GLAAD, NCAVP Lead Coalition Calling on Lieberman Broadcasting Corp. to Stop Airing Violent Anti-Gay Content

LOS ANGELES - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) and a coalition of diverse local and national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organizations today called on Spanish-language media group Liberman Broadcasting Corporation to stop promoting physical violence against and verbal abuse of LGBT people on its television shows "José Luis Sin Censura" and "El Show de María Laria" (which recently stopped production but whose defamatory past episodes continue to be frequently aired by Liberman) and its popular Los Angeles radio show "Los Guapos de la Mañana."

On the TV shows, audience members are allowed to get up from their seats to attack the guests, slap them, punch them, and drag beaten panelists across the stage. The shows also broadcast audience members' use of defamatory epithets such as "puñales," "joto," "maricón" [all three of which translate as "faggot"] and "marimacha" [dyke], and other offensive comments such as "All gays have AIDS." The "Los Guapos de la Mañana" radio program regularly features a transgender female character who discusses celebrity gossip while "Simón," a song about a gay man who dies of AIDS, is played in the background.

To watch clips from "José Luis Sin Censura" and "El Show de María Laria" and to listen to defamatory segments on "Los Guapos de la Mañana," visit here

GLAAD, NCAVP and the coalition are calling on Liberman to immediately stop promoting anti-gay violence and verbal abuse on its programming, and to meet with GLAAD and other coalition members to discuss ways to create fair, accurate and inclusive media representations of LGBT people and issues. The coalition member groups have published a joint Call to Action for their members and constituents to make their voices heard and express their concerns and expectations directly to Liberman.

GLAAD met in August with Miguel Banojian, producer of the two television shows, and José Luis Gonzalez, host of "José Luis Sin Censura," to discuss the show's promotion of anti-LGBT violence and to set up future meetings on the issue. At that meeting, Banojian and Gonzalez promised to eliminate verbal and physical abuse of LGBT people on their shows. Since January, however, the violence depicted on these shows has escalated, and GLAAD has repeatedly requested -- through Liberman Vice President of Corporate Relations Andrew Mars -- another meeting with Liberman executives. Mars and other Liberman representatives have refused to respond to those requests.

In recent weeks, Nissan, Chevrolet and Kentucky Fried Chicken have withdrawn their ads from the shows.

"When Liberman Broadcasting Corporation produces and promotes depictions of anti-gay violence, it glamorizes gay bashing and creates a toxic environment of hatred, prejudice and intolerance," said Mónica Taher, People of Color Media Director for GLAAD. "Liberman must be held accountable for these violent, hate-filled broadcasts and must accept and embrace its responsibility to produce fair, accurate and inclusive representations of our community."

According to data gathered by NCAVP, anti-LGBT violence increased 26 percent nationally by the end of 2003 and continued to rise throughout 2004.

"Unfortunately, not only has violence against LGBT people in general been on the rise, but the number of Latino/a victims of LGBT violence has risen sharply," said Clarence Patton, NCAVP's Acting Executive Director. "Latinos now comprise almost 20% of all victims of anti-LGBT violence; and shows like these are feeding that growing cycle of hatred and violence."

Members of the coalition participating in the Call to Action include: Amigas Latinas, Chicago, Illinois; Amigos de Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales y Transgéneros), New York; Arcoiris Latino de Cristo, New York; Bienestar Human Services, Southern California; Central American Resources Center (CARECEN), Los Angeles; Colombian Lesbian and Gay Association (COLEGA), New York; Entre Hermanos, Seattle, Washington; Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD); The Gay and Lesbian Dominican Empowerment Organization (G.A.L.D.E.), New York; GLOBO, Houston, Texas; Grupo Vida Media, Dallas, Texas; Homofrecuencia & Radio Arte 90.5FM- Chicago, Illinois; L.A. Gay & lesbian Center; Las Buenas Amigas, Nueva York; La Gente Unida, Inc., Denver, Colorado; Latino Gay Men of New York; The Latino Straight and Lesbian, Gay Alliance of Nevada (SALGA), Mano a Mano, Nueva York; The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP); National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, New York; NYC LATINO PFLAG (Padres, Madres, Familiares y Amigos de Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales y Transgéneros), New York; PFLAG NYC (Parents, Family, Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons), New York; Proyecto ContraSIDA Por Vida, San Francisco, California; Primer Movimiento Peruano LGBT en NYC; Puerto Rico Rainbow Foundation, Inc., San Juan, Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico Para Tod@s, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Quisgleya - Dominican Gay & Lesbian Association, New York; "Sin Fronteras," GLBT Latino radio KNON 89.3 FM, Dallas, Texas; The Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities; Soluciones Visuales, New York; Somos Latino/as LGBT Coalition of Massachusetts; Las Vegas, Nevada; The Wall-Las Memorias Project, Los Angeles, California; Unity Coalition, Miami, Florida; Venezuela& American Lesbian and Gay Organization (VALGO), New York; and Valiente - Dallas/Ft.Worth LGBT Latin@ Alliance - Dallas, Texas; The Wall-Las Memorias Project, Los Angeles, California.

To read Chevrolet's letter explaining the removal of their ads, visit here

To read Bienestar Human Services' letter condemning these shows, visit here

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