Where is our gay spokesperson for TV and media?

[bluedawg12]

Why is it that when I listen to pundit shows, MSM, whether it is MSNBC or CNN, or others, when ever gay and lesbian issues surface I only hear either radicalrightwingers define gays, or some half hearted straight person giving some slightly embarrassed explanation of fairness.

I am sick and tired of hearing what someone else is saying about gays and homosexuals. Are we truly freaking invisible?

We need a few good gays who are articulate and camera friendly and we need them out there speaking on behalf of GLBT issues in a credible and positive manner.

Is there something that can be done to make this happen?

[oldtime dfl_er]

1. send an email to Anderson Cooper?

He's out, I'm quite sure.

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/690908

[kweerwolf]

2. Unfortunately the "gay community" can't agree on a "designated spokes-fag"

Maybe it's because the LGBT community has become "balkanized" with factions, but it seems whenever someone within the community speaks out, he or she catches as much flak from inside the community as outside.

Harvey Fierstein? Too flamboyant!
Andrew Sullivan? Too conservative!
Michaelangelo Signorile? Too liberal ... and he might 'out' someone!
Elizabeth Birch? The 'guys' (gay AND straight) will never listen to a woman!

And the list goes on and on.

What Will Rogers said about the Democrats is unfortunately true about the LGBT community: "Tell 'em to form a firing squad and they stand in a circle."

There are times when we can form a unified front, but when we are faced with multiple enemies on multiple sides - or when we are faced with no immediate challenge of enemy - we tend to turn on each other.

Sadly, I've seen that from the national level on down. Even locally I've seen different LGBT band together when they have a mission. Last year it was getting a domestic partner policy passed. The community as a whole did admirably at setting aside differences and working together. Once it was passed all the old animosities between the various groups and organization floated right back to the surface.

Maybe it's the nature of marginalized groups to engage in all this self-defeating crap ... but it's time that we are individuals and groups got over it and remembered that "baggage" should be unpacked occasionally and not carried with us all the time.

(Sorry for the rant, but the post touched on an issue that's been on my mind a lot lately.)
:rant:

[IndianaGreen]

3. What you need is an angry castrating lesbian Bolshevik

Someone that can tear a RWer's testicles with her teeth before spitting them on the floor and stomping on them with her boots. Someone like.... moi!

:P

[kweerwolf]

4. I nominate IndianaGreen for angry spokes-dyke!

(and then I'm going to run for cover ... quick!)
:hide:

[terrya]

5. I would suggest it's Andrew Sullivan, Evan Wolfson and Elizabeth Birch.

Sullivan may be a right wing creep, but he does speak out on GLBT issues, particularly same-sex marriage.

Wolfson, with the Lambda Legal Defense Fund, appears every so often on various shows to promote same-sex marriage. He's been tireless.

Birch has her own show on the Here cable channel. She's appeared on many shows to advance our causes.

[dickthegrouch]

6. Mark Leno does a stand-up job

He's a San Francisco Supervisor and the author of California's just vetoed Religious freedom and protection of marriage bill (which *really* did the job).

The biggest problem is that the news outlets don't appear to have a good set of names/numbers that they can call when they need a soundbite now.

If we provide a list of resources to every news outlet in each district we are in a much better position to complain if they don't use them.

Writing comments to the 'feedback' links works for radio station web pages as to what you thought was wrong with their coverage. Many of us complained when the SF media kept calling Gwen Araujo "He" even though she presented as a woman most of the time. The media changed.

I always put my phone number in the comments, although I've never been asked to give on-air comments, yet.

[bluedawg12]

7. OK, where would I go to find the pre-eminent gay activist group?

I could start there. Maybe see if they have a speakers bureau?

What would your ideal gay spokes person look like?

Man or woman?

Camera friendly?

Or, looks don't matter?

Educated professional, doctor, attorney?

Moderate views or more radical?

[dickthegrouch]

8. I think this last question deserves its own thread

But my money lies with HRC and Lambda Legal

I think the people who are able to maintain their poise under pressure are the best ones to represent us as they are the most likely to be listened to without being being drowned out or dismissed out of hand by those whose education is so sorely lacking.

Someone who practices zingers is also good as the bigots often don't realize they've been zinged until they've spent quite a bit of time figuring out what exactly was said to them.