Back in 1985, a group of concerned activists came together to protest the sensationalistic and defamatory headlines gracing the covers of the New York Post, headlines that stigmatized HIV-positive gay men and perpetuated misconceptions and fears about HIV and AIDS.
Over 20 years later, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation -- GLAAD -- has a greater reach and impact than ever before. We're fortunate that the media landscape has changed -- and more and more, the kind of outrageous, defamatory coverage that led to GLAAD's formation is increasingly the exception rather than the rule.
At GLAAD, we work with journalists to help them get it right when talking about issues affecting the LGBT community, and support local LGBT organizations across the country with their media outreach and communications efforts. Through our work, we help members of our community get their stories told to make our lives -- and our issues -- real.
Things have changed quite a bit when it comes to media coverage of HIV and AIDS since we first responded to those offensive stories in the New York Post, but there's still a lack of representation in mainstream media coverage of the impact of HIV and AIDS on real people, especially the stories of communities that are often the most affected.
The recent 17th Annual International AIDS Conference in Mexico drew a fair amount of media coverage, especially in response to new statistics released by the CDC about rates of infection in the U.S. The numbers highlight how both improved testing methods and statistical analysis have shed light on the underreporting of new infections for the past 12 years (they've been off by nearly 40%, in fact), and how these new testing methods have given us a much clearer picture of patterns of infection domestically.
The stories that came out were good from an epidemiological and public health perspective - we got the data, the recommendations and some expert commentary that put it in context. Some articles dug further, into how destructive and persisting anti-gay sentiment and the current cultural landscape have contributed to increased rates of infection, especially among gay and bisexual men, and especially in communities of color.
But something was missing. We needed more stories of real people that could have made these numbers into something more tangible and concrete. Our work shows us time and time again that it's personal stories that make an issue real, and the inclusion of these stories in mainstream media coverage can chip away at the stigma and culturally ingrained homophobia that hinders education and prevention efforts worldwide.
Some articles looked into social and cultural factors, and a few told compelling stories that helped draw connections between the big picture and what's going on in local communities. But it's not enough, especially when the communities in question are often underserved and underrepresented by mainstream media. And when they are, they're too often sensationalized.
It's up to media outlets to put the numbers in context, and to do follow up on these types of stories that really look at the people and the communities that are affected by HIV and AIDS. While we commend the journalists and media outlets for getting the data and the expert opinions out there, stopping with the numbers leaves us with an incomplete picture.
It's the faces, the voices and the stories that can move the issue past data and policy to something real and concrete, something that can move public opinion and help to demystify the issues and break down misconceptions to motivate real change.