Archive for July, 2009

Feedback Friday – We Want To Hear From You!

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J0408931 Six weeks ago, we tried something new: Feedback Friday. We asked you to share your thoughts with us to spur discussions, suggest blog topics for the future and present diverse points of view on relevant gay and lesbian communications issues.

Our first attempt received a positive reply (and some spam – sigh), so we thought we’d try again. Today’s post is all about you. What do you want to talk about? What should we be discussing in our posts?

We want to hear from you. Please leave a comment below, send us a direct message on Twitter (@outfrontblog) or leave us a message on our Facebook fan page (Out Front Blog).

Here are a few other questions to consider:

  • What is the most important gay and lesbian communications topic that you think is being ignored or underreported in so-called “mainstream” media? 

  • What sources do you rely on for gay and lesbian news? 
  • Which Out Front Q&A was your favorite? 

We look forward to hearing from you!

| July 31st, 2009 No Comments »
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Shades of Green

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Trees Gay and lesbian consumers are increasingly sought after because of assumptions about our disposable incomes. In some cases, members of the community have a little extra green to spend. Lesbians, in particular, also have an extra green agenda – sustainability. This post is inspired by an article in last month’s issue of Curve – “Green Before Going Green Was Cool” -  and a tweet from @lgbtlife introducing OUT for Sustainability, an organization that works to raise awareness in sustainability in the LGBT community.

I’ve always heard the term “granola lesbian.” I knew there were many, many lesbians who would go out of their way to recycle items before every house in the city had its recycling bins. They would grow their own vegetables before “eating local” became a household phrase. And they introduced me to terms such as “energy efficient” and “organic.” At the time, I wasn’t sure if they were just “hippie” lesbians or what. Now everything is put into perspective for me – lesbians have been living green long before it became the topic of headlines across America. Of course I would like to think that as lesbians are becoming more mainstream (albeit little by little), and therefore so has sustainability because of the history between the two. I know I’m giving lesbians far too much credit, but wouldn’t it be nice…

Being green is a little more costly than not, in regards to both time and money, so perhaps this was a good fit for lesbians because of that disposable income. Lesbian parenting has not always been an option, so why not then take care of your garden and the Earth? Makes sense to me.

So, as green  housing, autos, lighting, clothing,  and just about everything else starts becoming more important in your company or client’s agendas, remember the lesbian community has been at the forefront and can serve as strong sounding boards, advocates and loyal consumers.

| July 30th, 2009 No Comments »
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Last Call…for a Life?

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BarDoes being gay require a proclivity for pear martinis or pinot noirs? New York magazine recently covered a study and pilot program by Columbia University on the link between gays and adult beverages. Project Smart, which was started in spring of 2007, studies the habits and responses of gay men and alcoholic addiction, while helping patients learn how to drink conservatively and responsibly, as opposed to strict abstinence.

It was the story's commentary that got my attention. Clinical psychologist Jon Morgenstern is quoted saying, "It's too socially debilitating to cut a gay man off from the bar and club scene…Gay men have the minds of college students and teenagers when it comes to alcohol. It's crucial to their socializiation."

Read more »

| July 29th, 2009 No Comments »
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Aren’t You GLAAD there’s a “Network Responsibility Index?”

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Glaadlogo_v2_ntl_300dpi As we often say in our posts on this blog, how our community is portrayed in entertainment significantly impacts how our community is viewed. Negative portrayals of LGBT people help to foster a culture of mistrust and hatred and could ultimately lead to violence, or worse, against LGBT people. Positive portrayals help to increase understanding of our lives and promote greater acceptance of LGBT people.

And as we are reminded in this year’s “GLAAD Network Responsibility Index,” not portraying LGBT people at all poses a problem as well. If you don’t acknowledge our existence, it’s difficult for people who don’t know us to learn about us or accept us as equal members of society.

GLAAD released their third annual report on the “quantity, quality and diversity of images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people on television” yesterday in Los Angeles. Two networks (CBS and NBC) earned failing grades for their “lack of inclusion of the LGBT community” in their primetime programming. Four networks – HBO, Showtime, ABC and The CW – earned the highest grade “good” for their positive and broad-based representations of LGBT people.

I’m a big fan of surveys such as these because I believe it’s important to be able to compare and contrast coverage of our community objectively. It’s one thing to say “television does a bad job of portraying LGBT people in its programming.” It’s quite another to say “here are the statistics on how each network portrays LGBT people.” 

What do you think?  Does a network’s inclusion of LGBT people (or lack thereof) influence your viewing habits?  Why or why not?

| July 28th, 2009 1 Comment »
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Missing Link for LGBT Job Seekers

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J0422804 In a time when jobs are scarce and the national unemployment rate has risen to 9.4 percent, we have to wonder where minorities fall into the equation of job opportunity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, minority unemployment rates rise substantially more than others. For example, at the end of the first quarter Alabama's black jobless rate soared to 15.1 percent from 5.3 in the 2007 fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Caucasian population unemployment rate in the state rose to 5.8 percent from 3 percent. On a national level, the African American unemployment rate is typically twice that of white, while Hispanics is 1.5 times higher.

But how does this impact the LGBT community? I searched, but wasn’t able to find recent research on the topic. Interesting.

Out & Equal saw a need to address career opportunities for LGBTs, so they launched LGBT CareerLink. The Web site is a career development and social networking site that pairs job seekers, recruiters and employers. To date, more than 43,000 jobs have been posted, from entry level to executive level positions. The site also provides networking/event opportunities for those seeking professional development opportunities. Additionally, the site’s career resource helps those who are just entering the workforce as well as career veterans.

In a recent Out & Equal newsletter, Executive Director Selisse Berry said, “Our goal has always been to provide the online service where everyone who values equality and fairness in the workplace will turn for all their career development needs.”

Now, more than ever, companies are searching to recruit and retain top talent. In doing so, it is essential to strategically seek opportunities to build a diverse and inclusive workforce. This culture entices people of all backgrounds and experiences to stay. This accepting culture only cultivates an even more engaging and collaborative environment for all employees seeking to be part of a progressive workforce.

Check out LGBT CareerLink and tell us what you think.

| July 27th, 2009 3 Comments »
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