Several recent U.S. Spanish-language television shows, such as Univision’s “El Gordo y La Flaca” and Telemundo’s “Decisiones,” and publications such as “People en Español” and “TV Notas,” have shown strong improvement recently in their depictions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) characters, according to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
Historically and culturally, GLAAD says, LGBT people and issues have been stereotyped and sensationalized in Spanish-language entertainment shows -- including “novelas" (soap operas), the most watched television genre in Spanish-speaking households.
"There has been an incredible advance in regards to content and quality of in-depth stories that U.S.-based TV networks such as Univision, Azteca América and Telemundo have made," said Mónica Taher, People of Color Media Director for GLAAD.
Univision recently aired a segment from “El Show de Cristina” in which the hostess, Cristina Saralegui, quickly corrected a panelist who claimed that all gays were “promiscuous”. Cristina, who was awarded GLAAD's Premio Valentía this September, has produced several LGBT-related shows and has educated Latino audiences throughout the entire continent on gender and sexual orientation issues.
In addition, Univision aired an exclusive interview with Cachita, a transsexual who serves as a hostess on the “El Gordo y La Flaca” daytime TV show. Cachita recently underwent sex reassignment surgery. Both of the show’s hosts, Raúl de Molina and Lily Estefan, asked key questions and treated the subject respectfully. To watch the interview, click here: http://www.glaad.org/poc/latina/spanish_lgbt.php
Telemundo, the second largest television network in the U.S., is producing its own novelas and has also developed a series of LGBT characters and storylines in this genre. Currently Telemundo airs “Señora del Destino” (a TV Globo produced novela that features two gay men and a lesbian couple) and “La Tormenta,” a novela in which a character will soon come out. In addition, Telemundo’s nightly entertainment show, “Decisiones,” often presents storylines and situations dealing with LGBT issues.
Currently, “TV Notas,” a celebrity focused entertainment publication has produced a series of in-depth LGBT stories that use appropriate terminology. “TV Notas” was the first publication in the U.S. to report on Cachita’s sex reassignment surgery.
“People en Español” has also been a pioneer in addressing LGBT issues in Spanish-language entertainment. The publication features openly gay Latino Jai Rodríguez of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” answering letters from readers.
“The challenge remains that 70 percent of the programming that Latina/os watch in the U.S. comes from Latin American media giants such as Televisa,” said Taher. “It is obvious that there is still a lot of work to be done with comedy shows such as ‘La Hora Pico,’ ‘La Parodia,’ ‘No Manches’ and others that mock and humiliate LGBT characters.”
GLAAD, in conjunction with Comité Orgullo México (COMAC), conducted a groundbreaking meeting with Televisa executives in April 2005. This marked the first time that gay and lesbian activists negotiated fair, accurate and inclusive coverage of LGBT issues with the world’s largest Spanish-language media content producer. GLAAD and COMAC groups are scheduled to media train Televisa’s entertainment and news producers.
Launched in April 2003, GLAAD's People of Color Media Program focuses on transforming the way mainstream and people of color media (including Spanish-language media) cover lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) African American/Afro-Carribean, Latino and Asian Pacific Islander communities and civil rights work. Through advocacy, education and strategic alliance-building, GLAAD is presiding over groundbreaking advances in media coverage and understanding of LGBT lives.
from Gay Alliance
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