Julie Chen . . . lives in New York and Los Angeles with her husband, Leslie Moonves, with whom she has a son and 3 stepchildren.

Holly Robinson Peete . . . and her husband of 15 years are the proud parents of four children. They currently reside in Los Angeles.

Sharon Osbourne . . . lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Ozzy Osbourne. They have three children.

Leah Remini . . . lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Angelo Pagan, and daughter and three stepsons.

Marissa Jaret Winokur . . . and her husband, comedy writer Judah Miller, reside in Los Angles [sic] with their son Zev.

Sara Gilbert . . . lives in Los Angeles with her family.

Sara Gilbert’s sexual orientation will be discussed in the upcoming series, and she announced in the TCA conference that it was her decision to not disclose her sexual orientation in the press release, saying it “came from me. CBS would write whatever I wanted,” because she prefers not to “discuss her personal life.” Gilbert added, “But it being a talk show, I obviously will discuss my personal life. I just didn’t want it to be in a press release. I’d rather do it here.”

CBS upcoming talkshow The Talk will address motherhood from a different perspective.

When asked if she thought being one of few out lesbians on a daytime talk show would be controversial, she commented, “I don’t think it will be a problem…I don’t ever really think of things as being out or in…I just think I am who I am, and when topics come up that are appropriate, I’ll talk about them and share when it seems right.”

The Talk is created and produced by Gilbert, will address motherhood and women’s issues. Gilbert will likely add a new perspective as a lesbian in a committed relationship with two children.

On the July 28 edition of Clear Channel’s nationally syndicated radio program The War Room with Quinn & Rose, host Jim Quinn made defamatory anti-gay comments while discussing a federal case in which a jury ruled that the city of Philadelphia could not bar a Boy Scouts chapter from city-owned property despite the organization’s anti-gay policy.

During the conversation Quinn said: “You don’t send gay men and young boys out together, okay?” Quinn’s co-host Rose Tennent responded: “Most gay men have nothing to do with the young boys. Make sure that you understand that.”  But Quinn went on to insist: “But I would give you that pedophilia is far more rampant among the gay community than it is among the straight community.”

The hosts continued to “debate” the topic for nearly three minutes.

Media Matters for America captured the audio.

You can read the transcript here.

Quinn’s latest anti-gay attack is yet another example of his appalling track record of denigrating LGBT people. This is the third time the Clear Channel host has defamed LGBT people in the last three years.

In November 2008, GLAAD issued a call to action after Quinn said, “Gay marriage doesn’t produce anything that the state has an interest in. Gay sex produces AIDS, which the state doesn’t have – or should have an interest in. They should charge homosexuals more for their – for their health insurance than they charge the rest of us.’”

And in January of this year Quinn erroneously compared contagious tuberculosis patients to people living with HIV/AIDS and went on to say, “When you get AIDS, pal, the door opens up to you. You have got all kinds of government goodies, including a maid to clean your house, transportation – I mean it’s – there’s just a wealth of wonders that come.”

Read about our past Calls to Action against Jim Quinn’s defamatory attacks here.

The War Room with Quinn & Rose is based in Pittsburgh and syndicated by Clear Channel Communications. The program can be heard in Colorado, Alabama, Maine, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and nationally on XM Satellite Radio.

After this latest incident GLAAD reached out to Clear Channel executives and urged an on-air apology from Quinn.  Clear channel responded in part by saying:

Clear Channel presents opinion programming that covers a wide range of perspectives, and which we believe ultimately achieves balance through the clash and tumult in the public forum of at-times conflicting ideas – and not by our exercise of editorial control over those opinions.  Indeed, on the broadcast in question of The War Room with Quinn and Rose, Jim Quinn’s on-air partner Rose Tennent challenged his opinions regarding homosexuality. Recognizing that some members of our audience will inevitably disagree with him and at times may find his opinions flatly offensive, we believe that Jim Quinn’s commentaries and debates take place within the wide boundaries of that public forum.  Differing views were presented in the broadcast itself and no apology for this discussion is warranted.

Read the entire statement here.

Clear Channel’s response sends a message that it is comfortable providing a platform for Quinn’s misinformation and benefitting financially from it. Clear Channel also claims it does not exercise editorial control over its programs, but has in fact taken direct actions against problematic content on a number of occasions. These include canceling the Atlanta-based radio show “The Regular Guys” for airing a graphic conversation during a break and recording colleagues using the restroom, firing a San Francisco DJ for racially charged language against Asian Americans and denigrating people with disabilities, and terminating Florida radio host “Bubba The Love Sponge” for graphic on-air discussions about sex and drugs.

Yet Clear Channel continues to give Jim Quinn a free pass to launch gratuitously offensive attacks against LGBT people and the company not only stands behind the problematic content, it continues to promote it.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

GLAAD urges you to contact Clear Channel Communications and demand that the company stop supporting these rampant, defamatory attacks on gay people’s lives. Clear Channel is failing to live up to its diversity standards that clearly state: “Our ZERO TOLERANCE policy that prohibits discrimination extends beyond our employees, into each and every market in which we conduct business.” It is time for Clear Channel to stop enabling Jim Quinn’s troubling pattern of on-air abuse that creates a hostile climate and puts our community in harm’s way.

Contacts:

Lisa Dollinger
Chief Communications Officer
Clear Channel Communications
(210) 822-2828
lisacdollinger@clearchannel.com

Rod Phillips
Senior Vice President for Programming, Mid-Major Eastern Region
Clear Channel Communications
(818) 377-5300
rodphillips@clearchannel.com

Robert H. Walls, Jr.
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Clear Channel Communications
(210) 822-2828
robertwalls@clearchannel.com

Jon Zellner, Senior Vice President for Programming
Clear Channel Communications
(818) 377-5300
jonzellner@clearchannel.com

Jim Quinn
Host, The War Room with Quinn & Rose
(412) 937-1441
quinn@warroom.com

Rose Tennent
Host, The War Room with Quinn & Rose
(412) 937-1441
rose@warroom.com

Thursday, July 29

6:00 pm PT/ 9:00 pm ET Degrassi, Teen Nick (30 min) NEW
Part two of two. KC hits rock bottom, and Clare’s parents are having marital problems. Also, Alli and Drew can’t seem to agree on their relationship status. Features out jock Riley and transgender student Adam.

KC hits an all time low on tonight's Degrassi.

8:00 pm Big Brother 12, CBS (1 hr) NEW
It’s time for another houseguest to get evicted tonight. Keep your fingers crossed that it’s not out houseguest Ragan!

9:00 pm So You Think You Can Dance, Fox (1 hr) NEW
There will only be four dancers remaining after tonight’s episode! Features out judge Adam Shankman.

10:00 pm Boston Med, ABC (1 hr) NEW
A baby born with a heart defect faces an unstable future, and things get even more complicated when the doctors find out it may be their fault. Features lesbian resident Kelly Wright.

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday.  Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

CBS President Nina Tassler

Per After Elton, Tassler said:

“There were a couple of pilots that we shot this season and a couple of projects in development that unfortunately we didn’t get to pick up. But we are adding a few characters to this season because we are very disappointed in our track record so far. We know we will do better.

We’re going to meet Alicia’s brother on The Good Wife as a gay character. We’re also going to be adding a new character to Rules of Engagement. Jeff and Audrey’s surrogate will be a member of Jeff’s softball team and she’s a lesbian. We’re also going to be recurring a gay character in Bleep My Dad Says. The character Tim Bagley played will be returning this season.

Once you come out of your pilot season disappointed with yourself, you go into the current series season and say “Let’s look for every opportunity to improve the numbers we have represented in the cast so we’re going to do that. And then we’ll continue to focus on that as we go into development season. We’re not happy with ourselves.

As many networks made great strides in LGBT representation this past TV season, CBS has continued to lag behind.

“It is encouraging that CBS shares our disappointment in the network’s lack of gay and transgender representation and we are hopeful that the new characters will help build awareness and understanding of our community among viewers,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “After two years of receiving a ‘failing’ grade and a commitment last year to be more inclusive, we hope that CBS President Nina Tassler makes true on this promise to  bring the network more in line with the industry standard.’”

Tassler has indeed promised new LGBT characters before, but GLAAD is pleased to see her offer concrete examples of what to expect in the fall 2010 season. GLAAD also looks forward to evaluating and reporting on the quality of those LGBT images.

To read more about GLAAD’s 2009-2010 Network Responsibility Index (NRI), click here.

Executive producers finally agreed to meet with GLAAD and, after hearing our concerns, agreed to open the contest to all loving and committed couples. NBC’s decision was not only a huge victory for the LGBT community, but a big step for the network. By allowing same-sex couples to apply, NBC  furthered its own high standards of quality and fairness.

NBC will announce its four finalists on August 18.

Several couples have shared their story with GLAAD and we’re thrilled to share those videos with you here. GLAAD encourages other contestants to send us your videos and we will post them to this blog.

Please send all submissions to nationalnews@glaad.org.

With so few lesbian representations, it is natural that many are invested in the film and monitoring it closely. While it frustrates some, others celebrate it. We think it’s important to acknowledge the feedback from the various voices within our community.

Lesbian filmmaker Lisa Cholodenko's The Kids Are All Right offers much needed visibility to lesbian families.

At the film’s release, GLAAD released a Resource Guide for media and anyone interested in understanding the issues inherent in the film – lesbian parenting, donor insemination and representations of LGBT families in media. Our purpose was to educate the mainstream about how to talk about those issues.

Around the country, people are discussing whether this film is about love and stability and forgiveness or whether they can forgive director Lisa Cholodenko for the brief portrayal of lesbian sexuality in favor of racier scenes between Moore and Ruffalo.

AfterEllen‘s glowing review compares the film to Brokeback Mountain in its ability to leave audiences with a message of understanding and suggests the film’s themes about the fragility of marriage and why people cheat make the characters relatable. Mombian, a site dedicated to lesbian moms, focuses on the refreshing portrayal of middle aged moms with teenage kids who “have already ‘turned out’—and they are indeed all right.” At SheWired.com, Kathy Wolfe of Wolfe Media, a company that has distributed lesbian films for over 25 years, applauds the film for its “entertaining yet ultimately politically powerful message of putting a lesbian family front and center.”

Yet, counter perspectives range from disappointment to anger. Also on SheWired.com, writer Jill Bennett is fed up with Hollywood films about lesbians who, for whatever dramatic reason, always sleep with a man, a pattern not repeated in films about gay men. The thoughtful analysis of longtime activist and former GLAAD Executive Director Joan Garry’s Huffington Post piece brings forward the boundary issues involved in sleeping with your children’s sperm donor and the high probability for collateral emotional damage to the children. The post has generated numerous comments, many of them also mixed in response.

The most vociferous reaction comes from the site, Lesbian Mafia. On the site’s podcast, in their online review and on their Twitter page, Lesbian Mafia editors and Twitter followers express anger over the film’s representation of female sexuality as dull and uninteresting. They find it offensive that Moore’s character is labeled a lesbian as sleeping with a man disqualifies her from the lesbian label. Several who object to the film also feel betrayed by what they see is the overall messaging that lesbians somehow need men.

Cholodenko speaks honestly about her motivations for the film. In an early article about the film, she told Salon.com, “I think sexuality at times can be separate from [sexual orientation], and you can have sexual response to opposite genders or same genders. I just don’t see them as inextricably linked. For me personally — there are people who see sexual identity as bound forever, and that there’s no continuum at all. I find that thinking, and the critique that comes from that, really dated. So that bothers me. I feel like the lack of open-mindedness to that idea is really square and dated. So that’s where I’m coming from.”

Within our community, opinions on media representations will not always be congruous, nor should they, but this film and films like it spark important dialogue in our community – and in America in general. GLAAD is bringing attention to these divergent opinions to foster dialogue.

The Kids Are All Right is a fictional representation of one family and there are thousands of other stories to tell. We’d like to hear the stories of your families so we can continue to do the work we do every day, asking media to represent the full spectrum of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender experience and not rely on any one story to define our community.

We’d also like to hear your opinions on the film. Take our poll, and join the discussion in the comments.

Contact the author of this post at entertainment@glaad.org. Follow GLAAD on Twitter at http://twitter.com/glaad.

Wednesday, July 28

6:00 pm PT/ 9:00 pm ET Degrassi, Teen Nick (30 min) NEW
Part one of two. KC is nervous to reunite with his mother, and later, Clare’s writer’s block is alleviated when she gets a new study partner…will it be trangender student Adam?

6:00 pm PT/ 9:00 pm ET The Fabulous Beekman Boys, Planet Green (30 min) NEW
Brent and Josh take care of the farm’s pregnant goats while Farmer John is away.

Will Josh and Brent be able to handle a boat load of pregnant goats on the Beekman Boys?

8:00 pm So You Think You Can Dance, Fox (2 hrs) NEW
There’s only five dancers left! Make sure you cast your votes, and tune in for out judge Adam Shankman’s harshly hilarious critiques!

8:00 pm Big Brother 12, CBS (1 hr) NEW
Tonight is the night for the Power of Veto competition! Who will be up for eviction? Will it be openly gay Ragan?

10:00 pm The Real World: New Orleans, MTV (1 hr) NEW
A secret from Jemmye’s past comes back to haunt her, and later, McKenzie addresses her drinking problem. Features out roommate Preston.

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday.  Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

Judith Grace, host of "Casos de Familia"

LGBT visibility and representations in Spanish-language television have improved in recent years. While unfortunately, GLAAD still sees the use of problematic terms and stereotypes in entertainment shows, the dialogue from both hosts and audiences alike has become more open, inclusive, accurate and, above all, accepting. 

Recent examples of this include a July 16 segment of the reality talk show Casos de Familia (Family  Matters) that featured a transgender woman named Angie as a guest who claimed her partner Jesús, a gay man with whom she has been in a relationship for five years, had difficulty accepting her gender  identity because he had met Angie before her transition process. The show’s host Judith Grace dealt with the difficult situation very well, calling for understanding and patience on the part of both partners. Ultimately Jesús accepts Angie, showing that what matters most is the love between two people.  

Other shows such as the Emmy-nominated Caso Cerrado (Case Closed, which is also the first Spanish-Language program to ever be nominated for an Emmy), hosted by . Ana María Polo, and ¿Quién Tiene la Razón? (Who’s Right?), hosted by  Dr. Nancy Alvarez, regularly feature LGBT themes in their shows, including relationship recognition and same-sex parental rights.

Dra. Ana María Polo, host of "Caso Cerrado"

Segmentos de Programas de la Televisión en Español Tratan Temas LGBT

La visibilidad y representación LGBT ha mejorado bastante en los últimos años. A pesar de que GLAAD aún nota la utilización de términos problemáticos y estereotipos en programas de entretenimiento, el discurso proveniente de presentadores así como del público se ha vuelto más abierto, inclusivo, y sobre todo, más comprensivo.

Un segmento del 16 de julio del programa Casos de Familia tuvo como invitada a una mujer transgénero, Angie, quien afirmó que su pareja Jesús, un hombre gay con quien ha compartido una relación durante más de cinco años, tenía dificultad en aceptar a su identidad de género porque había conocido a Angie antes de que empezara su proceso de transición. La presentadora Judith Grace trató muy bien este tema difícil al pedir la comprensión, paciencia y tolerancia por parte de ambas personas. Al final Jesús aceptó a Angie, mostrando que lo más importante es el amor que comparten dos personas.

Dr. Nancy Polo, host of "¿Quién Tiene la Razón?"

Otros programas como Caso Cerrado (el primer programa en español en ser nominado a un Emmy), presentado por la Dra. Ana María Polo, y ¿Quién Tiene la Razón?, presentado por la Dra. Nancy Alvarez, transmiten con frecuencia temas LGBT en su programación, incluyendo a reconocimiento de parejas y derechos parentales para padres del mismo sexo.

GLAAD would like to thank the LGBT blogs, advocates, and media outlets who worked with us to call out Leslie’s anti-gay rhetoric including The Advocate, AfterElton, and JoeMyGod, as well as retweets from LGBT bloggers like Pam Spaulding of PamsHouseBlend.com, Zack Ford of ZackFordBlogs.com,  RyanNewYork, Bil Browning of The Bilerico Project and Jeremy Hooper of Good As You.

The Real World: New Orleans cast member Ryan Leslie Issued an apology to his anti-gay comments on Twitter

Although Leslie apologized publicly via Twitter, the impact of his anti-gay comments both on and off the air perpetuate violence and rampant anti-LGBT attitudes. To stay informed with the latest tweets from Real World fans and members of the LGBT community, click here.

GLAAD’s Entertainment Team is speaking to MTV about the dangers of showcasing  Leslie’s anti-LGBT attitudes on such a widely viewed series like The Real World.

Pastors Paul Brenner, Megan Rohrer, Dawn Roginski, Sharon Stalkfleet, Jeff Johnson and Craig Minich. Not Pictured: Ross Merke

Articles in the New York Times, Associated Press , Regional Fox TV, multiple broadcast and print media outlets meant that a Sunday afternoon service which could have gone under the radar, was picked up by hundreds of outlets and touched the hearts and minds of millions of people across the country—and across the world.  With GLAAD’s help, and the decades of work by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries’ and other Lutheran pro-LGBT groups, people are hearing the message that churches are opening their doors and their hearts to the full equality of LGBT people.

Ryan Leslie's anti-gay comments remain a trending topic on Twitter.

On Friday, a gay Twitter user made comments that Leslie was anti-gay due to recent episodes of the series where he calls out roommate Preston a f*g, Leslie returned the accusation with homophobic threats of anti-gay violence to the user on Twitter.

Leslie tweeted from @imRyanLeslie: “@aurosan I would love to see you in person, and smash your gay f*cking face in.”

Although Leslie responded to backlash with a tweet saying “No gay hate here,” the original tweet was clearly anti-gay hate speech, perpetuating anti-gay violence that is a reality for many in the LGBT community. GLAAD urges twitter users to continue tweeting their concerns to Leslie so the Real World star understands that anti-gay rhetoric such as these can not be tolerated.

Tuesday, July 27

6:00 pm PT/ 9:00 pm ET Degrassi, Teen Nick (30 min) NEW
Part two of two. Out jock Riley and teammate Owen haze Drew. Later, Alli has trouble executing her plans to join the dance crew, and Jenna’s jealousy gets even worse. Also features transgender student Adam.

Riley shows new kid Drew what it takes to be on the team on Degrassi

8:00 pm Pretty Little Liars, ABC Family (1 hr) NEW
A’s brother shows up in time for her memorial service. And will Emily make her interest in Maya public tonight?

9:00 pm White Collar, USA (1 hr) NEW
Aidan Quinn guest stars as a copycat criminal who is familiar with Neal’s practices. Features lesbian agent Diana.

9:00 pm America’s Got Talent, NBC (1 hr) NEW
Watch out for LGBT contestants of the twelve performers, as tonight marks the third week of showcases.

10:00 pm Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Bravo (1 hr) NEW
Kathy’s home renovations finally commence, just in time for Tom’s ambient-induced sleepwalking.

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday.  Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

Monday, July 26

6:00 pm PT/ 9:00 pm ET Degrassi, Teen Nick (30 min) NEW
Part one of two. The new boy at Degrassi tries out for the team’s quarterback, while Alli considers joining the power squad. Features gay jock Riley and transgender student Adam.

8:00 pm The Secret Life of the American Teenager, ABC Family (1 hr) NEW
Amy contacts Adrian after she learns that she is also a pregnant teen. Features out student, Griffin.

Will Morgan McMichael be able to turn her student from drab to fab on tonight's Drag U?

9:00 pm Huge, ABC Family (1 hr) NEW
The campers gather for a movie screening, and Ian wants to sit with Amber. Who will gay camper Alistair sit next to?

9:00 pm RuPaul’s Drag U, Logo (1 hr) SERIES PREMIERE
It’s time for a new class of single ladies to get some schoolin’ from drag superstars Nina Flowers, Morgan, and Raven. And don’t miss a guest judging by Taylor Dayne!

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday.  Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

Earlier this month, Fox also opted to re-air the problematic “A Brown Thanksgiving” episode of The Cleveland Show, despite assuring GLAAD that the episode would not be shown again during meetings that followed its original airing.

The “Quagmire’s Dad” Family Guy episode featured scenes such as one in which food prepared by Ida is thrown in the trash by Lois Griffin and another in which Brian Griffin vomits after having sex with Ida and learning about her gender identity. Community members also expressed concern about a later scene that draws a connection between transgender people and sex offenders.

Fox is aware that this episode was in poor taste and was not well-received by the LGBT community. In addition to GLAAD’s outreach, the story was covered throughout the LGBT blog community, most notably in an AfterElton article that quoted Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane saying the episode was “probably the most sympathetic portrayal of a transexual character that has ever been on television.”

Yesterday, GLAAD released its fourth annual Network Responsibility Index, an evaluation of the quantity, quality and diversity of images of LGBT people on television. In the report, GLAAD gave Fox an “Adequate” rating. While 30% of the network’s primetime programming in the 2009-2010 season was LGBT inclusive, the report noted that offensive episodes of shows like Family Guy and Cleveland Show hold back the network’s progress on fairness.

As ABC News noted:

…despite welcoming gay teen storylines on hit musical comedy “Glee” on Fox, and the appointment of lesbian Ellen DeGeneres as a judge on “American Idol”, the Fox network was slammed for offensive stereotypes on “Family Guy” and “The Cleveland Show”. GLAAD said that on both animated series last season, characters vomited at the thought of having sex with a transgender woman.

GLAAD is continuing to call for meetings with Fox to remove this highly problematic episode from future airings and ask Seth MacFarlane to address the public response to this episode from the gay and transgender community.

We urge you to do the same and write to Fox with your concerns:

Tracey Raftery, Publicist – Family Guy, Tracey.Raftery@fox.com.

UPDATE: Real World: New Orleans star Ryan Leslie responded via Twitter after activists and allies tweeted him this evening regarding his threat of anti-gay violence. Leslie responded, “No gay hate here.”

Ryan’s original tweet was a clear example of anti-gay hate speech and GLAAD urges supporters to continue tweeting their concerns.Yesterday a gay Twitter user made comments that MTV’s Real World: New Orleans cast member Ryan Leslie was homophobic, Leslie returned the accusation with homophobic threats of anti-gay violence to the user on Twitter.

Ryan tweeted from @imRyanLeslie: ”@aurosan I would love to see you in person, and smash your gay f*cking face in.”

Ryan and his followers need to know that anti-gay violence is a dangerous and pervasive problem plaguing our community today. This month The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) released its report on hate violence against the LGBT community in the United States in 2009. This year, 22 victims of hate murder were reported by NCAVP, the second-highest rate in a decade.

GLAAD tweeted at Ryan and urges you to do the same:

Tell @MTV Real World’s @imRyanLeslie: stop threatening anti-gay violence on Twitter. http://bit.ly/dqUh6i #LGBT #gay

In response to GLAAD’s analysis of the network, MTV General Manager Stephen Friedman released the following statement:

“MTV is proud to be recognized by GLAAD as the first network ever to receive an ‘excellent’ rating for our inclusion of LGBT people in our programming. Our audience today expects MTV to reflect their full diversity, in large part because of our rich history of challenging them to consider new perspectives.  It is incredibly gratifying to be held up as an example for the industry.”

Behind MTV is ABC Family, which featured 37% of LGBT-inclusive programming, earning a “Good” rating, followed by TNT (34%), Showtime (32%), Lifetime (31%), and HBO (26%).

GLAAD reviewed a total of 4,787.5 hours of primetime programming for inclusion of LGBT characters or issues on the five major networks (ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox and NBC) from June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010. GLAAD also examined 1,227.75 hours of original primetime programming on 10 highly-rated cable networks. Each hour was reviewed for on-screen LGBT representations. Based on the quantity, overall quality and diversity of these representations, a rating was assigned by GLAAD’s Entertainment Media Program to each network: Excellent, Good, Adequate, or Failing.

The full, detailed report can be downloaded here: http://www.glaad.org/2010/nri

In the Evangelical world, Peggy and Tony Campolo, an Evangelical Christian couple who famously disagree on gay issues, coordinated a dialogue with the Baptist Peace Fellowship in upstate New York.  Janet Edwards asked whether gay rights are an “evangelical thing.” John Blake asked whether the religious right has lost its children.  A megachurch in Las Vegas was dropped from HIV work because of its link to Martin Ssempa, the virulently anti-gay Ugandan pastor, and the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, elected a conservative leader.

In mainline Protestant denominations, responses to the Presbyterian  decision on  gay clergy range from  the Rev. Peter M. Wallace saying God’s spirit was at work, to an Orthodox priest who said the opposite.  A Michigan-based gay rights group has donated $400,000 to the Episcopal Church for its use in developing marriage liturgies for gay couples and a Methodist minister and his boyfriend were attacked in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park.

Internationally, the UK government responded to the petition opposing the Pope’s planned visit.  A meeting of faith groups in Vienna, held in advance of the 18^th International AIDS Conference, was told by Netherlands AIDS ambassador Marijke Wijnroks that faith leaders can play a key role in combating HIV/AIDS.  Tel Aviv encouraged LGBT tourism with a new ‘Gay Vibe’ campaign, while the Jewish Journal highlighted Orthodox lesbians at the Jerusalem Post.  Serbian gay rights groups asked for the Orthodox Church’s help in curbing anti-gay violence.  Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe refused to include gay rights in a draft of the country’s new constitution, and the new primate of the Anglican Church in Nigeria followed his predecessor in condemning homosexuality.

Also in the mix, Daniel Burke compared the use of the Bible during the church dispute over slavery in the 19^th century to the debates surrounding LGBT issues today.  Soldiers’ rights hotlines are being asked if soldiers could qualify for conscientious objector status for opposing the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ but the groups say no.  An ‘ex-gay’ coach has been accused of molesting male clients, while so-called ‘ex-gay’ Donnie McClurkin is set to attend Boston’s GospelFest.   Mike Ghouse argued that religious people should stand up for gays, Jews and Mexicans.  Finally, Lady Gaga and her “little monsters” take on Westboro Baptist Church.

Subscribe to the Religion News Summary by writing “subscribe” in an email to faith@glaad.org

Friday, July 23

9:00 pm Shameless, Sundance (1 hr) NEW
Karen gives Jamie the boot after he demands a cash settlement, and a meeting at Liam’s school results in a revelation. Later, Mimi’s attempts to control Patrick’s addiction make him furious. Features the gay son of a local gangster, Mikey.

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Saturday, July 24

8:00 pm The Bridge, CBS (2 hrs) NEW
A restaurant robbery goes terribly wrong and results in an injured police officer…will it be bisexual cop Jill?

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Sunday, July 25

8:00 pm Big Brother 12, CBS (1 hr) NEW
The nominations for eviction are announced tonight. Will out houseguest Ragan be on the chopping block?

There's no smooth sailing for new lovers Lafayette and Jesus!

9:00 pm True Blood, HBO (1 hr) NEW
Lafayette faces some unforeseen obstacles with Jesus, while Russell heads to Louisiana. Later, Sookie is worried about what Lorena has planned for Bill, and Jessica takes Pam’s advice.

10:00 pm Hung, HBO (30 min) NEW
Tanya advises Ray to encourage Damon to try out his creative side after his vandalism. And later, Ronnie tries to convince Jessica that a new addition to the family is worthwhile.

10:00 pm The Real L Word, Showtime (1 hr) NEW
Rose has dinner with Natalie’s mom, and Natalie later tells Rose the truth about her. Later, Tracy learns that her mom asked her sister to find out what’s going on with Stamie. Also, Jill and Nikki look at possible locations for their wedding and Whitney learns that Tor has moved on.

10:30 pm Entourage, HBO (30 min) NEW
Drama asks Bob Saget for help correcting the bad impression that John Stamos has of him. Later, Ari makes strides in the NFL deal, and Erica and Scott make a compromise about Vince’s career. Features out agent, Lloyd.

10:00 pm HGTV Design Star, HGTV (1 hr) NEW
The remaining designers including out contestant Michael, create model apartments inspired by NYC souvenirs for various Trump properties to be judged by none other than Trump himself!

10:30 pm Holly’s World, E! (30 min) NEW
Holly considers leaving Vegas after Josh leaves for NYC, and Angel goes to LA for plastic surgery.

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday.  Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

The Rev. Janie Spahr Celebrates a Wedding in California

It is the most comprehensive poll of Californians’ views on marriage equality broken down by religion since the approval of Prop 8 in 2008.  The study revealed that only one-in-five Californians believe that Prop 8, which stripped marriage from LGBT people, was a “good thing” for the state.

One in four people became more supportive and religious minorities have made the biggest changes. Among black Protestants, 27% report becoming more supportive and Latino Catholics report 31% becoming more supportive. The biggest gap was between Catholic and Protestant Latinos.  Only 27% of Protestant Latinos support same-sex Marriage whereas 57% of Catholic Latinos support marriage equality.

On the same day, a Field Poll was released which showed fifty-one percent of California voters support marriage for gay couples, up by two percent from last year.

Equality California’s Marriage Director Marc Solomon said, “The [Field] poll also confirms that members of the Latino community are very open to the message of equality. As such, we are stepping up our work in communities of color alongside our coalition partners and tireless volunteers. We are wholeheartedly committed to sharing our stories in every community in order to achieve solid majority support by 2012, so that we can restore the freedom to marry once and for all.”

The new studies come at a time when Californians await a U.S. district court’s decision on Prop 8 and marriage equality is making headway across the country.  Two recent court rulings in Boston have declared the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to be unconstitutional.  And in a 5-4 ruling last Thursday, Washington DC’s highest court rejected an effort to force a referendum to overturn marriage equality in the District.

Thursday, July 22

6:00 pm PT/ 9:00 pm ET Degrassi: The Next Generation, Teen Nick (30 min) NEW
Part one of two. Declan doesn’t believe Fiona’s story, and later, Jenna spreads a rumor about Claire. And keep your eyes peeled for an appearance by Riley, Degrassi’s gay jock.

8:00 pm Big Brother 12, CBS (1 hr) NEW
It’s time for another houseguest to get evicted tonight. Keep your fingers crossed that it’s not out houseguest Ragan!

Tune in for candid interviews with Boston Med's lesbian resident, Kelly Wright.

9:00 pm So You Think You Can Dance, Fox (1 hr) NEW
One dancer heads home tonight. Let’s hope it’s not your favorite!
Features out judge Adam Shankman.

10:00 pm Boston Med, ABC (1 hr) NEW
A nurse comes to the aid of a 6 year old girl suffering from a heart attack, and later, a cardiologist pulls for a man in desperate need of a heart transplant. Features lesbian resident Kelly Wright.

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday.  Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

In March, McMillen’s town’s school district decided to cancel its high school prom instead of letting her come in a tuxedo and bring a date of the same gender. Although the U.S. District judge for the case did not force the district to hold the prom, he did hold it accountable for violating the girl’s rights. But despite the fact that McMillen finally secured a victory with her monetary settlement, some people in her Fulton, Mississippi hometown criticized her equality efforts.

“I knew it was a good cause, but sometimes it really got to me. I knew it would change things for others in the future and I kept going and I kept pushing,” McMillen said in an interview with the Washington Post.

Under the settlement the school district agreed to adopt a policy that does not allow discrimination in any school based or extracurricular activities because of sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

McMillen, who has received extensive media attention after taking a stand against her school district, not only served as a grand marshal for New York’s LGBT Pride March, but also visited the White House. She even attended this year’s Los Angeles GLAAD Media Awards , presenting the Stephen F. Kolzak Award to Wanda Sykes.  We’ve kept up with her story from the beginning here on GLAAD Blog and we continue to thank her for her immense courage in speaking out and prompting change.

Wednesday, July 21

6:00 pm PT/ 9:00 pm ET Degrassi: The Next Generation, Teen Nick (30 min) NEW
Don’t miss the dramatic conclusion of last night’s episode! Fiona gets an apology, while Anya helps Holly J by lying…how will that turn out? And will out high schooler Riley make an appearance tonight?

6:00 pm PT/ 9:00 pm ET The Fabulous Beekman Boys, Planet Green (30 min) NEW
Josh and Brent’s parents come to the farm for Thanksgiving! How will their parents react at this first time gathering?

Cheer Ragan on as he fights for the POV tonight on Big Brother

8:00 pm So You Think You Can Dance, Fox (2 hrs) NEW
The top six dancers strut their stuff tonight. Let’s hope that your favorite dancer is approved by out judge Adam Shankman!

8:00 pm Big Brother 12, CBS (1 hr) NEW
Tonight is the night for the Power of Veto competition! Root for openly gay houseguest Ragan!

10:00 pm The Real World: New Orleans, MTV (1 hr) NEW
The drama between Ryan and openly gay Preston continues to highten…will things come to a boil tonight? Also, McKenzie’s drinking habits are a cause of concern after a Super Bowl party.

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday.  Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

Tuesday, July 20

6:00 pm PT/ 9:00 pm ET Degrassi: The Next Generation, Teen Nick (30 min) NEW
Part one of two. Holly J goes home without boy toy Declan, and later, Fiona gets a new squeeze…but is he more trouble than she needs?

Will Emily confide in Maya about last week's Toby disaster?

8:00 pm Pretty Little Liars, ABC Family (1 hr) NEW
The girls figure out how to deal with Toby’s secret, and later, Aria gets some unsettling texts from someone besides A. Will Emily seek Maya’s support after the dramatic home coming dance last week?

9:00 pm White Collar, USA (1 hr) NEW
Neal goes undercover as a political fixer this week, in order to expose the wrong doings of a corrupt politician. Features lesbian junior agent, Diana.

9:00 pm America’s Got Talent, NBC (1 hr) NEW
Tune in for the LGBT contestants that compete tonight in the second round of performances.

10:00 pm Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Bravo (1 hr) NEW
Kathy gets a pap smear—in public—to spread awareness about women’s health issues. What will Maggie think?

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday.  Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

Netroots Nation is a project of the non-profit, non-partisan organization Bloggerpower.org, and held its first gathering in 2006. Since then, an increasingly diverse group of organizations, policy experts, and bloggers has come together each year to talk about using technology to strengthen progressive voices in the public sphere. This year’s keynote speakers include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, among several others. Different caucuses will address identity, issue, and regional topics.

GLAAD will be talking with key progressive and LGBT bloggers to brainstorm ways we can work together to raise support for our equality.  We’re excited to be a cosponsor of this year’s conference, and to meet and be inspired by other reform-minded people working to change hearts and minds across a variety of issues.

If you’re a Netroots Nation attendee, come visit the GLAAD booth #800 in the exhibit hall to win prizes and talk to GLAAD staff. You can also keep up with our updates via Twitter.

There are several conference sessions that will include LGBT issues; a few are listed below.

Marriage Equality: Building a Movement Online, Thursday, 7/22/2010 – 10:30am, Marriage equality took a hit in 2009 with defeats in Maine, New York State and New Jersey. However, popular consensus has been that the shining light of the Maine campaign was its online team, which included a coalition of bloggers across both the LGBT and non-LGBT blogosphere. Conversely, the lack of online to offline integration in New York and New Jersey created a significant “rootsgap” that contributed to each measure’s failure. The panelists will talk about successes and failures in online organizing for marriage equality, best practices and how to build stronger ties between traditional LGBT organizations and online activists.  With Joe Sudbay, Adam Bink, Jesse Connolly, Julia Rosen, Michael Crawford.

Organizing the Equality Movement in the Obama Era, Friday, 7/23/2010 – 10:30am, Building on the Netroots Nation 2009 panel on LGBT organizing, this panel will expand the conversation to discuss the state of the equality movement in 2010 and what progress can be made before the 2012 elections and beyond. Panelists will discuss the Obama Administration’s record on LGBT rights, the federal Prop 8 trial being led by Ted Olson and David Boies, state-by-state efforts to win marriage equality, the potential repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the federal court ruling that DOMA is unconstitutional, and the lack of movement in Congress on a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). With Rick Jacobs, Dustin Lance Black, Pam Spaulding, Evan Wolfson

Civil Rights in the Modern Era, Friday, 7/23/2010 – 12:00pm, When Barack Obama took office, pundits across the country were predicting a transition to a post-racial America. And while Obama’s win was historic in many ways, the issue of race and discrimination hasn’t been solved. If anything, it’s gotten worse. From countering racism from Tea Party leaders to fighting Arizona’s discriminatory SB 1070 law to battling for marriage equality from state to state, activists across the country fight every day for equal rights. But it’s not enough. For too long these have been seen as separate issues instead of different manifestations of the same problem. National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell, SEIU’s Eliseo Medina, writer and activist Tim Wise, and Hip-Hop Caucus President Rev. Lennox Yearwood will join us for a panel discussion. Open Left’s Mike Lux will moderate. During the ’50s and ’60s, the civil rights fight resulted in an incredible amount of activism and movement building. That work has continued for decades but is far from finished.  During this lunchtime session, we’ll look at some of today’s civil rights battles — from immigration to LGBT equality to traditional civil rights issues — and talk about ways to unify our efforts and continue the fight for equality for all. It may require re-examining some of our assumptions and going outside of our respective comfort zones. It’s a discussion we have to have — openly and honestly — if we’re ever going to break down the walls that exist in our country.

LGBT Caucus, Friday, 7/23/2010 – 1:30pm, Connect with like-minded folks and talk with others from your community in our identity, issue and regional caucuses. With Mike Rogers, Pam Spaulding.

See the Netroots Nation website for a full list of sessions and more information.

Monday, July 19

6:00 pm PT/ 9:00 pm ET Degrassi: The Next Generation, Teen Nick (2 hrs) SEASON PREMIERE
The kids go to New York for a summer full of adventure and even more drama! Features out jock Riley.

Tune in TONIGHT for the season premiere of Degrassi with out hottie Riley!

8:00 pm The Secret Life of the American Teenager, ABC Family (1 hr) NEW
Ben goes to the big apple to visit Amy…will he finally tell her the truth about Adrian? Later, Ricky gets closer with his mother. And will gay student Griffin make an appearance tonight?

9:00 pm Huge, ABC Family (1 hr) NEW
Will is desperate after she loses her journal, and Amber and Chloe ask Trent to star in their talent show. Will gay camper Alistair perform in the showcase?

9:00 pm RuPaul’s Drag U, Logo (1 hr) SERIES PREMIERE
Former Drag Race favorites offer their advice on style and sass to several drab women. Will the femininity lessons from Ongina, Raven, and Jujubee be the spark these women need to live the fabulous life?

10:00 pm True Beauty, ABC (1 hr) SEASON FINALE
Tonight’s the moment of truth where one of the final three contestants will win $100,000! For the final challenge, the beauties are paired with celebs and assigned to party like it’s 1999. But there’s a catch, the next morning, they all have to film a commercial with zero sleep. Who will reign supreme? Features former Queer Eye expert Carson Kressley.

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday.  Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

Despite this, leaders from Canyon Ridge continue to defend their support of Ssempa.  Kevin Odor, senior pastor of Canyon Ridge, told NPR that Ssempa had been “misrepresented” and that Canyon Ridge supports the work he does on HIV/AIDS.

Martin Ssempa

In the same NPR story, Michael Jones, a U.S. gay-rights activist, said, “Martin Ssempa makes no bones about going around to churches, to community centers, to different neighborhoods and saying things like gays and lesbians should be put in prison, they should be killed.”

Warren Throckmorton quoted a letter to Canyon Ridge from chief health officer Lawrence Sands that said, “One of the central tenets of public health is to provide services without judgment. We also apply this principle in working with our various partners. However, we are profoundly concerned about your partnership with Pastor Ssempa as it contradicts this central tenet in that it amounts to tacit approval of activities that violate the basic human rights that should be afforded to all Ugandans.”

As we told you in a previous blog, in the film, by out filmmaker Lisa Cholodenko, Bening and Moore play a longtime couple who began a family through donor insemination, with each mother bearing a child. As teenagers, the couple’s children decide to track down their donor (Ruffalo) without telling their mothers. The film deals with how the family copes once the donor enters their lives.

The Kids Are All Right has received rave reviews from well-established newspapers like the  New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. While it is nearly impossible to create a film that pleases every critic, NY Post writer Andrea Peyser expressed her dislike for the film while simultaneously disparaging gay and lesbian families. It’s clear that Peyser’s objection to the film goes far beyond fair criticism and reflects her own personal anti-gay bias.

Peyser is certainly entitled to her opinion but her cheap shots at gay families were over the top and unacceptable.  Here’s an extended excerpt from the column, illustrating the offensive tone. Peyser describes “The Kids Are All Right as:

sort of a cross between “Leave it to Beaver” and “Kittens With Whips.” Choose your lifestyle wisely, moviegoers. For this film is set to go down in history as the first major motion picture to make a family led by gay women — A-lister Annette Bening, as the control-freak doctor Nic, “wed” to A-lister Julianne Moore, as the weepy, infantilized Jules — seem not just normal, but close to godly.

It reaches further than the gay-cowboy romp “Brokeback Mountain,” whose characters maintained a sense of otherness while shielding the kids from their shenanigans. In this movie, exposing kids is the entire point.

And this is how Hollywood does an end run around morality.

“Hollywood has set the stage for the gay agenda, nothing new,” said Laura Bailey, Brooklyn mom of two boys. “Why do you think they did propaganda films in the 1940s? They’re setting the new norm.”

“The movie industry is doing its best to undermine the American family,” said Patricia Whitehead, Connecticut mom of two girls. “Hollywood — we don’t care about the sick lives you lead behind closed doors. Just don’t bring children into it.”

This brazen attempt at trend-setting comes as national polls show Americans oppose gay marriage, half of us strongly. Support for it was at 47 percent in this year’s Washington Post/ABC News poll — but fully two-thirds favored civil unions, in which gay couples enjoy most rights of marrieds without having to stand under the chuppah.

It doesn’t take a genius to glean the truth: Folks are happy with gays living together. But bringing children into the equation is a deal-breaker.

The column fails to include any gay parents, any adults who were raised by gay parents or anyone supportive of LGBT people. It also leaves out a very important fact: Nearly every credible authority on child health and social services (including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Child Welfare League of America) has determined that a parent’s sexual orientation has nothing to do with the ability to be a good parent.

Peyser also uses the offensive term “lifestyle” to describe gay and lesbian lives, and concludes her piece with yet another viewpoint against gay parents:

I went to see it in Chelsea, where the crowd was generally smitten. But therapist Karen Kopitz saw through the gay proselytizing.

“I’m not anti-gay,” she said. “But I don’t think you can compensate for the male-female role model.”

Please write to Andrea Peyser and the New York Post and voice your concerns about this offensive column.  Tell them to stop using this media platform to denigrate loving gay families.

Contact:  letters@nypost.com

We also urge journalists covering this film to consult GLAAD’s resource guide on The Kids Are All Right. The guide is intended as a tool for journalists and bloggers who want to learn more about the topics covered in the movie and includes talking points on donor insemination, how to discuss gay families and information on real life stories. To view the guide, please visit: http://www.glaad.org/kidsareallright

The Asian American International Film Festival kicked off last night in New York City. Running through Saturday, July 24th, the annual festival, founded in 1978, is the longest running showcase for films created by and about the Asian community.  This year, the festival is showcasing two films of particular interest to the LGBT community and its allies.

Those films are Other Nature and Miss Kicki.  Both films will play at the Clearview Chelsea Cinema on Sunday, July 18th, at 4:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., respectively.  These are the only opportunities to see these films during the festival, so don’t miss your one chance!  Perhaps make an evening of it – come for Other Nature, and stay for Miss Kicki! 

The regular price of admission to both films is $12.00.  Students, senior citizens, and people with disabilities can purchase tickets for $10.00.  Tickets can be purchased in advance.  Please click here to purchase tickets for Other Nature, and/or click here for tickets to see Miss Kicki.  The Clearview Chelsea Cinema is located in New York City at 260 West 23rd Street between 7th & 8th avenues.

About Other Nature

Nepal, a nascent republic, has passed laws that protect sexual minorities and allow marriage for same-sex couples.  The government has even taken the initiative to create a new term that recognizes transgender people as a “third gender.”  No action, however, has been taken to implement the new laws.  This film offers a rare insight into the LGBT community of Nepal.  The film is directed by Nani Sahra Walker.  Its run time is 57 minutes.  For a sneak peek of the film, click here to watch the trailer.

About Miss Kicki

A delightful comedic romp, Miss Kicki follows a middle-aged Swedish woman during her misadventures through Taipei.  Along for the ride is her estranged teenage son, who is under the false impression that his frivolous mother means to bond with him during the trip.  In fact, his mother remains oblivious to her shy son’s expectations and spends most of her time trying to run into her Taiwanese lover.  At turns hilarious and poignant, delightful chaos ensues as the pair navigate the strange city and encounter Taipei’s colorful characters.  This unexpected story narrates the coming-of-age of both mother and son (hint, hint!), all the while paying tribute to Taiwan’s intriguing capital city.  The film is directed by first-time feature director Hakon Liu.  Its run time is 85 minutes.  For a sneak peek of the film, click here to watch the trailer.

Friday, July 16

9:00 pm Shameless, Sundance (1 hr) NEW
Monica gets a surprise when her mom shows up unexpectedly with a request. The only problem is that she forgot what it is. Features the gay son of a local gangster, Mikey.

————————————————————————

Saturday, July 17

8:00 pm The Bridge, CBS (2 hrs) NEW
Police officer Frank Leo has to play the bad guys’ game in order to find a murderer of a retired cop. Features bisexual cop Jill.

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Sunday, July 18

8:00 pm Big Brother 12, CBS (1 hr) NEW
Bisexual Annie was the saboteur! And she went home! Oh well, that still leaves Ragan in the house as the nominations for eviction are announced tonight. Let’s hope he stays off the chopping block!

True Blood's Lafayette learns a lesson tonight.

9:00 pm True Blood, HBO (1 hr) NEW
Lafayette gets a lesson from Jesus, and later, Eric’s desire to get revenge becomes even stronger. Also, Sookie and Alcide get advice from an expert.

10:00 pm Hung, HBO (30 min) NEW
Charlie gives Tanya some advice, while Ray deals with the gay son Damon’s criticism that he has nothing in common with his father. Later, Jessica disproves of Ronnie’s solution for their financial troubles.

10:00 pm The Real L Word, Showtime (1 hr) NEW
Whitney goes to San Fran to meet up with Sara, while Natalie and Rose argue at a family function. Later, Nikki finds a wedding dress while Jill remains dress-less. Also, Mikey rents an expensive tent for fashion week which stretches her budget. And will Tracy’s mom ever be accepting of her and Stamie’s relationship?

10:00 pm HGTV Design Star, HGTV (1 hr) NEW
Will out NYC resident Michael be at home with tonight’s challenge, when the designers vamp up some New York City fire stations?

10:30 pm Entourage, HBO (30 min) NEW
Ari and Barbara disagree on what to do with Lizzie, while Erica and Phil try to convince Drama to work on a sitcom. Later, Vince and Scott bond, much to Eric’s dismay. Features out agent, Lloyd.

10:30 pm Holly’s World, E! (30 min) NEW
Holly’s gay buddy Josh returns to Vegas with some big news. Also, Holly throws Angel a party for her 21^st birthday.

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday.  Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

The June 22 broadcast of The View featured hosts Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd, along with guest hosts D.L. Hughley and Thomas Roberts, (executive producer/co-host Barbara Walters and moderator Whoopi Goldberg were not present on the show that day). During the “Hot Topics” segment, Shepherd and Hughley blamed African American gay and bisexual men for increased HIV rates among straight African American women. But as we noted in the Variety Ad:  “The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has publicly disproven this myth. And since June 22, thousands of people have written to ABC, asking that The View provide correct information to viewers. Unfortunately, those requests have been greeted with silence from both ABC and The View.”

You can read more about the issue here.

Since we placed the Variety ad, several media outlets have covered the story including E Online, AOL Black Voices, TV Guide, Salon.com, Gothamist and a host of others.

Late Wednesday, July 14, ABC released an evasive statement to CNN.com, deflecting criticism from GLAAD, the Black AIDS Institute and the National Black Justice Coalition.

From CNN.com’s,  The Chart:

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the Black AIDS Institute and the National Black Justice Coalition said the two were “blaming African American gay and bisexual men for increased HIV rates among straight African American women.” They published a full page advertisement in Variety magazine this week urging ABC and “The View” to make an on-air correction.  The groups commended “The View” for tackling tough issues, but said it’s important to provide accurate information.

ABC responded with this statement to CNN: “ On June 22, during a discussion about blood donation and the transmission of HIV/AIDS, a guest moderator on the show expressed his interpretation of data about one way the virus can be transmitted.  The topic of HIV/AIDS has been raised many times over the show’s 13 years, with many voices and opinions contributing to a conversation that we expect to continue as long as The View is on the air.”

After weeks of silence on this issue, ABC has finally issued a public statement — but unfortunately, the network still has not corrected the inaccurate information broadcast into millions of homes. GLAAD continues to call on ABC and The View to publicly correct the misinformation aired on the June 22 show. Because as our ad in Variety concludes:

“When The View talks about these kinds of issues, people listen. And there’s a responsibility that comes with that. We want The View to do what it does at its best: Talk about the tough issues with a commitment to honesty, accuracy and fairness. We ask ABC and The View to keep the conversation going by correcting the record and elevating voices that can provide accurate information about HIV/AIDS for African American gay and bisexual men, African American women, and all viewers.”

Please continue to call on ABC and The View to correct the show’s June 22 inaccurate claims about African American gay and bisexual men. This program reaches millions of viewers and ABC must ensure that its platforms are not used to perpetuate dangerous falsehoods that put our community in harm’s way.