Lgb En Espanol

"When indecency happens [in Spanish-language radio] it is very homophobic and very sexist," says Lisbeth Melendez, a sociologist and convener of the National Latino Coalition for Justice, based in Washington, D.C.

In Los Angeles, Liberman Broadcasting's regional Mexican outlet KBUE airs "Los Guapos De La Mañana" weekday mornings from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. The show veers from deeply socially conscious to irreverent. A supposedly gay character, for example, is called Ano Bárbaro (Awesome Anus), a play on the name of popular norteña singer Ana Bárbara.

"We're actually appalled with this character," says Monica Táher, a media director for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

"We see a difference between the way Spanish and mainstream media refer to gays and lesbians," she says. "I'm not saying Latinos or Spanish-language media are more homophobic. What I'm saying is there is a tremendous lack of information on gay and lesbian issues in [Spanish] media."

In addition, Táher says, most morning DJs come from Latin American countries, where making fun of gays and lesbians on the air is commonplace.

Melendez adds, "If you don't know anything different, you're not hearing anything different."

Táher is crusading to change attitudes.

For example, GLAAD is educating Univision Radio staff at stations in the top 10 Hispanic markets. The training teaches how to cover gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues in a fair, accurate way.

"It's OK to have a gay character on the radio, especially on the morning shows," Táher says. "But there is a big difference between humiliating the character—as we Latinos have traditionally seen—and making the character a part of the cast." ••••