It is not surprising to me nor many other community activists this news today of the forced resignation of Mr Jarrett Barrios, president of GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). One would have thought it would have been sooner. Perhaps immediately after sending out letters against Net Neutrality but I suppose his fierce advocacy of the merger between AT & T and T Mobile plus the company’s large donations to the association was the final straw. I have never been a fan of pop-culture celebrity status being thrust upon community activists who gleely accept it and the perks that go along with it for this very reason – it leads to over inflated egos and temptations towards corruption. GLAAD panders to celebrities and big business without whom the association could not exist. I understand its works and deeds but firmly believe that defending or fighting against gay stereotypes in the media and advancing gay issues SHOULD NOT INVOLVE hosting an elaborate annual dinner with invitees from the entertainment community. A dinner I might add that is attended by mostly closeted actors and journalists, not average folks like me or you – too expensive for starters. But that is another issue.
When I see these guys attending awards ceremonies and rubbing elbows with the rich and famous dressed in their finest and of course accompanied by a nice slab of beef undertow, I think to myself is this what Stonewall was about?
The constant jocking for media attention, political in-fighting (and now Obama bashing--- I support the president 100% ) going on between the various GLBT camps leads me to believe that another out of touch self-absorbed community organization is the last thing we ought support. They do not represent you nor me but the mainstream media says they do. Enough!
News organizations don’t often feature negative reporting on the GLBT personality’s questionable antics for fear of being labeled homophobes. The gay community itself does not have a desire to discuss internal 'family" problems nor its inadequate responses to issues facing the GLBT. Honestly we all know for some of these association leaders it is all about the next A-list soiree or their latest conquests. They know nothing or have forgotten what it is to be about being foot soldiers within communities.
This reminds me of a an association with another GLADD official whom I admired until it became evident that he did not care about anything other than making money – via adventures.
No sweetie darling this ain't my first time around the rodeo feel free to flam away after reading.
Shallow thy name be GLBT. This writer is also guilty of promoting and contributing to a superficial environment; after all I am an artist with several books catering to homo-erotism. That being said I take my responsibility as a citizen of the United States seriously and have a record that exceeds three decades of community service and participation. Ten years also the civic duty began to include my responsibility also to the GLBT.
I had a professional relationship with Neil Giuliano many years ago prior to him becoming president of GLADD. At that time we both lived in Arizona. Neil was the young handsome and ambitious openly homosexual Mayor of Tempe, Arizona. The city was located in the East Valley city and is home to Arizona State University and when school is in session plumps the population by 50,000 inhabitants. At the time I worked for the very popular and highly rated KTVK TV3 a CNN affiliate -- I also moonlighted as the Publicist for BOOM night Club owned by family friends. It was the local hot spot and of course Neil attend a few of my after-hours soirees for VIP clientele . Those gathering often were filled with closeted Television news staffers from all five local networks including FOX 15. Each time we received a presser for an activity the mayor was advocating of course I pushed it at the news meetings. I cannot even estimate how many LIVE news events which I personally field produced but I can say that Neil would pop in and say hello after each LIVE news cast from his initiatives.
One decade ago I resigned my position with the television station and relocated to France than Italy and finally Switzerland. I worked actively on human and gay rights and also published several art books hoping to fund my efforts in equality. My focus and concentration at the time was upon the emerging populations of former Soviet republics in Eastern and Central Europe. Many of these countries would be soon joining the European Union. Of particular interest to me was Poland’s GLBT suffrage which had been brought to my attention by an allegedly disgraced activist.
In the year 2006 I temporarily left my home in Switzerland to venture into Poland’s GLBT struggle with the then ultra conservative right wing government. After a while it became obvious to me that something was amiss about several of the non-profits and their leadership. As I investigated the issues I discovered and disclosed evidence to support my suspicions. I wrote countless letters to GLBT activist throughout Europe and the United States. I also wrote the New York Times and other liberal news organizations. No assistance was forthcoming in exposing something which I had proven. The majority of replies I received from other activists were dismissive and or catty and bitchy. None wanted to delve into the internal fights between the GLBT camps in Poland. As time passed and after exhausted many months which became years and resources I started to become disillusioned with the GLBT apparatus in Europe and stateside. Seeking the truth about issues was not their objective – it appears to me that their primary focus was upon demonizing and exposing alleged homophobes and not taking care of business at home.
About this time I reached out to GLAAD’s president at the time Neil Giuliano an old acquaintance seeking desperately to expose what I firmly believed to be an injustice not only to Poland’s GLBT communities but also its friends. We each have a stake in every community because if one is suppressed we all are – that is my belief.
Below are sample communiqués between Neil and myself which you the reader may arrive at your individual conclusions. This is only one incident of contact reaching out foe assistance and receiving nothing, I have many which I could share in my next book. The Gay community needs to take a hard look at itself and realize that just because an individual is homosexual when they do something wrong they are criminal and do not receive an exemption.
The GLBT is not monolith and for some of them this struggle for equality is for sale, profit and self-enrichment only.
Lee writes to Neil about forming a support association similar to GLAAD in Europe.
On 8/15/08 9:50 PM, "Lee" wrote:
Hello Neil,
I am writing you from Poland a far cry from my days at Boom in Phoenix or the ASU campus.
It is my sincerest hope that everything is going great in your life since we last saw each other in Arizona.
I have a question which you can refer me to the appropriate person on your staff to answer if you wish.
My LGBT friends in Poland would like to establish an association similar to GLAAD in Europe.
My question is does your association have charters/affiliates here in Europe? If you do who do we contact and see about creating or emulating the great work and missions that your group undertakes and desperately needs such an association with similar mission in at least, as far as I know, Eastern Europe.
We’re interested in establishing an association based upon some of your organizations core principles.
I really would like your personal thoughts on this.
Sincerely,
Lee
Neil replied:
From: Neil Giuliano [mailto:giuliano@glaad.org]
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 7:18 PM
To: Lee
Subject: Re: Hello from Europe
Hi Lee---
Thanks for your note and sorry for the long delay. Your note first went into my spam folder, and there it sat for a long time—I have about 1000 messages in there and am slowly catching up.
GLAAD dos not have affiliates in Europe at all, but I can sure see the need for such media advocacy and anti-defamation work over there.
Our website has a lot of information about what we do for the LGBT community in the US. The Snapshots of our work on the home page identify a lot of the programmatic activity we take on each and every day.
Would be happy to speak sometime, or if you ever come to NYC, we can coordinate and have you come by our NYC office. Just let me know.
Happy to help any way I can---
All best~~~
Neil
Lee writes to Neil about Poland and seeks help getting the matter exposes to world media.
On 6/6/09 5:04 PM, "Lee" wrote:
Dear Neil,
I write this letter with great expectations and hope. I realize that tings are winding down for you as you prepare to leave GLAAD however
I find myself appealing to you because as activists for human rights and equality our work truly never ends.
Please read this and share your thoughts. The most important documents are the final 4 pages. Poland vs. Equality Foundation
http://www.scribd.com/...
Monday I’ll be faxing the US State Department and White House. Ironically, one month after writing President Obama, after a one year waiting for the Polish government to act it has finally agreed with these assertions – which I advanced.
Now, I seek strong voices; press to expose theses unscrupulous “alleged” gay activists.
I do not ask anyone to agree with my assertions just like with the government I ask for rational reasoning examination of the evidence_ There is no doubt that whomever reads the documents which are archived in court that they top will conclude with the government and me.
It is my hope to hear from you regarding this and your suggestions _ silence and communist style intimidation has been the culprits cover for far too long.
Millions of thanks,
Lee
Neil replied
From: Neil Giuliano [mailto:giuliano@glaad.org]
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 8:14 PM
To: Lee
Subject: Re: Hello Neil
Thanks Lee--- I will be out of the loop for a while and on the road.
Have you sent this to International Gay & lesbian Human Rights Commission?
http://www.iglhrc.org/...
Today is my last day at GLAAD and since we don’t have an International division, someone at IGLHRC should probably know about this.
Hope all is well for you---
Neil
The fine point of it is that the real people who work hard and live decent lives working about their jobs and existence who are GLBT place their security as the first priority over flashy substances.
As you can see from my previous posts here, here, and here I have been working diligently on protecting human and GLBT rights where it matters - in other communities where they truly have problems.