Rev. David Weekley Featured on CBS News “The Early Show”

from glaadBLOG.org by Anna Wipfler, GLAAD's Transgender Advocacy Fellow

Last month GLAAD provided media assistance to Rev. David Weekley when he came out publicly as a transgender man in a sermon to his United Methodist congregation in Portland, Oregon on August 30.  Media coverage of Rev. Weekley’s courageous coming out story caught the attention of producers at CBS News “The Early Show” and GLAAD worked with Rev. Weekley and his wife, Deborah to prepare for the interview.
We applaud CBS for their coverage, while also acknowledging that parts of the interview misrepresented Rev. Weekley’s story and contained improper terminology.   The interviewer grabbed audience attention by emphasizing Weekley’s identity as a long-held “secret,” but Rev. Weekley responded that he did not see it as a secret but a personal matter.  He explained that he is telling his story as part of his ministry to support better understanding of the transgender community.   GLAAD worked with CBS producers to remove the word “admits” from their web-site headline and will continue to work with them to improve the accuracy of their future reporting on transgender issues.  For complete interview.

Watch CBS News Videos Online
GLAAD will also assist Rev. Weekley with future media appearances. He was previously featured on ABC News.com and KATU in Portland, Oregon. We will keep you informed of any new developments.

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In the Life Presents: “Living On the Margins”

from glaadBLOG.org by Jonathan Rosales, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Manager

Throughout October, In the Life will be airing its latest installment, “Living On the Margins,” on PBS affiliates nationwide. “Living On the Margins” shines a light on the LGBT people who have remained largely invisible, even as the LGBT community has become more visible than ever.


From the press release:

This month, we look at how LGBT people living on the economic margins of our society are organizing themselves to find housing, improve their professional skills, and obtain employment and health care.

The Unseen Gays: Struggling on the Margins
At a time when nearly every corner of the country is suffering from market downturns and high unemployment rates, many in the LGBT community are especially hard hit. In our lead segment, we look at how racial, economic and gender-based discrimination result in disproportionate rates of poverty, unemployment and homelessness among the most marginalized members of our community.

A CONVERSATION WITH…
Stonewall Community Foundation Director Thai Pham, and FIERCE Executive Director Rickke Mananzala discuss the renewed commitment to philanthropy many LGBT people are making, economic activism and the synergy of their organizations.

Habitat’s First LGBT Unity Build
For many LGBT people, the recent economic crisis reinvigorated the spirit of volunteerism. At Habitat for Humanity’s first LGBT Unity Build Day, we speak with the community members who came out in support of affordable housing while raising visibility for the movement.

Check your local listings to see when “Living On the Margins” will be airing near you, or visit In the Life’s official website for download/streaming video.