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Welcome to our bi-weekly newsletter communication about GLAAD’s programs and activities.

Through a new TV ad, online videos, and resources for journalists, GLAAD has been amplifying the truth about the Trump Administration’s anti-LGBTQ record and what’s at stake for LGBTQ people this November. As the Democratic and Republican national conventions came to a close, GLAAD served as a fact-checking source for journalists covering the LGBTQ records of the conventions’ speakers. GLAAD monitored the caucuses and urged viewers to check their registration at glaad.org/action. GLAAD also unveiled voting merchandise, which you can purchase here. The GLAAD Media Institute continues to hold election engagement trainings free to the public. The next one is September 10. Sign up here. 

Read on to learn more about GLAAD’s work.

Elections

GLAAD spotlights the Trump Administrations anti-LGBTQ record with ad spot and headline-driven video 

This week, GLAAD unveiled an ad during Fox News’ ‘Fox & Friends’ on President Trump’s opposition to the Equality Act. The ad, entitled “The Conversation,” debuted on the first day of the RNC, and depicts a gay man speaking with his mother, a Trump supporter, about how the Administration’s rebuke of the Equality Act has harmed LGBTQ Americans. Each line is backed by facts from GLAAD’s Trump Accountability Project. 

In addition to the ad, GLAAD released a new video featuring news coverage of the Trump Administration's anti-LGBTQ record. GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis also published an op-ed on Newsweek.com regarding the stakes for LGBTQ people: “Those who claim President Trump has led his party to "meaningful policy victories" for LGBTQ people have a distorted view of "victories." The administration has deployed multiple agencies to roll back protections for LGBTQ people where we need it most.”

Earlier in the week, Richard Grenell, the gay former ambassador to Germany and former acting Director of National Intelligence, released an LGBTQ campaign video that falsely asserted that President Trump is “the strongest ally that gay Americans have ever had in the White House.” The same day, Grenell was named a RNC Senior Adviser to help with LGBTQ outreach and he launched the ‘Pride for Trump’ site. Grenell’s video was retweeted by President Trump and the Washington Post’s Fact Checker thoroughly debunked it, claiming the claims were “absurd” and “whoppers.”

GLAAD deploys Covering 2020: The Issues report for journalists 

GLAAD released its guide for journalists on covering the 2020 election, identifying key issues of the LGBTQ community. For LGBTQ people and queer people of color, this is the most consequential election of our lifetime. The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout have disproportionately affected people of color and LGBTQ people of color. The long overdue reckoning on racial and social inequalities and police-related violence have further sharpened demands to be heard. In a year of unprecedented danger and more uncertainty ahead, all Americans, especially those at increased risk, are watching closely to see how national, state and local candidates meet the challenges facing all of us. The report provides key statistics regarding the LGBTQ community and how it pertains to the upcoming Presidential Election. It covers everything from discrimination that’s legal in the 26 states, the attack on transgender people and the unique challenges as a result of COVID-19. Click here to read more. 

 News and Rapid Response

Fact Sheet: GLAAD News and Rapid Response brings attention to Georgia GOP primary winner Marjorie Taylor Greene’s anti-LGBTQ record

Earlier this month, GLAAD and Georgia Equality, the state’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization, condemned GOP primary winner Marjorie Taylor Greene for racist and anti-LGBTQ views, as well as her embrace of dangerous conspiracies. Greene defeated John Cowan in the Republican primary runoff on Tuesday, after moving to the district following a previous failed run for Congress. Georgia Equality and the Southern Poverty Law Center have been tracking Greene’s anti-LGBTQ and racist history since she launched her political career in 2019, including spreading dangerous misinformation about gender identity and the trans community, claiming that Drag Queer Story Hour is “an attack on our children,” comparing Black Lives Matter activists to neo-Nazis, recording and posting Islamophobic videos, and more. Greene has also embraced the far-right beliefs of “QAnon,” the pro-Trump conspiracy theory movement identified by the FBI as a potential domestic terrorism threat. Read GLAAD and Georgia Equality’s full fact sheet on Greene’s dangerous record here.

 Transgender Media Representation

GLAAD works with XBox and DONTNOD for ‘Tell Me Why,’ which features the first playable transgender character in a video game

Earlier this week, Xbox Game Studios and DONTNOD released Chapter 1 of Tell Me Why, a new narrative video game from the creators of Life is Strange. The game's second chapter will be available September 3, and the final chapter will be available September 10. All chapters are available on Xbox One, Windows 10, and Steam.  For more background on GLAAD’s involvement with the game’s creation, check out our story from last November when Xbox announced the game at XO19 in London. Given the problematic history of trans representation in gaming, some fans were wary about how Tyler’s story would be portrayed. Nick Adams, GLAAD’s Director of Transgender Representation, worked alongside DONTNOD and Xbox Game Studios for over two years, from early in the game’s development to final finishing touches, to help bring Tyler to life. By collaborating on story, dialogue, character design, and voice casting, GLAAD and the game’s creators have taken care to ensure that Tyler is a compelling, multi-dimensional character, and his story avoids the harmful transgender stereotypes and tropes of the past.

Youth Engagement

GLAAD places GLAAD Campus Ambassador Sage Dolan-Sandrino’s article in ‘Complex’

This week, 20 Under 20 honoree and GLAAD Campus Ambassador Sage Dolan-Sandrino penned an article for Complex titled “As the Pandemic Continues, Black Transgender People Are More Vulnerable Than Ever.” In the piece, Dolan-Sandrino discusses the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Black community, isolation and safety for the trans community, and highlights the epidemic of violence facing Black trans women. Sage writes, “Like many, I’m scared right now. I’m scared to go to work and scared of what I might bring back home to my loved ones.” Read the full piece here. 

 Latinx Media and Representation 

GLAAD partners with Voto Latino to remember the 23 victims of the senseless El Paso shooting who lost their lives in the senseless attack on the Latinx community

Last week, GLAAD honored the first remembrance of the El Paso mass shooting, which took place on August 3, 2019. The senseless tragedy took the lives of 23 people who were targeted because they were Latinx. It is described as the deadliest attack on Latinx people in modern American history. GLAAD has worked with the organization Voto Latino to remember those murdered and to honor the strength and resilience of El Paso, as well continuing to empower Latinx folks. Voto Latino hosted a conversation called "Rise Above Hate" on its Facebook page, which focused the resilience of the Latinx community and what we need to do to stand up against hate. Monica Trasandes, GLAAD’s Director of Spanish-Language & Latinx Media & Representation, also released a statement on the day of remembrance: "One year ago, a man fueled by hate and prejudice killed 23 people, injured 23 more and left hundreds of family members and friends bereft. As a country, we have to do so much more to stop gun violence, often perpetrated by people acting on their prejudices. The people of El Paso were targeted because the gunman wanted to kill Latinx people. Gun violence, racism, anti-Latinx and anti-immigrant prejudice are screaming to be addressed in this country. Today, GLAAD mourns with you El Paso, and tomorrow we will work to make sure your pain is not forgotten and that your voices are heard everywhere, starting with the ballot box." As part of its call to action, GLAAD also encouraged its supporters to visit the GLAAD Action Center to learn more about how to register and get a ballot ahead of the election.

 Entertainment Media

GLAAD applauds LGBTQ-inclusive storytelling in Disney Channel's ‘The Owl House” as it reveals one of the lead characters is bisexual

Last week, Disney Channel revealed that its animated children’s series The Owl House now features the show’s first out LGBTQ character in the form of Amity, who, as demonstrated in the show and confirmed by her creator online, is bisexual. Megan Townsend, GLAAD’s Director of Entertainment Research & Analysis, consulted with Disney Channel on scripts for the show. GLAAD responded to the news on Twitter, writing: “We're excited about the LGBTQ-inclusive storytelling in Disney Channel's new animated series #TheOwlHouse, which is portraying an inclusive, fair, accurate, and age-appropriate world through the representation of its characters.” 

GLAAD highlights the lineup for Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival

This week, the official lineup was unveiled for the 2020 edition of the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, which will be hosted as a drive-in event from August 20-30. GLAAD recapped the lineup, which includes a diverse slate of high-profile films originally scheduled for festivals disrupted by COVID-19 earlier in the year. In this year’s lineup, more than 70% of films are directed by filmmakers who are female, trans, and people of color. GLAAD Media Institute and NEON staff will be involved with moderating panels and events around the screenings of Scott Turner Schofield's Becoming A Man In 127 Easy Steps, breakthrough Centerpiece film The Obituary of Tunde Johnson, LGBTQ media documentary Ahead of the Curve, and Brandon Stansell's documentary Three Chords And A Lie. Check out the full Outfest Los Angeles 2020 lineup here. 

 That’s allfor now. Keep up to date by following @GLAAD on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. See you next time!