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How Does Media Say 'Gay' in Español? Often, Unsuitably
Univision lands in court, Liberman program airs questionable gay show. GLAAD is watching
May 01, 2005
By Cara Marcano
When it comes to Spanish-language media's portrayal of gays and lesbians, a wealth of dirty words abound, says Monica Taher, director of the Los Angeles-based Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
"In the Spanish-language media world, [derogatory] words like mariquitas, puñal, joto, maricón, marimacha [lesbian], rarito, puto are not only common but permissible," Taher says. "We recommend [even for Spanish-language media professionals] the usage of the word 'gay' because it has transcended borders and because the word homosexual still has a negative psychological connotation."
Choosing proper words is just the tip of the iceberg. Spanish-language media has the right to free speech, and profit, but there's also a need to rectify the pervasive use of offensive words in Hispanic mass media, Taher says.
A few skittish corporate advertisers pulling ads, relatively small indecency fines imposed by the Federal Communications Commission and personal lawsuits filed already are fueling some changes.
Last year, Raul Brindis, star of the early morning El Show de Raul Brindis y Pepito on Univision's Houston-based radio station KLTN Estereo Latino 102.9 FM, played a prank on Roberto Hernandez, a then-sales rep for a an affiliate radio station in San Francisco. Hernandez's Univision colleagues had given his personal mobile phone number to Brindis, knowing that he was gay. Brindis then called Hernandez on the air, pretending to be a gay man he had met in a bar and had gotten his number from a friend.
At the time, Hernandez had no idea that the show was being aired nationwide. Family members turned their back on him after they found out he was outed, and he was unable to continue working, in part because of the embarrassment caused to him by the incident, he has said in legal proceedings. The FCC fined Univision Radio $28,000, and Hernandez took the case to court. He is awaiting a settlement pending arbitration.
On the television front, Liberman Broadcasting's El Show de María Laria is also complicitous, says Taher. "Audience members are allowed to get up from their seat and beat up gay and lesbian panelists," she says. "Many panelists have ended up in the hospital with broken noses and have come to us to report these incidents."
The offensive content has not been lost on some advertisers, who have since taken some active steps. KFC Restaurants, Chevrolet and Nissan have withdrawn ads because of the show's controversial programs.
Last year, Univision television talk show Casos de Familia aired a program on how to "cure" gays through religion. The hostess, Judith Grace, focused her commentary on homosexuality as an illness that can be cured. Both Pizza Hut and Glade pulled their commercials from the program, under pressure from GLAAD and other gay rights groups.
Not everyone is scraping the bottom of the barrel. GLAAD has held up as examples Telemundo and People en Español magazine for their coverage of gay Latinos. The WB's drama One Tree Hill also has been cited by the organization for its "smart, inclusive portrayal of a bisexual Latina character facing anti-gay prejudice and coming out to her family." The teen show has followed the story of Anna (Daniella Alonso) as she dates Lucas (Chad Michael Murray). But she eventually shares with him that she also likes girls.
Other media companies now are being proactive. For instance, Televisa, the Mexican-owned media giant that provides a large portion of programming to Univision, last month began holding sensitivity training sessions with its news reporters and producers to prevent the portrayal of inappropriate stereotypes, the company said.
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