As Wikipedia has already pointed out, GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) has been criticized for being "overly cozy with the entertainment industry and focusing on glitzy celebrity parties rather than grassroots level work." Did you need an example? Here, this is what's going on right in front of our face in San Francisco.
According to the organization, the GLAAD Media Awards recognizes and honor people in the mainstream media and entertainment industry for their "fair," "accurate," and "inclusive" representation of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives. And you can see in the picture how fair, accurate and inclusive they are.
Tell me what you see. Mostly White people. All of them are gender-conforming. They are well-photoshopped, I mean good-looking, seemingly wealthy, famous and respected adults. OK, they might have done something that would be deserving of any kind of awards, but what good can they be for receiving the awards and ultimately representing the so-called "LGBT community?" And can anyone tell me why the two African American men are pictured in black and white? I wonder.
So what kind of "issues" that affect our lives are they talking about? Poverty? Homelessness? School dropouts? Criminalization? Physical, verbal, and emotional abuse and violence? Sexually transmitted diseases? Low self-esteem? Suicides? Unemployment? Police harassment? Or even having difficulties choosing which one to enter in public restrooms? I wonder.
OK, let's see, hmmm...so they're holding a big party for the awards at Hilton SF. And the tickets are at least $100. That's a huge one for representing the community or being a good ally or whatever...
So I'd like to know exactly which part of this shindig we are included. We, I mean Trans folks, Queer people of color, working-class Queers, Queer youths, Queers with different abilities, Queer immigrants who may or may not be undocumented or non-English speaking.
Maybe I'm beside the point because the awards are given to those who are in the mass media industry? But I think I know that the media is already White-dominated...then how could WE ever be recognized and honored? Or, do we even want to be recognized and honored?
GLAAD is actually trying to be more inclusive by creating various programs specifically for people of color. OK, they have the API section. Is it too much to ask them to understand the diverse and intricate ethnic dynamics withint the API communities? I wonder, because I get an impression that they're only referring to East Asians in their "Did you know?" page.
Under the API section, they have a page called "Accomplishments." Open that page, and you will see...
Nothing.
They have accomplished nothing. That's fucking great.
If I were to give an award for nice representation of the LGBT communities, I'd select those folks who post badass fetish videos on xtube, folks who have been just oh so fierce on RuPaul's drag race, or those who have been murdered or killed themselves due to homophobia, racism and gender oppression, not the one who made that fucking racist movie called Milk.
6 comments for this post
hi there :)
i knew you from the clicking ads...
what is this anyway???
i agree pretty much with most of what you are saying... one note of caution though. we want to provide real effective critiques of agencies like GLAAD while also acknowledging the work of folks who are within the system. Andy Marra is a Korean adoptee transwoman who has worked very hard to increase the API presence and voice within GLAAD. she also uses GLAAD resources to provide real media skills to fledgling API orgs and campaigns that need them. just wanted to add that while bolstering what you say!
also on another note, while you are critiquing GLAAD for not having the voices and representations of "transfolks" and "queers with disabilities", I find it pretty glaring that you haven't included in your analysis a mention of gender as it relates to oppression against women or female-bodied folks. There is not a single representation of womyn of color up on that banner, and that absence from your seemingly expansive critique fails to name it.
and, i say this with the utmost respect and genuine care, given that this blog has none of those kinds of representation either, it might be helpful turn that sharp analytic attention inward from time to time.
Thank you for your comment.
I know I'm not a perfect person, and I cannot grow up as a writer and as a human without people like you who generously provide me with great feedback. I'm also lazy and tend to rush for a conclusion while dropping a few things out of my hands. So I really appreciate your notes for reminding me of that.
I was aware that there must be someone within that API section who's working hard. However, when I compared it to, say, religion section's accomplishments, it was a vast difference. I don't know the intrapolitics of the organization well, but I intended to criticize GLAAD for not supporting the API section enough institutionally, rather than the individuals who work within the system.
And I will emphasize gender oppression stronger in my future writing!
thanks for your acknowledgment and your clarifications!
one thing you didn't address though (specifically about how this blog in particular may address some of the above points)! :)
i think, more than just emphasizing gender oppression from your male voice (albeit a fine radical one!), you should also advocate for more inclusion even on this site for contributors that actually reflect the queer & asian community as this blog purports to be.
have you even given a thought as to why there aren't more sisters represented in QA&PI spaces? are we all to busy assuming the mantle of API Queer to disregard the subject positions of those we claim to be in our communities in speech and writing? as down as you can get in including gender oppression in your analyses, your ability to advocate for the amplication of your A&PI sisters'/transfolks' voices to be heard is what is most helpful--and actually more down than just talking about it.
again, we're all learning together and it's natural that the privileges that we all assume get in the way of our collective access to liberation. luckily, we can all help each other!
great work! i look forward to reading more! :D
hi anonymous,
though we try to refrain from posting too much on the posts, we wanted to specifically post here to help address some things from an administrative / logistical level!
In regards to the blog & its current bloggers, we definitely are cognizant in our aim to include and have a comprehensive representation of QAPI individuals on many levels: gender expression, gender, sex, sexual identity, sexuality, ethnicity, race, level of comfortableness with being out, age, education, class, location, and more!
We realize that from what's observable on the blog there may seem to be a lack of representation from the contributors, but, we've only been around for a little more than two weeks and many of the invited bloggers have yet to respond or be able to start blogging, unfortunately.
As this site truly is to be comprehensively inclusive and be a place where all voices can be heard, it's great to receive validation that this goal is very important and oftentimes overlooked!
We wanted to respond as a means to provide an explanation and reassure you that we definitely are cognizant over here at wiqaable of the level of inclusion that is needed and that we want to have. And we are very appreciative and grateful that there are readers out there who want this as well : )
In this sense, thank you very much : )
PS If you or anyone you know might be interested in being a contributor, by all means, e-mail us! We'd love to get to know you : )
wiqaable@gmail.com