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Be sure to check out GLAAD Blog each week for updates about our latest work to build support for LGBT equality through news, entertainment and online media.
GLAAD reaches out to Lost Girl producers after offensive scene is aired
Despite being one of the most inclusive science fiction programs on television, the SyFy series Lost Girl unfortunately hurt and offended many of its fans with its most recent season premiere, which featured a shapeshifting villain that gets her comeuppance in a scene that was disturbingly evocative of real life anti-transgender violence. Following complaints from viewers and outreach from GLAAD, the producers of Lost Girl have now released a statement in response that apologized for how the character was interpreted and reaffirmed their commitment to creating strong LGBT characters. Read more.
GLAAD Partners with COG at Sundance Film Festival
This January, GLAAD is proud to be cosponsoring the Sundance world premiere party for C.O.G., the highly anticipated new film from Kyle Patrick Alvarez based on the writing of David Sedaris, and starring Jonathan Groff and Dennis O’Hare. In partnering with C.O.G. alongside Ketel One and Anheuser-Busch, GLAAD was pleased to maintain its longstanding presence at one of the world’s most important film festivals, where many of cinema’s most acclaimed and influential LGBT creators make their debut.
Elevating LGBT Youth to Counter Anti-Gay Slurs
GLAAD elevated the stories of LGBT students from the Hetrick-Martin Institute to highlight the impact of anti-gay slurs on LGBT youth in response to rapper Azealia Banks’ defense of anti-gay rhetoric. GLAAD also successfully refocused the national conversation to focus on issues of bullying and harassment in schools. Read more.
CNN cites GLAADCap
GLAAD’s Commentator Accountability Project was utilized in a CNN interview, making the audience aware that Peter Sprigg from Family Research Council had once called for criminal sanctions against gay people, and said that gay people should be “exported” from the country, and that his true feelings about gay people are much harsher than he wanted to let on. He was called to task by LGBT advocate Wayne Besen, and these facts were backed up by anchor Carol Costello. This is the second time Costello has cited information that appears in the Commentator Accountability Project. Read more.
GLAAD works to increase LGBT visibility in sports
GLAAD is working with mixed martial arts star Liz Carmouche as she gets closer to making her Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut, becoming UFC’s first-ever gay fighter, and, along with her opponent, one of its first two female competitors. Liz, a former Marine, told GLAAD she’s had nothing but love and support from the world of mixed martial arts, and that her experience as an athlete is very different than it was serving under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Read more.
Spanish-language interview reaches young people with important message
GLAAD worked closely with producers at CNN en Español on a story on so-called 'reparative therapies.' To help personalize the story, GLAAD helped producers find interviewee Esther Baruja, who told her story about failed and painful attempts to change her sexual orientation. Esther gave a terrific interview in which she spoke frankly and at length about coming to accept her orientation and learning how to continue being active in her faith community. She recently wrote to our Spanish-Language media team to let us know that, as a result of the CNN piece, a story about her in abc, an important news site and paper in her native Paraguay. Esther reports the story elicited also lots of emails from young people who so appreciated hearing her message of hope.
Victory in Puerto Rico as community says 'adios' to La Comay
The LGBT community in Puerto Rico won a big victory when a comedian known for making anti-gay comments resigned and his show was taken off the air. Kobbo Santarrosa--who voiced life-sized puppet La Comay on Puerto Rican gossip show, SuperXclusivo—resigned from the show’s network, WAPA TV, following a month-long grassroots social media campaign, Boicot a la Comay. On more than one occasion, GLAAD worked with Puerto Rico Para Tod@s against SuperXclusivo. In January 2011, GLAAD’s Director of Spanish-Language Media traveled to Puerto Rico to give trainings to Wapa TV executives, producers and reporters following instances of anti-LGBT defamation on SuperXclusivo. Most recently, we worked closely with Puerto Rican activist Pedro Julio Serrano and the boycott’s lead organizers, crafted an open letter and gathered over 25 signatures from U.S. LGBT and Latino organizations and leaders. Read more.
Pushing for equality in the Boy Scouts of America
GLAAD helped share the story of Mataguay Scout Ranch program director Derek Nance, who recently decided to step down from his position at the BSA Camp. Nance, an Eagle Scout, garnered national media attention after posted It Gets Better video, encouraging more conversation about inclusivity in Scouting. GLAAD's work with Derek is part of our ongoing work with Scouts for Equality to end the long history of discrimination against LGBT youth. Read more.
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