Current Issue of MediAlert
for Week of August 29, 1997

By Al Kielwasser
(See credits at end of file.)

Posted August 30, 1997

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RISKY REPORTING

A recent article from Reuter's news service points to chronic problems in covering the health of lesbians and gays. Citing a research note from the "New England Journal of Medicine," Reuter (August 13) reports that: "People who risk contracting HIV may be resuming risky practices because they think new treatments have made AIDS less of a health threat." The article proceeds to summarize findings of a small-scale survey of gay men in San Francisco, who were polled to "gauge the effect of optimistic publicity" surrounding drug combinations known as protease inhibitors or "AIDS cocktails."

Reuter's immediate emphasis on "people who risk contracting HIV" sets an unfortunate tone, common throughout the health and welfare beat. However subtle, a distinction between "people who risk" and "people who are AT risk" is hardly insignificant; it represents the difference between seeking genuine solutions and simply blaming the victim.

This "blame-the-victim" bias has been especially blatant in coverage of gay youth. An article by Jonathan Bor, staff writer for the "Baltimore Sun" (August 15), is regrettably typical. Headlined "Young Gays: Fear Recedes - Risks Rise," the article's subhead further announces: "A survey in major cities finds alarmingly high rates of unsafe sex practices and the virus that causes AIDS, especially among blacks."

In lieu of definitive statistics, Bor begins his article by describing the social scene at "at bars that cater to African-American gays along the East Coast." After several paragraphs of this, he reports that "something else has become part of the social fabric among the clientele here and elsewhere: a surprisingly casual attitude toward risky sex."

That attitude, Bor reports, has been linked to high rates of HIV infection, "according to a federally sponsored study of young gay men being conducted around the nation." Finding his own evidence to support the study's tentative findings, Bor quotes such bar patrons as 19-year-old Davon Evans, who says: "There's people who have the virus and know they have the virus and give it to other people." Davon, the article reports, has "chosen abstinence."

According to Bor, the nationwide study currently underway relies upon "street-level epidemiology -- that branch of medicine that deals with the spread and, ultimately, the control of disease." He cites a local (but not atypical) example of such efforts, in which a research team sets up shop outside a gay bar and: "Using a large van as its mobile headquarters, the team interviews men ages 15 to 22 about their attitudes and sexual practices and takes blood samples."

"The findings are worrisome," Bor reports. "With little variation from city to city, 7 percent of the volunteers tested positive for HIV.... Perhaps more alarming is that 39 percent said they had engaged in unprotected intercourse with a man during the previous six months -- a practice that would almost certainly lead to increasing rates of infection as the men age."

The "Sun" quotes Linda Valleroy, a CDC epidemiologist supervising the survey, who explains that sex -- as opposed to IV drug use -- is the primary source of transmission . According to Valleroy, "the hot spot of the epidemic among youth is among men who have sex with men," particularly African-American gays (11 percent of African-American subjects tested HIV positive, compared to 4 percent of whites).

As Bor reports, Valleroy and "others involved in the study are confident that the carefree attitudes of youth partly explain the high-risk approach to sex." "Perhaps, too," Bor goes on to suggest, "the news about promising therapies has given a false impression that AIDS has been cured."

Finally, Bor quotes another local bar patron -- 20-year-old Steven Tuttle -- who says of his fellow gay youth: "They know the consequences. They know what to do to have safer sex. But people don't want to listen." The reporter concludes: "At the bars, some say it's time somebody documented what they know but are loathe to say -- lessons learned by an older generation are being ignored."

Significantly, the issue of homophobia -- and its role in perpetuating AIDS -- is fully sidestepped by the "Sun." Not once, for example, did Bor consider whether the "lessons learned by an older generation" are being BLOCKED, rather than ignored.

Nowhere in Bor's article is any mention made of the dismal state of sex education in our nation's public schools, particularly as it relates (or fails to relate) to gay, lesbian and bisexual youth. Neither is any weight given to the mainstream media's own refusal to affirm or reflect the lives of young homosexuals; most television networks refuse even to air same-sex public service announcements, directly intended to reduce the rate of HIV infection among gay youth.

Like Bor, many journalists regularly affirm the notion that "carefree attitudes" of young gays are linked to the spread of AIDS. Yet these reporters utterly ignore the reality of (let alone any research on) HOMOPHOBIC ATTITUDES -- which can hardly be separated from the "risky" behaviors of gay youth. The deadly combination of racism with homophobia is similarly overlooked, even as the media express "surprise" at higher rates of HIV infection among young African-American gays.

A special report by the Public Media Center, published in 1995, specifically addressed the impact of homophobia on AIDS. As proven by dozens of failed media campaigns, the report suggested, "it is homophobia that has remained the crucial blind spot that must first be addressed if our efforts to generate humane and responsive answers to AIDS are not to be permanently frustrated."

"The specter of homophobia looms so large and threatening that apparently we have thus far been afraid even to speak of it in direct terms," the Center concluded. "It is our contention that just as AIDS-Related Stigma is the driving force behind our nation's lackluster response to HIV/AIDS, so the unaddressed issue of homophobia remains the unseen cause of the spread of AIDS-Related Stigma within U.S. society."

Efforts to include fair and accurate information about homosexuality in children's media -- from textbooks to television -- are routinely thwarted by the Traditional Values Coalition (TVC), Concerned Women for America (CWA), and other well-financed organizations on the "Religious Right." Yet, news reports about young gays and the "rising risks" of HIV never include investigations of these organizations -- and the homophobic, sex-negative curricula they successfully promote.

To teach a child -- as most educational media do -- that homosexuality is a lifestyle not worth living, is ultimately to teach homosexual children that their lives are worthless. That gay youth are dying should be far less "surprising" a fact than that they manage to survive at all.

Complex issues of stigma and self-esteem are dismissed by the mainstream media, in favor of more simple (and sensational) stories -- shifting far more blame than is due to the victims. Time and again, the impression is reinforced that gays who have unsafe sex must be purposely ignorant. This image of suicidal hedonists surely provides great comfort to a heterosexist society, in which uncontested bigots would claim their total innocence -- while homosexuals are blamed for the hate crimes of homophobes.

YOUR "TAKE ACTION" OPTIONS=============

As reports of research on gay youth and AIDS/HIV circulate around the nation, insist that news media finally get the story of homophobia. Send critical feedback to: William Marimow, Managing Editor, and Jonathan Bor, Staff Writer, "Baltimore Sun," 501 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21278, fax 410-752-6049, e-mail letters@baltsun.com, web site http://www.sunspot.net (copy all correspondence to the newspaper's ombudsman, Edd Hewitt, Reader Representative, e-mail edhewitt@sunspot.net); Reuters, 199 Water Street, New York, NY 10038, fax 212-859-1717, e-mail webmaster@reuters.com, web site http://www.reuters.com.

Ask the CDC to promote better research and reporting of AIDS, guiding the press to include homophobia as a relevant factor. Contact: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, tel. 404-639-3311, web site http://www.cdc.gov. The CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse specifically "facilitates the sharing of HIV/AIDS and STD resources and information about education and prevention, published materials, and research findings, as well as news about related trends." Contact: CDC NAC, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003, tel. 800-458-5231, e-mail aidsinfo@cdcnac.aspensys.com, web site http://www.cdcnac.org.

Re/Sources: A 40-page booklet -- "The Impact of Homophobia and Other Social Biases on AIDS" -- is available from the Public Media Center, 466 Green Street, San Francisco, CA 94133, tel. 415-434-1403, fax 415-986-6779. ]

FOR LOVE OR FOR HATE, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

For several days in late August, cartoonist Lynn Johnston put young gay love at the center of her widely-syndicated comic strip "For Better or For Worse." Reaction to the series, which ran from August 20-23, has ranged from benign to bigoted. Several heterosexual supremacist groups launched nationwide attacks on the "pro-homosexual" plot, while a spattering of newspaper editors opted to censor the "controversial" storyline.

Specifically, the four-day series revolved around "Lawrence," a gay character, as he attempted to cope with the upsetting news that his boyfriend ("Ben") might be moving away. In the August 22 strip for example, Lawrence and his best (straight) friend, "Michael," ruminate on the pains of love. "Ben isn't leaving forever," Michael tries to reassure his forlorn chum. "Besides, you have to be prepared to feel pain if you're gonna fall in love.... You both let down all of your defenses, you allow someone to enter your heart -- and you take the risk of losing each other."

Without regard for sexual orientation, Michael takes a universal perspective on first love. "But it's the joy of having had that time together that makes it all worthwhile!," he exclaims. "It's the laughs, the memories -- and all the good stuff you've shared -- that make falling in love.... worth that risk!!"

The August 23 strip further rejects the temptations of homophobia, with humor. As they eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Lawrence says to Michael: "My being gay has never changed our friendship. You've never treated me like I was evil...." And Michael replies: "But I have to tell you Lawrence, there is one thing about your lifestyle that has bothered all of us for a long time.... You don't eat your crusts."

In covering the story surrounding the strip, a number of mainstream journalists made the same mistake as Christopher Clark of the Associated Press (August 13). Clark reported that the gay cartoon character had "angered editors and conservative readers," though the adjective "homophobic" would have been more accurate than "conservative" in this case. Moreover, Clark ONLY reported such "angered" responses. He did not seek opinions from the majority of newspapers, whose editors WOULD run the strips, let alone responses from gay or lesbian groups PLEASED by the portrayal.

In general, more column inches were given to groups like the Christian Family Network (CFN) -- which complained that the comic strip was "being used to push the homosexual agenda." "The comic page, read by all family members including the very young, is one place in the newspaper that should be safe from unhealthy agendas," said CFN president Don Jackson. "This page should not be used as an indoctrination tool for the homosexual lifestyle... this is another example of media power gone wrong."

Presumably, sexist or militaristic comic strips like "Blondie" or "Beetle Bailey" (indoctrination tools for the heterosexual lifestyle?) are evidence of media gone right. Homophobic critics are themselves responsible the least-healthy agenda, which the media push most. Hypocritical to the core, the CFN insists that children should be safe from indoctrination -- except its own.

The American Family Association, the nation's leading anti-gay media watchdog group, readily joined in CFN's protest. Via the Internet, the organization issued a special "AFA Action Alert" (August 18), urging readers to condemn any newspaper that printed "FBOFW." In seeming disregard for copyright restrictions, the AFA's web page also reprinted each of the four comic strips -- in their entirety, and without apparent credit to the Universal Press Syndicate [http://www.afa.net/fbofw.htm].

In a special advisory to the 1,700 newspapers that legitimately carry "FBOFW," Universal Press Syndicate -- the strip's distributor -- alerted editors to the storyline more than a week before publication. Evidently, the company felt professionally obligated to offer such an "early warning." Universal Press has not yet explained the rationale behind this advisory policy, however, which apparently (unfairly) singles out lesbian and gay content.

Approximately 20 daily newspapers informed Universal Press that they would not run "FBOFW's" gay storyline, but would print reruns of the comic strip instead. Topeka's "Capital-Journal," for example, claimed that the gay theme did not reflect "the standards of the community." "It is a decision that took a lot of thought on our part," said publisher John Goossen. "We feel that the comics page is different from what we cover in our news pages, where we cover the newsworthy activities of the gay and lesbian community as news."

In fact, Goossen's decision is entirely THOUGHTLESS. Intent on keeping positive images off the comics page, he treats lesbians and gays as less-than-human -- permitted to exist only when "newsworthy" (and abnormal or bizarre... like men who bite dogs).

The Kansas-based "Augusta Chronicle" also rejected the gay-themed strips, explaining its decision in an editorial titled: "Lawrence & Values" (August 20). Lamenting "popular culture's assertion that sexuality has no moral boundaries," the newspaper touted "successful efforts in recent years by primarily Christian therapists and support groups to convert homosexuals back to a healthier lifestyle."

"Is our editorial opposition to unhealthy same-gender sexual relations 'an attempt to impose our values on others,' which is the usual liberal line?," the newspaper asked. "Our response is simply this: Someone's values are going to prevail in this ongoing cultural battle. Why not the values of our founding fathers and the Judeo-Christian tradition which made this country great?"

The editorial staff provides no evidence for any of the "Chronicle's" claims about mental health and sexual orientation. Neither do the nostalgic editors indicate whether the values they profess continue to include slavery -- certainly practiced by "our founding fathers" -- or such fine "Judeo-Christian traditions" as the colonial witch hunt.

Unfortunately, while not defending the editors who censored her gay storyline, cartoonist Lynn Johnston has all but excused their bigotry. "I got wonderful calls from editors who said they couldn't run it even if they wanted to," said Johnston. "I understand that."

Johnston further explained that, particularly in small communities, "everybody knows the editors and the editor can't go and have coffee and a doughnut without someone saying, 'Why are you running that junk in the paper?'" However, she added: "It's not frustrating for me but for the people who are harassed, because they have to put up with this every minute of their lives."

"FBOFW's" Lawrence first came out in a 1993, when the character was 17, and Johnston based the incident on a real-life experience involving her own gay brother-in-law. The character has appeared regularly since then; his boyfriend Ben has been featured once before, as Lawrence's prom date.

"FBOFW" debuted in 1979. The strip is currently published by newspapers in 23 countries and has been collected in over 17 books.

YOUR "TAKE ACTION" OPTIONS=============

While supporting the syndicate's publication of "FBOFW," encourage UPS to reconsider its (apparently) heterosexist policy of "warning" editors about lesbian or gay content; additionally, advise UPS to investigate and discourage use of its copyrighted material by the AFA and other hate groups. Contact: Elizabeth Anderson, Associate Director, Universal Press Syndicate, 4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111-7701, tel 800-255-6734 or 816-932-6600, web site http://www.uexpress.com.

Criticism of their bigoted editorial stands should be sent to: John Fish, Managing Editor, "Augusta Chronicle," P.O. Box 1928, Augusta, GA 30903, fax 706-722-7403, e-mail letters@augustachronicle.com, web site http://augustachronicle.com; John Goossen, Publisher, "Topeka Capital-Journal," 616 S.E. Jefferson, Topeka, KS 66607, tel. 785-295-1299, e-mail jgoossen@cjnetworks.com, web site http://www.cjonline.com (copy correspondence, at the same address, to: Mark Nusbaum, Executive Editor, tel. 785-295-1191, fax 785-295-1230, e-mail mnusbaum@cjnetworks.com; "Letters to the Editor," e-mail letters@cjnetworks.com).

To monitor media activities of the homophobic Christian Family Network, request free copies of CFN's cable access TV series -- "Pro-Family Perspective" -- or browse the CFN "Media Watch" web page. Contact: Don Jackson, President, CFN, P.O. Box 24171, Dayton, OH 45424-3613, tel. 937-236-4533, fax 937-236-5056, e-mail Info@cfnweb.com (or Webmaster@cfnweb.com), web site http://www.cfnweb.com. For the American Family Association, contact: Donald Wildmon, President, AFA, P.O. Drawer 2440, Tupelo, MS 38803, tel. 601-844-5036, fax 601-844-9176, e-mail alert@afa.net, web site http://www.afa.net.

Re/Sources: An online "For Better or For Worse Archive" is maintained by the Universal Press Syndicate, http://www.uexpress.com/ups/comics/fb

MEDIA/BRIEFS

-ITEM 1: "Cause for Concerned" [Concerned Women for America; It's Elementary].
-ITEM 2: "Doctor Dementia" [TV Guide; Dr. Laura Schlessinger].
-ITEM 3: "Adding It Up" [Top Sponsors of Pro-Homosexual TV].
-ITEM 4: "Beer Buddies" [Molson Brewery].

WEBWATCH

-ITEM 5: "Fruits of the Vine" [Grapevine Tribune-GLBT News & Action Alerts].
-ITEM 6: "Do Ask, Do Tell" [Oasis Magazine; OutProud].
-ITEM 7: "Zine Around" [SBC Online; Q San Francisco].

MEDIA BRIEFS

Cause for Concerned ...

"Warning: New gay propaganda aimed straight at the hearts of our children!" So screams the sensational headline on the latest mass-mailing from Concerned Women for America (CWA) -- a right wing hate group, which claims to be the largest women's organization in the U.S. The "propaganda" to which the CWA refers is a video titled "It's Elementary: Talking about Gay and Lesbian Issues In School."

"It's Elementary" was produced in 1996 by Women's Educational Media, under the direction of award-winning lesbian filmmaker Debra Chasnoff. Since then, the documentary has been used successfully as a weapon against homophobia in schools across the country.

The CWA sees things differently, however. According to CWA chairperson Beverly LaHaye, this film is "an extremely dangerous pro-homosexual video.... being used to guide schoolchildren into ungodly and immoral behavior that leads to death."

"This is an abomination and shows just how low homosexual extremists will stoop to ensnare children, which is what 'It's Elementary' is really all about," LaHaye says. "Under the guise of promoting tolerance and ending bigotry, homosexuals are cynically recruiting a new generation to become homosexuals -- Innocent grade schoolers!"

To rid schools of this "abomination," LaHaye recommends several actions. First, sympathetic homophobes are asked to sign a petition to their Congressional representatives, objecting to an NEA grant that was awarded Women's Educational Media. The petition calls for an end to "NEA funding of pro-homosexual propaganda."

The CWA has also distributed a model letter, for writing "your local school superintendent to ask if 'It's Elementary' is in school libraries and to warn against its use." "I would be grateful to know the steps you will take to make sure the video is not used in any way," the letter concludes.

Finally, the CWA is has encouraged its 5000,000 members to "generate public opposition by writing a letter to the editor of your local paper expressing your objection to attempts to teach children that homosexuality is normal." "Please don't assume that children where you live are safe," LaHaye warns. "Because they aren't!"

Contact: Concerned Women for America, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20024, web site http://www.cwfa.org. To RECOMMEND "It's Elementary" to local school superintendents or newspaper editors, refer to: Women's Educational Media, 2180 Bryant Street, Suite 203, San Francisco, CA 94110, e-mail wemfilms@womedia.org, web site http://www.womedia.org.

Doctor Dementia ...

The Aug. 30 - Sept. 5 issue of "TV Guide" features "Dr. Laura's Prime-Time Checkup," a five-page article by radio talk-show host Laura Schlessinger. As her theme, Schlessinger undertakes a search for "emotionally engaging entertainment that doesn't degrade values important to the well-being of the individual and society."

As she explains: "I decided to analyze a number of successful shows in terms of the kind of morality they convey to the audience.... I watched these programs assessing behaviors on the basis of some fundamental principles of right conduct (in relation to sexual matters, business habits, friendship expectations, social obligations, ethical choices, etc.)."

As a result of this fluff, Schlessinger identifies four programs that reflect good values ("Men Behaving Badly," "Law & Order," "Cosby," "Touched by an Angel"), and four that don't ("Melrose Place," "Cybil," "Millennium," "Walker, Texas Ranger").

While this article is not overtly homophobic, the author certainly is. In May of this year, for example, Schlessinger wrote a syndicated column in which she diagnosed homosexuality as a "biological faux pas" and referred to lesbians and gay men as "afflicted." "Heterosexuality is the functional norm," she said; homosexuality is "an error in proper brain development."

"TV Guide's" pick of a BIGOT to serve as an "expert" on morality suggests a profound lack of editorial judgment. What could be next... a panel of neo-Nazi film critics offering their take on "Schindler's List?"

Contact: Jack Curry, Managing Editor, "TV Guide," Box 500, Radnor, PA 19088-0500, web site http://www.tvguide.com; Dr. Laura Schlessinger, c/o New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 122 E. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10168, tel. 800-375-2872, e-mail wisdom@cprinc.com, web site http://www.drluara.com/forum.

Adding It Up

The American Family Association (AFA) -- a heterosexual supremacist group dedicated to "promoting decency in media" -- recently issued the latest of its quarterly reports on the "Top Sponsors of Pro-Homosexual Primetime Network TV Programs." The AFA's current results are based on television programs monitored between March 1 and May 31. Advertisers are ranked according to the number of times they purchased 30-second commercials during programs with ANY lesbian, gay or bisexual theme.

On the basis of this "research," the AFA has launched a national postcard campaign, targeting the top three "pro-homosexual" sponsors: Unilever, General Motors, and Warner-Lambert. The organization has distributed thousands of pre-printed cards, addressed to the heads of each company. For every sponsor, the message is the same: "I was disappointed to see Unilever (GM or Warner Lambert) as a leading advertiser on pro-homosexual programs from March 1-May 31, 1977. I will consider this the next time I shop."

"Homosexual behavior is immoral and unnatural, and often leads to disease and broken lives," the postcards conclude. "I implore you to carefully choose on what programs you place your advertisements."

Contact: Richard Goldstein, President, Unilever United States Inc., 390 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022-4698; John F. Smith, Chairperson, General Motors Corporation, 3044 W. General Motors Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202-3080; Melvin Goodes, Chairperson, Warner-Lambert Company, 201 Tabor Road, Morris Plains, NJ 07950-2693; Donald Wildmon, President, American Family Association, P.O. Drawer 2440, Tupelo, MS 38803.

Beer Buddies ...

As reported by Reuters/Variety (August 15), "Canada's largest brewery has produced a television commercial with an overtly homosexual theme but it is not sure whether the 30-second spot featuring a passionate kiss between two women is ready for prime time." The commercial for Molson's beer was leaked to the press before the company had committed to broadcasting it.

"We want to make sure we do the right research with the general public and make sure they're comfortable with it before we do air the ad," said Diana Rose, a Molson spokesperson. If approved, the commercial might not air until early next year.

Though not scheduled for broadcast in the U.S., the American Family Association has already expressed its disapproval of the ad. AFA spokesperson Allen Wildmon explained: "They're beginning with two women, which isn't quite as offensive as two men. Of course the next step would be two men. We would certainly join in with anybody who wanted to boycott the company."

Reaction from Canadian lesbians and gays reportedly has been positive. According to Keir MacRae, president of "FAB" (a gay magazine distributed in Canada and the U.S.), this could the first time a gay ad will be used to target mainstream consumers.

"It's refreshing to see an advertiser pushing the boundaries," said MacRae. "My only concern is that Molson's is using lesbian imagery as a male fantasy rather than showing it as an acceptable lifestyle."

Contact: Molson Breweries, 33 Carlingview Dr., Toronto, ON, M9W 5E4, Canada, tel. 416-679-1786.

WEB WATCH

Fruits of the Vine ...

With varying degrees of success, a growing number of websites offer news for and about the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities. Among the latest efforts, "The Grapevine Tribune" is source of both news and action alerts -- distinguished by a "timely" focus.

The entire site is optimized for "speed" -- designed to reduce time, and increase effectiveness, on the net. Low-graphic pages stress ease of reading, while news is kept brief and regularly updated.

According to site administrator Jennifer Mahoney, users of The Grapevine Tribune "will find it easy to become involved." "From local to international, our news covers issues that affirm or oppress GLBT civil rights," Mahoney says. "The site also provides hundreds of resource links, including a complete list of e-mail links to the U.S. Senate and House, making it easy to respond to pending legislation and other action alerts."

Volunteers serve as "eyes and ears" of the site, comprising a Grapevine Internet News Network (GINN) that tracks the issues worldwide. Ultimately, Mahoney hopes "to have one volunteer from every region where GLBT's are fighting for our rights and need our help to succeed."

"With easily accessible information and resources, you can finally get involved without stretching your daily schedule to the limit," Mahoney explains. "The Grapevine Tribune is designed to make it easy and efficient to participate -- something we all need to do in order to make a difference."

Contact The Grapevine Tribune - GLBT News and Action Alert Website, http://www.drizzle.com/~ginn (anyone interested in becoming part of the vine's volunteer network should contact Jennifer Mahoney, Site Administrator, e-mail ginn@drizzle.com).

Do Ask, Do Tell

OutProud-The National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth and "Oasis" magazine have joined forces to launch "the first-ever survey of queer and questioning youth on the Internet." This online survey, which runs through October 31, will tap into various issues facing queer youth today -- from HIV/AIDS to harassment at school. Intended to paint a broad picture of a community often obscured, the questionnaire asks about the family life, self-esteem, dating habits, spirituality, and (of course) online experiences of queer youth.

The survey takes approximately thirty minutes to complete and is delivered electronically, via a special web site [http://www.oasismag.com/survey/]. A report on the results is expected to be published in January, 1998.

"The Internet has played a crucial role in helping this generation of queer youth to acknowledge and accept their sexual orientation," said Christopher Kryzan, executive director of OutProud. "With this landmark survey, we hope to provide them with a powerful voice."

"Each month we hear from countless teens as they are finding their way to self-acceptance and becoming a member of the greater queer community," adds "Oasis" editor and publisher Jeff Walsh. "Now, we intend to bring their issues to the mainstream."

"Oasis" magazine is read by over 35,000 people each month. OutProud's resources, which include the QueerAmerica online and Lambda Youth Network referral services, are used by more than 100,000 individuals each year.

Contact: OutProud, 369-B Third Street, Suite 362, San Rafael, CA 94901-3581, tel. 415-499-0993, fax 415-499-1013, e-mail info@outproud.org, web site http://www.outproud.org; "Oasis," 80 Elgin Park, # 8, San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415-487-9477, e-mail info@oasismag.com, web site http://www.oasismag.com.

Zine Around

"SBC Online" is the self-described "magazine for Afrocentric homosexuals and their friends." Included in the July-97 issue are topics ranging from women in jazz to legends of drag [http://www.sbc-online.com].

Featured in a recent issue of "Q San Francisco" are queer filmmakers Arthur Dong -- whose "Licensed to Kill" is "a creepy, enlightening and engrossing documentary look at seven murderers in prison" -- and Su Friedrich, who discusses her latest film, "Hide and Seek" -- a "look at the world of lesbian adolescence during the 1960's" [http://www/qsanfrancisco.com].

About MediAlert

Distributed continuously since 1992 as a community press service, "MEDIAlert!" [TM] is a biweekly, action- and advocacy-oriented column of media criticism, focused on lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender issues.

Contact:

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Author Notes

Al Kielwasser is the editor of "Gay People, Sex and the Media" (New York: Haworth Press). His media criticism and research have appeared widely, in both mainstream and academic publications; he was twice elected Chair of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation/San Francisco Bay Area.