GLAAD RELEASES URGENT NEW RESOURCES FOR ACCURATE AND INCLUSIVE NEWS COVERAGE OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE

RESOURCES INCLUDE GLAAD’S SOUTHERN STORYBANK, A SERIES OF VIDEO PORTRAITS FEATURING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AS WELL AS PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV ACROSS THE U.S. SOUTH

GLAAD: “It is more urgent than ever for national and local media to report accurate and inclusive stories about LGBTQ people, especially as transgender people and people living with HIV are nearly invisible in local news coverage across the South,” said GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis. “The LGBTQ community is under unprecedented legislative assault by extremist politicians and biased media. Stories in all media must reflect the truth about LGBTQ people, that we are neighbors, spouses, parents, colleagues, and family, who want to be seen, understood and accepted for who we are. News media can use these videos and resources to expand and improve their storytelling, and represent all they serve in their communities.”

(March 30, 2023 – New York, NY) – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announces the release of urgently-needed new resources for media to cover transgender people and youth accurately and inclusively, leading into International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31st.

Among the resources is the new GLAAD Southern Storybank, featuring video portraits of transgender Southerners and people living with HIV, describing their daily lives and lifelong journeys in their own words. The U.S. South is home to the highest percentage of LGBTQ people and new HIV diagnoses. 93% of LGBTQ Southerners live in states without statewide protections from discrimination, and as state legislatures propose a record number of bills targeting essential healthcare and banning books, free speech and expression, and access to school sports and public spaces. The Storybank project was co-directed by award-winning trans director and producer Daniella Carter, made possible by the Gilead COMPASS Initiative®.

VIEW/EMBED Southern Storybank profiles here.
GLAAD is also launching an action page for LGBTQ Americans and allies to contact their local elected officials to speak up for LGBTQ people and against baseless legislation.

“It is more urgent than ever for national and local media to report accurate and inclusive stories about LGBTQ people, especially at a time when transgender people and people living with HIV are nearly invisible in local news coverage across the South,” said GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis. “The LGBTQ community is under unprecedented legislative assault by extremist politicians and biased media. Stories in all media must reflect the truth about LGBTQ people’s lives, that we are neighbors, spouses, parents, colleagues, and family, who want to be seen, understood and accepted for who we are. News media can use these videos and resources to expand and improve their storytelling, and represent all they serve in their communities.”

“Although legislators may have never met someone transgender, the fact that they are actively discriminating against their own constituents and community members is confounding. Transgender people are an integral part of families, schools, workplaces, and places of faith. While trans people will continue to live their lives and contribute to society as themselves, these legislative attacks create more unsafe and dangerous conditions for everyone,” said Alex Schmider, GLAAD Director of Transgender Representation. “The imperative to show and share authentic stories about trans people, especially those living in the U.S. South, should remind everyone of our humanity, existence, and right to dignity, respect, and equality.”

The first profiles in the GLAAD Southern Storybank include:

• Quentin Bell, Executive Director of The Knights & Orchids Society in Selma, AL, a  TIME100 Next list honoree applying the lessons of Civil Rights history in his hometown to the current fight for LGBTQ equality and transgender liberation.
  “Discrimination and harassment against people because of their transgender experience is a civil rights issue, the civil rights movement that Dr. King led through Selma.” – Quentin Bell
   
• Dee Dee Watters, Activist, Death Doula and Publisher of TransGriot in Houston, an inspirational speaker, storyteller and role model for all who want to live in their truth.
  “Trans rights are human rights.” – Dee Dee Watters
   
• Jasmine Davis, Community Health Organizer in New Orleans, who draws on her experience as a performer to build trust, community and wellness.
  “It’s important to allow a piece of you to be revealed to whomever you’re helping, because you never know when your life experience may be able to help them out.” – Jasmine Davis
   
• Carter Brown, Executive Director, National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition in Dallas, advocate, husband, and father.
  “I believe the greatest obstacle in educating the general public about trans identity is just getting them to see the basic humanity of it all… so they can be a better neighbor, a better employer or customer service representative. They’re going to encounter a trans person and it’s nothing less than right for them to treat them as an equal human being.” – Carter Brown
   
• Quinton Reynolds, Founder and Executive Director of Game-Changing Men in Atlanta, GA, a grantee of the Gilead COMPASS Initiative® opening dialogue about masculinity, safety and wellness for all men, including trans men and communities of color:
  “My role is to be a brother, a husband, to advocate for people, to mentor and coach people. I try to be that voice for them.”- Quinton Reynolds
   
• Cedric Sturdevant, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Community Health Pier of Greenville, MS, advocating faith leaders and others to erase HIV stigma in communities across the South.
  “People are afraid to talk about their [HIV] status. You still have the stigma around it. Leaders of the church, their role is important to eliminate stigma around HIV and the LGBTQ community.” – Cedric Sturdevant

Additional trans voices, resources for reporters and story ideas for Transgender Day of Visibility and beyond:

• Jeopardy! champion Amy Schneider in conversation with GLAAD Senior Consultant Scott Turner Scofield Friday, March 31st at 2pET/11a PT on GLAAD’s Instagram

• Fact Sheet: Reporter Guide to Covering Transgender People, Topics and Legislation
   
• GLAAD Guide to Covering LGBTQ Legislation including a checklist for journalists to review when covering bills and lawmakers proposing them
   
• GLAAD Where We Are on TV Report: this year GLAAD’s annual count of LGBTQ representation in scripted television shows 32 transgender characters in 2022, including 16 trans women, 11 trans men and five trans nonbinary characters.
   
• IG Live with GLAAD Board Member, influencer and content creator Samantha Lux, and HIV trans advocate and COMPASS Initiative® grantee Arianna Lint from Arianna’s Center in South Florida, Friday, March 31st, 4p ET, GLAAD’s Instagram
   
• Lawmaker Contact Action Page: GLAAD’s new one-stop page for LGBTQ people and allies to contact their governor, senators and state representatives and use their voices to protect LGBTQ Americans
   
• GLAAD can connect journalists with transgender people in Tennessee to describe the impact of lawmakers passing legislation limiting essential healthcare and banning drag performances – laws effective April 1, 2023
   
• Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) Resource Page for media covering TDOV, a global celebration and elevation of transgender people and the challenges they face
   
• GLAAD Media Reference Guide: 23-sections of information on LGBTQ topics and terminology created in coalition with subject area experts
   
• GLAAD Guía de términos y definiciones para los medios
   
• Changemakers: GLAAD-produced award-winning video series spotlighting the bold founders and CEOs of Black LGBTQ business owners. Season 2 focused on Black trans and nonbinary-owned businesses reshaping their communities and disrupting their industries. Season 1 focused on Black LGBTQ small business owners’ impact within their local communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
  VIEW/EMBED the Changemakers videos here: Season 2 and Season 1.