar of salt. My wavering doubts in the sanctity of marriage slowly gave way to doubts about the moral prophets of doom, who have predicted that gay marriage not only will destroy the sanctity of marriage and the moral fiber of our society but also will serve as a precursor to the apocalypse.

One week later…

Des Moines is still standing, 21 gay couples are still married (although their licenses are now pending), and not a single heterosexual couple has reportedly filed for divorce on the grounds that gay marriage has ruined their union. Meanwhile, the moral meteorologists have lifted the fire and brimstone warnings, for now, since the window of opportunity for gay couples to marry in Polk County quickly slammed shut last Friday -- when Hanson agreed to suspend his day-old ruling.

http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=966
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GLAAD offers Tolerance Tips to ''Straight'' Allies

The Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is running a series of public service announcements in which various actors and celebrities urge (straight) Americans to "Be an Ally a Friend."

The ad campaign "empowers each and every one of us to make a difference in the lives of loved ones by listening to and supporting those who come out," said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. He thanked "the straight allies and community members who gave their time and energy to this campaign."

The 25 public service announcements -- to be unveiled at regular intervals throughout the year -- feature 22 top entertainers from the world of television, film and sports, GLAAD said on its Web site.