Gay+&+Lesbian+Alliance+Against+Defamation

Elida Martinez




 * What is GLAAD? **

According to GLAADs website, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to seek equality and acceptance for the LGBT community, by giving accounts of their experiences (2010). GLAAD has been in existence since 1985 due to protests against the way in which coverage was given to AIDS in the news (2010). The organization strives to put an end to defamatory language and coverage in the media, so that we can treat the LGBT community as equals.


 * What does GLAAD do? **

The history on the GLAAD website shows that organization works alongside the following: news, entertainment, and social media (2010). The organization works with said media to make sure that people of the LGBT community are being heard. Not only does the organization want the people of the LGBT community to be heard, but to also be listened to. The LGBT comm unity has predominately struggled with issues such as: marriage, non-discrimination in the workplace, and hatecrimes. Listening requires the people of the United States to understand that gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transsexuals are Americans, too, and deserve the same rights as everyone else that is not part of their community.




 * Why the Need for GLAAD? **

The gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community has been seen to be fighting a constant battle with attaining equal rights and opportunities in the United States. Those of whom are seen to struggle the most are the adolescents that identify with the LGBT community, mos t in which have not disclosed or have come to terms with their sexuality. Adolescence is the most critical time in a person’s life (Bond, 2008). It is a time in which people are discovering themselves and the way in which they identify with the world. Since there are a lot of mixed emotions on how to deal with establishing one’s sexuality, many adolescents will turn to the Internet to gather information (Bond, 2008). There are some places in the Internet that are used as a kind of support system when trying to figure out if one should come out or not. GLAAD tries to mediate what is shared or said about the LGBT community in the media, so this is important information to have. If adolescents are turning to the Internet as their source for information, they may very well stumble upon defamatory web pages. When an adolescent finds hate pages on LGBT, they may become more confused in regards to if what they’re feeling is right or okay. Thus, having GLAAD try to regulate defamatory language and ideas within the media will help ease adolescents during the process of finding their sexual orientation. Instead of coming across defamation on the Internet, adolescents can go to websites or blogs that create a type of virtual community and support group for those that are struggling with their sexuality (Bond, 2008).

The LGBT community has been a main target for hate crimes for many years now. According to Gregory Herek, half of sexual minority adults, or people that are not heterosexual, will experience verbal abuse because of their sexual orientation (2009). According to a study conducted by Herek, approximately 20% of the LGBT community has experienced a hate crime at age 18 and above (2009). Among those experiencing hate crimes, it is said that gay men were more likely to have it done against them, than lesbians or bisexuals (Herek, 2009). About 1 in 10 people will have experienced discrimination in housing or employment as well (Herek, 2009). GLAAD becomes a critical factor in this process. The organization helps control what is said about the LGBT community in the medi a. Since GLAAD has this influence, they are important in a way in which will help the sexual minority be portrayed as normal people and equals. Having the organization regulate how they are portrayed is essential because it may help reduce the stigma that has long been attached to the LGBT community. GLAAD may very well be an important factor to help reduce hate crimes and discrimination against the sexual minority.

The following are suggested guidelines from GLAADs //Media Reference Guide// to follow when referring to someone of the LGBT community (2010):


 * Always use a transgender person’s chosen name. Often transgender people cannot afford a legal name change or are not yet old enough to change their name legally. They should be afforded the same respect for their chosen name as anyone else who lives by a name other than their birth name (e.g., celebrities).
 * Whenever possible, ask transgender people which pronoun they would like you to use. A person who identifies as a certain gender, whether or not that person has taken hormones or had some form of surgery, should be referred to using the pronouns appropriate for that gender.
 * If it is not possible to ask a transgender person which pronoun he or she prefers, use the pronoun that is consistent with the person’s appearance and gender expression. For example, if a person wears a dress and uses the name Susan, feminine pronouns are appropriate.
 * It is never appropriate to put quotation marks around either a transgender person’s chosen name or the pronoun that reflects that person’s gender identity.
 * The Associated Press Stylebook provides guidelines for journalists reporting on transgender people and issues. According to the AP Stylebook, reporters should “use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth. If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly” (see AP, New York Times & Washington Post Style).
 * When describing transgender people, please use the correct term or terms to describe their gender identity. For example, a person who is born male and transitions to become female is a transgender woman, whereas a person who is born female and transitions to become male is a transgender man.
 * Avoid pronoun confusion when examining the stories and backgrounds of transgender people prior to their transition. It is usually best to report on transgender people’s stories from the present day instead of narrating them from some point or multiple points in the past, thus avoiding confusion and potentially disrespectful use of incorrect pronouns.



The following are offensive terms to avoid (//Media Reference Guide//, 2010):

Offensive: “homosexual” (n. or adj.) Preferred: “gay” (adj.); “gay man” or “lesbian” (n.); “gay person/people”

Offensive: “homosexual relations/relationship,” “homosexual couple,” “homosexual sex,” etc. Preferred: “relationship” (or “sexual relationship”), “couple” (or, if necessary, “gay couple”), “sex,” etc.

Offensive: “sexual preference” Preferred: “sexual orientation” or “orientation”

Offensive: “gay lifestyle” or “homosexual lifestyle” Preferred: “gay lives,” “gay and lesbian lives”

Offensive: “admitted homosexual” or “avowed homosexual” Preferred: “openly lesbian,” “openly gay,” “openly bisexual”

Offensive: “gay agenda” or “homosexual agenda” Preferred: Accurate descriptions of the issues (e.g., “inclusion in existing non-discrimination and hate crimes laws,” “ending the ban on openly gay service members”)

Offensive: “special rights” Preferred: “equal rights” or “equal protection”




 * What Can You do to Help? **

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation organization accepts gladly accepts donations to support their cause. Those of whom wish to donate may go online to their website at [|www.glaad.org], and can click on “Donate Now” under the “Support Us” drop-down menu. There are also “Action Alerts” that you can sign up for, to receive the latest news on GLAAD. The organization also has pages on social media sites Facebook and Twitter. For the latest news, you can also visit their blog at []. Defamation against the LGBT community has been a long time struggle, reporting any sort of defamation to GLAAD will further help the LGBT community reach its goal.


 * References **


 * 1) Bond, B. J., Hefner, V., Drogos, K. L. (2008). Information-Seeking Practices during the Sexual Development of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: The Influence and Effects of Coming Out in a Mediated Environment. //Journal of Sexuality and Culture//, 13, 32-50.
 * 2) GLAAD: Words & Images Matter. (2010). Retrieved from [|http://www.glaad.org/mission]
 * 3) Herek, Gregory M. (2009). Hate Crimes and Stigma-Related Experiences Among Sexual Minority Adults in the United States: Prevalence Estimates From a National Probability Sample. //Journal of Interpersonal Violence//, 24: 1, 54-74.
 * 4) Human Rights Campaign. (2011). Retrieved from [|http://www.hrc.org/index.htm]
 * 5) //Media Reference Guide// (8th ed.). (2010). Retrieved from []
 * 6) My Coming Out - Coming Out Stories. GLBT News. (2010). Retrieved from []