by Akilah Monifa
When covering complex issues, start small and watch your language.Parenting by folks in the LGBT communities is a hot media topic. Rosie O'Donnell came out and is also a spokesperson in particular for the rights of LGBTs in Florida as foster parents. This has sparked a great deal of renewed conversation about LGBTs and parenting. Ted Koppel's "Nightline" (ABC) had a five-part series on gays in America beginning May 20 titled, "A Matter of Choice?: Gay Life in America," which was delayed from Sept. 11. The use of the word "choice" in the series is sure to annoy many in our communities. Particularly those who live in a major media market, who are knowledgeable about the issues, don't think it is a matter of choice. But therein lies the problem: we want to educate while simultaneously using politically correct language. Since O'Donnell is both a lesbian and an adoptive parent, consider this: if adoption issues are out in left field for most folks, then gays and lesbians adopting are not even in the same town, much less in the ballpark. Folks are not familiar with issues around adoption and don't know the correct language to use unless they have been impacted by adoption or educated on the issues. Likewise with the LGBT community - even the term LGBT doesn't play in most media markets. LGBTs are perceived differently by both the media and the consumers of media when we are out of the five major media markets, which are all in urban areas. So a national show like Koppel's must play to middle America and the so-called "fly-over" states. If such a show were directed exclusively at a major media market with a large and active LGBT community, then the word "choice" would not be in the frame at all. Decisions need to be made. We must first educate the masses on the simplest issues before demanding that the correct language be used. If folks can't at least understand the basic issues then mere use of the correct terminology makes no sense and doesn't enhance our cause. Without education, two men adopting a child are seen by most in this country as two "fags" taking away a child from his/her "natural" mother rather than a couple forming their family. Here the education is both around adoption issues and LGBT issues. Journalists aren't the only ones who have difficulty knowing what language to use when speaking of "the other," which can be anyone from someone of a different race/ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation or gender. When "the other" is seen and viewed as "the other," we are dehumanized. To borrow from San Francisco Chronicle TV columnist Tim Goodman, shows like the "Nightline" series for those in "urban gay-familiar areas" are "... not even Gay 101. It's gay kindergarten." Therefore, more stories need to be generated about LGBTs and specifically LGBTs who are parenting, and not just the sensationalistic stories. Having a celebrity come out the closet does nothing to help folks see that me, my partner and our daughter as a family are virtually no different than another two-parent heterosexual couple with a child. Certainly LGBTs using adoption as a way to form our families is but one tiny piece of the media and education puzzle. Journalists and activists must constantly address the concerns and educate folks about other folks who they may have never seen. The complete stories need to be told with all diversity factors included. When our stories are less of an anomaly and our presence is known throughout the country then, despite the religious right, we will cease to be seen as "the other" and merely be another family in the neighborhood in America. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the nation's largest pediatricians' group, estimates that more than 9 million children in the United States have at least one gay or lesbian parent. For me, what really matters is family, not how it is formed nor the specific characteristics of the parent(s). We must continue to find ways to tell our stories to the press and celebrate our families.
June 2003
Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Friday, April 1, 2005
LGBT Rights
Lambda Book Report
April 2005Legal briefs.BYLINE: Monifa, AkilahSECTION: Vol. 13, No. 9-10; Pg. 33; ISSN: 1048-9487LENGTH: 843 words
HIGHLIGHT:The Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender PeopleThe Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender People
By Nan Hunter, Courtney G. Joslin, and Sharon M. McGowan
Southern Illinois University Press
ISBN 0-8093-2518-7
PB, $17.00, 218 pp.
Sexual Rights in America: The Ninth Amendment and the Pursuit of Happiness
By Paul R. Abramson, Steven D. Pinkerton and Mark Huppin
New York University Press
ISBN 0-8147-0692-4
HB, $35.00, 227 pp.
Gay and Lesbian Rights in the United States: A Documentary History
Edited by Walter L. Williams and Yolanda Retter
Greenwood Press
ISBN 0-313-30696-6
HB, $49.95, 317 pp.
Books with the word "rights" in them are usually very academic, not accessible for reading and full of footnotes. These three books are certainly all academic in nature and tone, but are all accessible when read by non-academic types.The Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender People, an ACLU guide, has the physical look of a law review. As I former law student, lawyer and then law professor, that's what I was expecting. But I was pleasantly surprised by the organization of this book. There are four parts: "Sexual Orientation and the State," which includes categories such as expression, the right not to be silent, criminal law, government employees, the military, and immigration "Civil Rights in the Private Sector," including information on employment in the private sector, housing and credit, and public accommodations "Families and Schools," with subcategories of relationships, parenting and youth and a catchall category, "Specialized Issues" which includes transgender people and people with HIV/AIDS.
The book contains good, sensible categories and subcategories that are then organized by simple questions and answers. It reads well cover to cover, and is a great tool if one wants to research a specific issue. There is also a good appendix that lists national and regional LGBT legal groups as well as an introduction to law and the legal system. The index is also quite handy. For example, if you look up "dancing" you are led to "civil rights in the public sector" and "public accommodations" and the question: "may a bar or club throw out two people of the same sex for dancing together? For displays of affection in public?"
Sexual Rights in America takes a narrower focus, concentrating, as the title implies, on the Ninth Amendment--its past history and future, while examining sex and the Constitution in general, as well as other issues like "dial-a-porn" and child pornography. The authors note that although sex is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, the "pursuit of happiness" amendment is often used in interpretation to cover these areas. The authors think that this catch-all amendment was envisioned by the founding fathers to allow for sexual rights. The book is a mix of psychology and law all of the authors have a background in psychology or psychiatry and one has a law background.
The last book of the trio, Gay and Lesbian Rights in the United States, is, as the subtitle states, a "documentary history." It examines documents in both American history and contemporary issues. The book is divided both chronologically and in subjects: clash of religions life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness: the development of a homophile identity in the United States, 1775-1950 civil rights and civil liberties: the making of a gay and lesbian movement in the United States, 1950-1977 backlash: the reaction to gay and lesbian progress in the United States, 1977-1987 and queer America: the acceptance of sexual and gender diversity in the United States, 1987-2000.
The documents are articles, books, court cases, oral histories, excerpts from speeches and the like. Chronicles begin in 1930, with an anthropologist examining Native American attitudes toward transvestites and so-called hermaphrodites.
The editors certainly achieve their objective of a "mix of voices representing a cross section of generations, ethnicities, classes, religions, races, occupations, ideologies, and genders. "Ultimately they fail to tell a coherent story and I'm not certain that they hit their other objective to "clarify the controversy over gay and lesbian rights in the United States." They most certainly have provided a wealth of information, but that's just it. The information is provided as fact, and the editors don't take a clear stance in helping illuminate anything.
There is no doubt that all three books make wonderful reference tools and provide good information. And certainly all of the books cover different areas, but the The Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender People wins top honors for information, organization and readability.
Reviewed by Akilah Monifa
Akilah Monifa is a freelance writer in Oakland, Calif.
April 2005Legal briefs.BYLINE: Monifa, AkilahSECTION: Vol. 13, No. 9-10; Pg. 33; ISSN: 1048-9487LENGTH: 843 words
HIGHLIGHT:The Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender PeopleThe Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender People
By Nan Hunter, Courtney G. Joslin, and Sharon M. McGowan
Southern Illinois University Press
ISBN 0-8093-2518-7
PB, $17.00, 218 pp.
Sexual Rights in America: The Ninth Amendment and the Pursuit of Happiness
By Paul R. Abramson, Steven D. Pinkerton and Mark Huppin
New York University Press
ISBN 0-8147-0692-4
HB, $35.00, 227 pp.
Gay and Lesbian Rights in the United States: A Documentary History
Edited by Walter L. Williams and Yolanda Retter
Greenwood Press
ISBN 0-313-30696-6
HB, $49.95, 317 pp.
Books with the word "rights" in them are usually very academic, not accessible for reading and full of footnotes. These three books are certainly all academic in nature and tone, but are all accessible when read by non-academic types.The Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender People, an ACLU guide, has the physical look of a law review. As I former law student, lawyer and then law professor, that's what I was expecting. But I was pleasantly surprised by the organization of this book. There are four parts: "Sexual Orientation and the State," which includes categories such as expression, the right not to be silent, criminal law, government employees, the military, and immigration "Civil Rights in the Private Sector," including information on employment in the private sector, housing and credit, and public accommodations "Families and Schools," with subcategories of relationships, parenting and youth and a catchall category, "Specialized Issues" which includes transgender people and people with HIV/AIDS.
The book contains good, sensible categories and subcategories that are then organized by simple questions and answers. It reads well cover to cover, and is a great tool if one wants to research a specific issue. There is also a good appendix that lists national and regional LGBT legal groups as well as an introduction to law and the legal system. The index is also quite handy. For example, if you look up "dancing" you are led to "civil rights in the public sector" and "public accommodations" and the question: "may a bar or club throw out two people of the same sex for dancing together? For displays of affection in public?"
Sexual Rights in America takes a narrower focus, concentrating, as the title implies, on the Ninth Amendment--its past history and future, while examining sex and the Constitution in general, as well as other issues like "dial-a-porn" and child pornography. The authors note that although sex is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, the "pursuit of happiness" amendment is often used in interpretation to cover these areas. The authors think that this catch-all amendment was envisioned by the founding fathers to allow for sexual rights. The book is a mix of psychology and law all of the authors have a background in psychology or psychiatry and one has a law background.
The last book of the trio, Gay and Lesbian Rights in the United States, is, as the subtitle states, a "documentary history." It examines documents in both American history and contemporary issues. The book is divided both chronologically and in subjects: clash of religions life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness: the development of a homophile identity in the United States, 1775-1950 civil rights and civil liberties: the making of a gay and lesbian movement in the United States, 1950-1977 backlash: the reaction to gay and lesbian progress in the United States, 1977-1987 and queer America: the acceptance of sexual and gender diversity in the United States, 1987-2000.
The documents are articles, books, court cases, oral histories, excerpts from speeches and the like. Chronicles begin in 1930, with an anthropologist examining Native American attitudes toward transvestites and so-called hermaphrodites.
The editors certainly achieve their objective of a "mix of voices representing a cross section of generations, ethnicities, classes, religions, races, occupations, ideologies, and genders. "Ultimately they fail to tell a coherent story and I'm not certain that they hit their other objective to "clarify the controversy over gay and lesbian rights in the United States." They most certainly have provided a wealth of information, but that's just it. The information is provided as fact, and the editors don't take a clear stance in helping illuminate anything.
There is no doubt that all three books make wonderful reference tools and provide good information. And certainly all of the books cover different areas, but the The Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender People wins top honors for information, organization and readability.
Reviewed by Akilah Monifa
Akilah Monifa is a freelance writer in Oakland, Calif.
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