Gossip magazine under fire for giving away homophobic joke book

An Italian gossip magazine, has come under fire for attaching a book with homophobic jokes to its latest edition (Aug 2014).

Since the edition of magazine Visto was released at the weekend, two petitions have been created on Change.org to demand its removal from shops.

Roberto Alessi, the magazine’s editor, claimed to have had no prior knowledge of the book’s contents.

La Stampa reports that Alessi said: “It’s disgusting, it has nothing to do with editorial staff.”

Andrea Maccarrone, president of the gay cultural organisation Mario Mieli, said in a statement: “We welcome the apologies made yesterday by the editor Roberto Alessi but we find it rather strange that the person in charge of a weekly publication can claim to be completely unaware of what was attached to a publication that he edits.”

She also said that the decision to include the homophobic joke book was in “terrible taste and offensive to all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who suffer harassment, violence and discrimination.
“The book perpetuates prejudices and stereotypes that take Italy back to a time when gays and lesbians were forced to hide or were subjected to violence and mockery, casting dangerous messages, especially for young people in a country that is still struggling to develop a national strategy for the fight against homophobia and transphobia.”

Federico Silvestri, the general manager of Visto’s publisher PRS, did not apologise for the inclusion of the book, stressing that the book was part of a series which included sexist and anti-Semitic jokes.

He said: “I defend and lay claim to the decision to attach joke books on various subjects in Visto, which include those on gay people, which is no longer a taboo subject.

“It’s rather those who think the opposite who are discriminating. I am following the rise of this completely bogus and misplaced controversy with great surprise.”

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga took time to thank Lesbian Fan

Lady Gaga took time out of her Vancouver show this week to read a letter given to her by a lesbian fan.

The fan, who was in the audience, wrote: “You truly helped me become a better person and you made coming out so much easier. I never would’ve done it if it wasn’t for you.

“I also wanted to thank you for always teaching me to be myself. I now know who the fuck I am and feel like I can do anything.”

Lady Gaga then invited the fan to meet her after the show.

 




Matthew Moore

Man sues doctor over diagnoses of chronic homosexuality

A man is suing a doctor, after he was diagnosed with the “chronic condition” of homosexuality in a routine physical.

Los Angeles-based Michael Moore, 46, said he discovered the note on his medical records after he underwent a physical with Dr Elaine Jones of Torrance Health Association in April last year.

When he noticed the note, he confronted Dr Jones and asked her to remove it, but she defended her diagnosis, claiming the medical community goes “back and forth” on whether homosexuality is considered an illness.

Homosexuality was removed from the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in 1973.

Mr Moore claims he was at one point assured that the record had been deleted, to find out later that it was still present.

He said: “It was infuriating. It was painful.

“I gave them chance after chance and this time I’m not going to be silent. My silence would condone this activity.”

“I don’t want any gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual ever to hear from a doctor that their normal and healthy sexuality is anything other than that.”

Homer's Phobia Episode

Simpsons Season 8 – Homer’s Phobia

Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! I danced with a gay! Marge, Lisa, promise me you won’t tell anyone. Promise me!
―Homer Simpson, after discovering John‘s sexual orientation

“Homer’s Phobia” is the fifteenth episode of Season 8 which aired on February 16, 1997. The episode was written by Ron Hauge and directed by Mike B. Anderson. John Waters guest stars as John.

 

Read more about this episode at the Simpsons wiki page.