#BlackLivesMatter activist DeRay Mckesson speaks about being Black and Gay - WATCH

At the GLAAD gala in San Francisco, DeRay spoke about the complexities of being black and gay.

GLAAD's Report: LGBT Characters of Color takes a Step Back

The latest GLAAD's Were Are We On TV report is here. While we have made major strides in TV, the racial diversity of LGBT characters is still low.

See here:

Despite improvements in representations of LGBT people of color during the past two seasons, racial diversity among lesbian, gay and bisexual characters on primetime broadcast scripted series has taken a step back. Last season, 28% of primetime scripted regular or recurring LGBT characters were people of color, this year they are at 26%. Of those characters, seven are Latino/a, three are Asian-Pacific Islander (API), and seven are Black. There are five new Black LGBT characters this season: Jamal Lyon, the gay son of a record label executive on Empire(FOX); lesbian pirate Nenna Ajanlekoko on Crossbones(NBC); struggling Broadway actor Titus on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (NBC); Dr. Jean Fishman on The Mindy Project (FOX); and Kevin 1, the gay father to one of the lead characters on Marry Me (NBC). There are also five new Latino/a LGBT characters this season: Michael, Jamal’s boyfriend on Empire; lesbian detective Renee
Montoya on Gotham (FOX); Luisa on Jane the Virgin (The CW); FBI agent Gina Mendez on The Following (FOX); and nurse Kenji Gomez-Rejon on Red Band Society (FOX). The only new LGBT API character is Oliver on How to Get Away with Murder (ABC).

Read the rest of the report, here

Meghan McCain Joins GLAAD's National Board Of Directors

Interesting...

Meghan McCain, the daughter of John McCain, was named one of GLAAD's National Board of Directors.

Meghan has always been a staunch supporter of LGBT rights, however it must've been a challenging choice to make. And I wonder what the GOP thinks of this?

I guess we will see the complaints soon.

GLAAD's reaction to A&E's Caving

GLAAD releases a statement over A&E's foolishness:

"Phil Robertson should look African American and gay people in the eyes and hear about the hurtful impact of praising Jim Crow laws and comparing gay people to terrorists. If dialogue with Phil is not part of next steps then A+E has chosen profits over African American and gay people – especially its employees and viewers."

source

Interesting Quote: Alec Baldwin on his Firing

"Martin Bashir's on the air, and he made his comment on the air! I dispute half the comment I made If I called him 'cocksucking maggot' or a 'cocksucking motherfucker'... 'faggot' is not the word that came out of my mouth. That I know. But you've got the fundamentalist wing of gay advocacy— Rich Ferraro and Andrew Sullivan—they're out there, they've got you. Rich Ferraro, this is probably one of his greatest triumphs. They killed my show. And I have to take some responsibility for that myself."

Just let it go, Boo-Boo.

source

The New President of GLAAD is Sarah Kate Ellis

GLAAD announced their new president today. Her name is Sarah Kate Ellis and she has a strong background in media and strategic planning.

Here's more from the press release:

Sarah Kate Ellis is an award-winning media executive, outspoken advocate for LGBT equality and salient communications strategist who has led national media brands to their biggest successes, most notably growing Real Simple into one of Time Inc.’s most respected and successful magazines. Her vision has transformed and energized leading media outlets including Vogue, InStyle, New York, and House & Garden. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at Martini Media, a digital firm specializing in online branding, public relations and marketing. She has earned seven MIN Awards for marketing innovation, two President’s Awards, and MIN’s Sales Executive Team of the Year award in 2012. 

As co-chair of OUT at Time Inc., she led programming to spotlight the diversity of the LGBT community and educated the organization’s straight allies on a wide range of LGBT issues. She is a member of Advertising Women of New York, Cosmetic Executive Women, and the Magazine Publishers of America. Ellis is also a Vestry member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Ellis earned her B.A. from Russell Sage College and also attended the Tuck Executive Education program at Dartmouth.

Good luck, Sarah Kate.

LGBT People of Color is still an Issue in Television

In GLAAD's 18th Annual Where We Are on TV report, we learn that diversity within our community is still on the low side.

Here are the results:

• Out of 796 primetime broadcast scripted series regulars, 26 will be LGBT this year, or 3.3%. This in down from 4.4% last year but still up from 2.9% at the beginning of the 2011-2012 season. In addition, GLAAD found 20 recurring LGBT characters, down from 25 last year.

• ABC and FOX are the only networks to show increases this year and have the highest percentage of LGBT characters at 5.4% each. The CW is in third place at 3%. CBS is no longer last with 1.9% of its regular characters being LGBT, while NBC dropped from last year to 1%.

• Of the 46 LGBT regular and recurring characters on broadcast networks, half are women and 28% are people of color. While last year there weren't any regular transgender characters on broadcast television, there will be one this season with the character of Unique on Glee.

• On cable, GLAAD counted 42 regular LGBT characters, up from 35 last season. An additional 24 recurring characters were counted. HBO will have the most characters with a total of 11, followed by Showtime with 8 characters. Of those LGBT characters, 39% are women and 29% are people of color. Only one transgender character, Adam on Degrassi, was counted though he no longer appears on the program.

• Of the 796 overall regular characters on broadcast primetime, the percentage of female characters has declined somewhat to 43%. People of color will once again make up 23% of all regular characters, while just 1% will be depicted as people with disabilities.

More work to be done.

GLAAD President Herndon Graddick resigns

This is interesting news.

GLAAD just announced the resignation of President Herndon Graddick.

Here's more from GLAAD's Press Release:

Said GLAAD Board of Directors Chair Thom Reilly in a press release: "GLAAD is very grateful for Herndon’s work championing LGBT rights, especially his work on behalf of the trans community. On behalf of the entire organization, I want to wish him the best." 

Under Herndon's tenure, GLAAD began campaigns including a national call for the Boy Scouts of America to end their ban on gay scouts and scout leaders and announced a continuation of its commitment to incorporate bisexual and transgender people as well as allies from diverse backgrounds in GLAAD's mission, the organization reports. 

Said Graddick:"I'm proud to leave GLAAD with a stronger, more efficient organization and an incredibly talented and experienced Board and staff. I'm happy the role I was able to play in advancing the need for our community to fully support the rights of our transgender brothers and sisters. Our movement is benefited by the leadership not only of heroes like Evan Wolfson, Chad Griffin, Mara Keisling, and Kate Kendell, but of the necessary and vital blogger and grassroots communities. I look forward to returning to a private life and supporting the fight from behind the scenes."

Now comes the questions. Why is he stepping down? And what really happened? It seems like this role is a tough one to keep. I'm sure there is more to come to this story.

Interesting Quote: Bret Easton Ellis

Gay activists dive-bombing other gays who express an opinion that doesn’t lean toward their agenda means that within the gay world we are living in a very simplistic place. A barbed observational opinion tweeted by a gay man about gay men in Hollywood—and not directed at anyone—becomes, in the world of GLAAD, hate-speech. When a community prides itself on its differences and uniqueness and bans the gay man because of the way the gay man expresses himself—then a corporate PC fascism has been put into play that needs to be seriously reconsidered by the LGBT community. This is a problem: If you are a gay man who is not The Gay Man as Magical Elf, then you run the risk of being ostracized by the elite gay community. An organization holding an awards ceremony that they think represents all gays and also feels that they can choose which gays can and cannot be a member of the party is, on the face of it, ridiculous. The fact remains that if you aren’t presenting yourself as a happy homosexual promoting healthy mainstream gay values and pimping for GLAAD, then you’re somehow defaming The Cause.

He has a point. Read the rest of Bret's piece here

NFL meets with LGBT Rights Groups

The NFL has met with LGBT rights to provide support for gay football players.

HuffPo has the story

Representatives from three LGBT groups -- Athlete Ally, GLAAD and You Can Play -- attended the Wednesday meeting at NFL headquarters in New York City. Former Tennessee Titan Wade Davis, who came out as gay in 2012 after he was done playing professional football, participated as well. They met with Troy Vincent, NFL senior vice president of player engagement, and several other NFL officials.

"We had a productive meeting in our office," Vincent told Outsports. "We embraced the opportunity to review with the groups our policies that prohibit discrimination in the workplace. ... In addition, we also discussed the ability of all personnel, including players, to express their opinions and feelings. We look forward to continuing the dialogue with these organizations and further educating everyone associated with the NFL about the importance of respect and inclusion in the office, the locker room and on the field."

The NHL is also taking big steps to welcome out players. I never thought I would something like this happen so fast. I hope the other major leagues follow suit.

GLAAD officially adds Trans issues to their Mission

On Melissa Harris-Perry's show, GLAAD announced that they will no longer be known as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. They will be changing the name to be inclusive of the Trans community.

However, the organization will still be called GLAAD.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Lady Gaga’s Fans are Idiots! Claiming that Madonna is Responsible for AIDS

Lady Gaga's little monsters are a bunch of little messes. In a strange turn of events, these fans wrote GLAAD about why they should drop Madonna as a presenter:

Dear GLAAD:It has come to the attention to Little Monsters everywhere that you are letting Madonna give an award to Anderson Cooper. Not only is this an insult to a true gay rights activist like Lady Gaga, but it insults every gay man and woman on this planet. 

Madonna is one of the major reasons for AIDS. Back in the 1980’s, she encouraged gay men to have unprotected sex. While she certainly didn’t start the disease, she and her lack of morals helped it spread. 

Please rethink your choice of having Madonna as a presenter. If you don’t, we Little Monsters will strike back in a way you won’t like. 

Sincerely,Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters

Clearly these are millennials because every gay knows Madonna is a fierce advocate. The site where the letter was posted is gone, but it already viral. really, Madonna kickstarted AIDS?

I wonder what M's fans are going to do with these silly hipsters fans of Gaga?

source

Scout Leaders deliver over 1 million Signatures to the Boy Scouts Headquaters to end the Anti-Gay Policy

This is amazing.

A few Scout leaders delivered more than 1.4 million signatures to the Boy Scouts headquarters, hoping to end their Anti-Gay policy.

Here's more from GLAAD's site

Jennifer Tyrrell, a gay mom removed as the den leader of her 8-year-old son’s Cub Scout pack; Greg Bourke, a gay dad who was forced to resign his position of Assistant Scoutmaster; Eric Andresen, the father of an 18-year-old Boy Scout who was barred from receiving his Eagle Award because of his sexual orientation; and Will Oliver, a gay Eagle Scout and student at Northwestern University, all traveled to Dallas to deliver their petitions and urge the Boy Scouts of America to end their national ban on gay Scouts and gay Scout leaders.

“Today, I’m helping deliver more than 1.4 million Change.org petition signatures to the Boy Scouts of America, urging the national board to end ban on gay youth and parents, and give me the opportunity to once again serve my son’s Cub Scout Pack,” said Tyrrell, who launched her Change.org petition in April 2012 with support from GLAAD. “I do not want one more mother or father to have to look their child in the eyes and tell them that their parents aren’t good enough - or are different. The Boy Scouts of America can do better than that.”

This is something else. The Boy Scouts need to drop the stance and become a part the 21st century.

When Ann Coulter tells a Joke, who Laughs?

That's her joke tweet that has mixed reviews. I see this as mess and it's Ann, so I don't get all out of shape.

However, others feel differently. For example, GLAAD didn't find this funny:

I recognize that this is a joke, and that she is not really taken seriously in any context anyway, but with this coming right after National Coming Out Day, at the start of Ally Week and just days before Spirit Day, I thought this would be a good opportunity to talk about this idea of hers. There was a time in our culture's history when, if thousands of LGBT kids were to come out on the same day, the next week genuinely would be exactly what Ann describes, all across the country. Fathers disowning their sons and kicking them out onto the street. Mothers locking up their daughters or sending them to charm school. Children forced to undergo electro-shock or even worse forms of "therapy" to rid themselves of their orientation. To learn how to not be true to themselves.

Okay, I get it. So when Dan Savage calls someone a Faggot, will they respond to that? Will someone talk to him about his ideas?

Just asking.

Paris Hilton Apologizes for her 'Gay Men have AIDS' rant

She sends her apology via GLAAD

As anyone close to me knows, I always have been and always will be a huge supporter of the gay community. I am so sorry and so upset that I caused pain to my gay friends, fans and their families with the comments heard this morning. I was having this private conversation with a friend of mine who is gay and our conversation was in no way towards the entire gay community. It is the last thing that I would ever want to do and I cannot put into words how much I wish I could take back every word.

HIV/AIDS can hurt anyone, gay and straight, men and women. It's something I take very seriously and should not have been thrown around in conversation.

Gay people are the strongest and most inspiring people I know. It is so wrong when people bully or put down others for being gay. No one should have to go through that. Again, I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart and I feel absolutely horrible. I hope that everyone can accept my apology and know that it is not who I am or how I feel in any way.

Thank you for taking a minute to read this, I love you.

But the damage has been done, boo.

Check Out GLAAD's Sixth Annual Network Responsibility Index

Every year, GLAAD releases a Network Responsibility Index noting the quantity, quality and diversity of LGBT people on television.

This year, more LGBT images and stories were seen on the tube. We saw 69% of LGBT impressions on TV made by gay men and 66% of LGBT-inclusive broadcast hours which projected the lack of diversity within our community. That number is a wake up call on how we need more cultural and ethnic diversity on TV.

Anywho, here are the TV breakdowns:

Broadcast Networks:

• The CW remains the top broadcast network with a rating of "Good" and 29% of its primetime programming hours being LGBT-inclusive. The CW also registered the most racial diversity with 62% of impressions made by LGBT people/characters of color.

• ABC improved enough (+4%) and Fox declined enough (-5%) for the two to swap places for second and third place in percentage of inclusive hours compared to last year. 

• NBC remained in fourth place despite an increase of 4% in LGBT inclusive hours.

• For the fourth year in a row CBS remained in last place with 8% LGBT-inclusive hours of primetime programming, dropping 2 percentage points from last year. After receiving an “Adequate” score last year, the network is back to a “Failing” score.

Cable Networks:

• Showtime (46%), ABC Family (34%), TNT (34%), and HBO (33%) all received “Good” ratings for the quantity and quality of their LGBT-inclusive original programming.

• MTV (23%) which received an “Excellent” score two years ago received an “Adequate” score this year along with FX (34%), TLC (20%) and USA (17%).

• For the fourth year in a row TBS (5%) received a “Failing” rating, as did the History network (3%).

GLAAD is working with Darnell "Dynasty" Young

GLAAD has gotten involve with the Darnell "Dynasty" Young issue. They are making sure everyone hears this story.

Aaron McQuade from GLAAD said:

GLAAD has been working closely with Dynasty (called "Darnell" in this clip) and his family to make sure his story is told responsibly and accurately. This piece from Good Morning America does a good job of showing how school officials often blame the victims of bullying for the actions of their tormentors, and the lengths to which a family can feel forced to go if school officials won't keep kids safe.

See here



GLAAD encourages the media to cover this story and ask why the school has failed in protecting and supporting Darnell.

Dominic Dieter is an Asshole

GLAAD is going after this Ohio DJ for a dumbass statement about a young lesbian. During the Rover's Morning Glory show, Dominic talked about a letter written by a father of gay daughter.

He said:

"You should get one of your friends to screw your daughter straight." 

Really, Dominic, really? Was he drunk or something? As soon as this really got out to public, GLAAD quickly stepped in.

Aaron McQuade, GLAAD's director of news and field media, released the following statement: "It was appalling and dangerous for this show to tell a father that he should have one of his friends rape his daughter. That's essentially how Dieter responded to this listener, and this is no laughing matter in a world where people are too often the victims of violence and sexual assault based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation. And Dieter gave this vile advice to everyone who was listening, including educators, parents and children — sending the message that it's okay to physically or sexually abuse people who are perceived to be gay."

Dominic needs to apologize to the victims of violence and sexual assault, then do a public apology to the father and his daughter.

Then stick his head in some horse manure.

source

Herndon Graddick is GLAAD's New President

GLAAD have chosen Herndon Graddick as their new President. Herndon has a solid background in media and has worked in GLAAD for years.

Here's more about him:

Herndon is the current Vice President of Programs and Communications at GLAAD, a position he assumed in 2010. In his role, he has lead GLAAD's media initiatives and oversees the organization's National & Local News; Entertainment; People of Color; Religion, Faith & Values; Advertising; and Spanish-Language Media programs. Under his leadership, GLAAD has engaged in numerous highly visible and impactful campaigns including 'Stand Up For Ellen,' which prompted the group One Million Moms – a project of the American Family Association – to end their call for J.C. Penney to fire Ellen DeGeneres as its new spokesperson because she is gay.

Herndon also oversaw GLAAD's work on the Commentator Accountability Project – an initiative launched in March to highlight the extreme rhetoric of anti-LGBT activists who currently appear in national news outlets. He is leading efforts with the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) on the “I AM: Trans People Speak” video series as well as with film director Brett Ratner to develop a series of videos with GLAAD featuring high-profile celebrities and public figures speaking out for LGBT equality. Herndon has also put resources behind GLAAD's work to share stories of LGBT people of color and allies with African American media, sports media, and Spanish-language news outlets, among others.

Prior to his work at GLAAD, Herndon served as the Executive Producer of the Global Observatory, a media and communications effort which aimed to bring public awareness to the climate change crisis. He also served as Supervising Producer at E! Networks and the day-of-air news division director at CURRENT TV, the youth-oriented news and entertainment network created by former Vice President Al Gore. As a producer at CNN, Herndon also contributed to the creation of daily primetime programming such as "Paula Zahn Now," "Anderson Cooper 360," and "Live from the Headlines." 

Good luck, Herndon!

 source

GLAAD comes for Kirk Cameron

After Kirk Cameron touted his Anti-Gayness on CNN, GLAAD's Herndon Graddick had this to say:

“In this interview, Kirk Cameron sounds even more dated than his 1980s TV character. Cameron is out of step with a growing majority of Americans, particularly people of faith who believe that their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters should be loved and accepted based on their character and not condemned because of their sexual orientation.”

....

“With an increasing number of states recognizing marriage equality, Americans are seeing that marriage is about committed couples who want to make a lifelong promise to take care of and be responsible for each other and that gay and lesbian couples need equal security and legal protections. That’s not ‘redefining’ anything.”

GLAAD said they will watch Kirk's media events and inform all in the entertainment industry about his foolishness.

source