Wonder what we’re up to at GLAAD?
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 joined gay Eagle Scout Will Oliver to deliver 120,000 Change.org petition signatures to National Geographic Channel, calling on the network to denounce the Boy Scouts' ban on gay scouts and scout leaders. Tonight, National Geographic Channel will premiere its new reality series, Are You Tougher than a Boy Scout?, in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The network accepted the petition and has agreed to publish a blog post from Will on its website, explaining why the Boy Scouts' anti-gay policy is harmful to youth. Read more.
Following widespread confusion and outcry, the Associated Press (AP) has updated its style guidelines to include "husband" and "wife" as acceptable terminology for all couples in a legal marriage. GLAAD called for AP to clarify its guidelines, and a new entry, which has already appeared in the AP Stylebook Online and will be added to the 2013 print and mobile editions, makes the news wire's standards clear. Read more.
GLAAD is working closely with the family of 6-year-old Coy Mathis from Colorado, a transgender first grader whose school won't let her use the correct restroom. GLAAD facilitated several high-profile interviews with Coy and her parents Jeremy and Kathryn, including an appearance on CNN and a full hour devoted to stories of transgender youth on Katie with Katie Couric. Read more.
GLAAD also reached out to one of the stars of CBS's The Doctors, Jim Sears, after he made comments on CNN implying that parents would be right to be uncomfortable if Coy was in the restroom with their children. He made an apology through GLAAD, saying "I do not know Coy or her family personally, but I do apologize for implying she may display the same behavior as I have seen with young boys her age. Coy has shown a tremendous amount of maturity and courage for her young age and I wish her and her family all the best." Read more.
GLAAD is working with the United for Marriage coalition organizing a rally right outside of the Supreme Court in response to the hearings scheduled for March 26 and 27 on the so-called "Defense of Marriage" Act (DOMA) and the anti-gay Proposition 8. Together we will show the nation that we believe that all Americans deserve to be treated fairly and equally under the law – no matter who they love. Join us! Read more.
GLAAD spoke to The Wall Street Journal's Market Watch about LGBT images in advertising. The article focused on a recent advertisement for the Amazon Kindle, which featured a gay couple, and how inclusive images reflect a growing public support for equality. Read more.
GLAAD placed an op-ed by Wilson Cruz on NBCLatino.com about adoption and family. The op-ed comes in the wake of a decision by Puerto Rico's Supreme Court that upheld a law banning adoption by a same-sex partner. Read more.
GLAAD on Thursday met with Phindi Malaza, the Advocacy and Programs Coordinator of the Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) in South Africa, as part of the US State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program. We discussed the work that we do and the progress we've made in the media, and how some of our strategies could apply to her work in South Africa. Read more.
GLAAD's Spanish Language Media Director, Monica Trasandes, wrote a piece for The Huffington Post Voces about family and adoption in Puerto Rico after the country's Supreme Court upheld a law banning adoption by a same-sex partner. Trasandes also appeared on the CNN Latino show "Sin Limites Con Elizabeth Espinosa" to discuss hate speech. Read more.
GLAAD worked with mixed martial arts star Liz Carmouche who made her Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut last week, becoming UFC’s first-ever out gay fighter, and, along with her opponent, one of its first two women. Although Liz lost, she received rave reviews for her skills and for her composure. She submitted two guest blogs (here and here) detailing her journey, and GLAAD was thanked publicly by UFC's Director of Media Relations for helping with their media strategy. Read more.
GLAAD successfully pitched a piece to the Washington Post, which invited those who have been slow to accept the movement toward equality for all to join the growing number of people who support their LGBT friends and family. The piece also reminds people of faith that no religion holds a core tenant of excluding LGBT people from society. Read more.
GLAAD intern Todd Clayton's wrote an essay, "The Queer Community Has to Stop Being Transphobic: Realizing My Cisgender Privilege," for The Huffington Post's Gay Voices section, which was shared widely on social media. The essay discusses transphobia and cisgender privilege within the LGBT community. Read more.
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