couple of weeks ago, AGLAADE executive director, Joan Garry, was a guest on Michael Medved’s radio program to discuss her op- ed in USA Today regarding adop- tion, her kids, and Rosie O’Donnell. After the interview, Medved told Joan he wanted her to come back to debate the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Her response? “Michael, you know GLAAD better than that. We’re not the experts on this.” Joan’s encounter with Medved is something I run into daily. I know we’ve made progress in educating media pro- fessionals about the nuance of our issues and the specialization of our organizations, but some- times they simply look up “g” in the phone book and dial the first number they see. In the same way, many habitually turn to a list of the “usual suspects” on the anti-gay side to “balance” their stories. . One of the problems with this approach is that reliance on this rolodex of anti—gay groups results in a predictable litany of mean-spirited rhetoric. It doesn’t matter who we debate — Family Research Council, American Family Association, Focus on the Family, etc. — their messages are pretty identical. To quote FRC: “We do not consider homosexual- - ity an alternative lifestyle or even a sexual ‘preference,’ it is unhealthy and destructive to indi- vidual persons, families, and society.” Rosie O’Donnell’s inter- view on ABC’s “Primetime Thursday” and its attendant media attention offer a perfect example of what’s right and what’s wrong with a news media system that employs these sim- plistic dualisms in the name of “objectivity.-” Let’s start with the good: in its coverage of Rosie and her advocacy on behalf of children, ABC made a decision to challenge to the status quo in the way our storiesare told. Rather than following the stale pro- gay/anti-gay script, they decided to allow those who had a real stake in the debate to take center stage. Those who were directly involved in gay adoptions — including the children — were finally given the opportunity to speak. Rosie and the Lofton- Croteau family spoke to an audi- ence needing perspective on their lives and, more importantly, their families. They showed that gay parents are creating quality homes; loving, nurturing and sup- portive families; and healthy, well-adjusted kids. They showed that gay adoptive parents are willing to go through the same screening process and be subject to the same scrutiny as other prospec- tive adoptive parents. They showed that the most important people in this discussion are the kids. And they clarified and refo- cused the basic issue: that our ability to create families should not hinge on the whims of the select few who profit from insti- tutionalized prejudice against us. As with their excellent “20/20” report last year, ABC gave kids a platform to share their experiences, and in doing so offered audiences across the nation the opportunity to hear from those who generally have no say, no rights and no ability to advocate for public policy that meets their needs. And the kids Although ABC News previewed and followed-up its “Primetime” special with strong segments on “World News Tonight” and “Good Morning America,” cable news generally stuck to the predictable. CNN conducted two gay,/anti-gay spokespeople debates — neither of which departed from the standard script. MSNBC boasted some- what better coverage, featuring an intimate sit-down with a gay cou- ple and their two children, as well as a debate that included Felicia Park-Rogers, executive director of Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere and the daughter of gay parents. The centerpiece of Fox News Channel’s coverage, on the other hand, was a series of lec- tures by Bill O’Reilly equating ' the act of coming out with public discussion of explicit sex acts. (To his credit, O’Reilly shares Rosie’s view of Florida’s discrim- inatory adoption law.) Perhaps the most mov- ing story to come out of the cov- erage of Rosie’s interview hap- pened on “Good Morning America.” Having been so moved by ‘a segment on Rosie and the Lofton-Croteau family, actress Rene Russo (who was promoting Those who were directly involved in gay adoptions were finally given the opportunity to speak. turned out to be far more persua- sive on the issue of equal adop- tion rights than anyone from the Family Research Council (or, for that matter, most LGBT organiza- tions) ever could be. ‘ This first-person approach seems to be having an unintended impact on groups like FRC. In a telling gaffe during our debate on MSNBC, FRC spokesman Peter Sprigg provided a brief moment of clarity during ‘ his commentary: “They [gay cou- ples] want to be treated on a fully equal basis with heterosexual married couples.” Amid his calls for discrimination and inscrutable references to “strengthening mar- riage,” Sprigg actually got “the gay agenda” — if only for a moment. It would be nice to think that hearing the stories of kids who are growing up in gay fami- lies is subtly challenging the tightly scripted mantras of folks like Sprigg. But we’re not that naive. her film “Showtime”) revealed to Charlie Gibson that her mom had raised her in large part through‘ the support of her lesbian friends. This is the kind of story that makes people reconsider their ofien-detached approach to gay and lesbian lives. There’s a reason effective public speakers engage their audiences with sto- ries: they make abstract issues come to life. If Rosie’s interview with Diane Sawyer teaches us anything, it should be that our stories open the truth of our lives to those around us. They demysti- fy us, demonstrating that we are connected through common, human experiences. These are stories that we ~ and the media — have a responsibility to share. And they make for good televi- sion, too. V Cathy Renna is news media director for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Elizabeth C. Campbell, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountants ' 15 East Washington Street, Rutland O570l 802-773-4030 / liz@rallyCPA.com Tax specialists serving individuals and small businesses “The Best Restaurant in Town!” —John Powers, The Boston Globe Great feasts from Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Nepal, China, Indonesia! 175 Church St. i Burlington, VT Local delivery through Four Star l)eliver_v Express 0 865-l<‘()()l) Joseph Kress, ‘M. A., Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Individual and Couples Counseling Adults and Adolescents 802-895-4993 55 Seymour Lane NPQWDON. Vi-‘—Tl“<>1'"~ 0j‘erz’7zg a 71/or@’af'RemoaQfi’7zg 5'0/uz‘z'o7z.s'... Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Tub & Tile Reglazing Refacing & Resurfacing Tubwalls & Liners . 865.2020 / Visit our showroom at One Blair Park , Williston VT www.dreammaker-remodel.com . 1. - DreamM er Bath 81 Kitchen BY WORLDWIDE‘ . Making_jyour_ remodeling dreams come true” ;=Brdss;:woodWirid$._..berc,USsioh1 .' Morchingbcinds!* . dad S.*§'if‘é1'.5e . I Percussionistsl lTho_nks‘1o' .§hg;sam§§é_ Foundation. of \./_e|'“ml9I1l'. The GMF3 jis ggbleztq provide:’marc:hing idrum equipment (snare, bass and iomsl for _ vseaurar-gpar9ues.rre..i 2 . . ; A .AtIjl‘i¢véIs.bt Iiiy cm». Call F'efe'r_ at .i(80l,2_l 87,3-ll glreenmlouniointreedombondm 0,