It's been a truly incredible few weeks here at GLAAD.
We had been working over the summer to counter the campaign against our
community waged by radical religious extremists in major newspapers.We were
looking forward to the next few months: Lesbian and Gay History Month, the
Fairness Awards, and in the spring, the Tenth Annual Media Awards.
The space of two days changed all that.
First, the announcement of television spots produced by the same groups that
created the hateful newspaper ads, speaking with false sincerity about
"hope" and "healing." I caught an early morning shuttle to Washington D.C.,
to participate in a press conference countering these reprehensible
advertisements, and GLAAD mobilized its resources to talk to the press about
just what really lay behind their rhetoric.
The next morning, we awoke to the news of an unimaginably brutal assault on
a young man in Wyoming. While the facts were hard to come by, we learned his
name. We learned that he was gay. And we learned that he had been targeted
by his tormentors because of it.
Within 48 hours of learning of Matthew Shepard's assault, GLAAD's Cathy
Renna was en route to Laramie. Upon arrival, she became a one person press
operation, working out of the University of Wyoming student center. She
fielded all press calls, counseled university staff and students on basic
interviewing skills, drafted press releases and orchestrated an enormous
press conference. Cathy would call my office twice a day, relaying the
stories of this small community devastated by hate. The sound of her voice
told me two things - how difficult it must have been to be there, and how
important the work GLAAD was doing there was to Laramie and its residents.
Nationally, GLAAD, along with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) co-sponsored a vigil on the
steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. In less than 72 hours, this
event came together in recognition that our community needed a very public
forum for expressing its rage, and its sorrow. With the magnificent building
as a backdrop, friends, politicians, celebrities and community leaders
gathered together to speak of the extraordinary impact Matthew's short life
and cruel death had had on all of us.
The morning of Shepard's death, a letter co-signed by GLAAD, HRC and NGLTF
was sent via fax to Attorney General Janet Reno requesting a meeting to
discuss how she could use her leadership at the state and federal levels to
help put forward hate crimes legislation. Our meeting with her, and many
members of her senior staff, held the afternoon of the vigil, was both
timely and substantive. The attorney general was interviewed extensively in
the days following our meeting, and her support and concern was clearly
evident.
While coordinating these fronts, Communications Director Jennifer Einhorn
worked tirelessly on collaborating with journalists on framing their stories
and analysis. Using the tools of the trade -- phone, fax and e-mail-- GLAAD
illustrated to reporters how the campaign of hate wearing the clothing of
"love for the sinner" helps create the very climate where discrimination,
bias, and at its most extreme, violence against the lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender community becomes acceptable.
I cannot convey how proud I am of the work GLAAD has done over the last
several weeks. We moved quickly and effectively, working on both the
national and local levels, providing support to our grieving community, as
well as fighting those who would use this tragedy as another opportunity to
spread lies and snake oil.
You are a friend of GLAAD, and I write you for two reasons. First off, I
feel strongly that it's important to keep our membership informed,
particularly during times of crises. And secondly -- we need your continued
support. The ad campaigns from the radical religious extremists are clear
evidence that their pockets are deep. Ours must be deeper if we are to
succeed.
Please join GLAAD now. If you are already a member, I ask that you consider
giving an additional donation. With the war being waged against our
community moving from newspapers to television, GLAAD's work as the only
lesbian and gay media advocacy can only become more importance. It is with
your support that our work continues.
To join GLAAD or take make an additional donation, click here:
https://www.bnw.com/glaad
At GLAAD, we know full well that images can change hearts and minds. The
image of a desolate, rural split rail fence haunts us all; it haunts
everyone who believes in the equality of people. Let us all hope that this
image does just that.
Sincerely,
Joan M. Garry
Dear Friends:
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Executive Director