GLAAD gives Univision crash course in gay sensitivity

Prompted by the outcry that surrounded an episode of a popular television show in which gays were being "cured" by religion, Spanish-language television giant Univision has agreed to participate in a day-long sensitivity training session in Los Angeles in September. The workshop, put together by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, is designed to improve the way the network portrays gays and lesbians. The attendees will then deliver the training to Univision's affiliates throughout the country. The training was prompted by a March 25 episode of the Casos de Familia talk show that had an "ex-gay" theme. The episode caused considerable anger and controversy in the gay community, and Pizza Hut asked that its commercials no longer air during the show. The main focus of the training will be to halt the use of derogatory words commonly used by Univision to describe gays and lesbians. GLAAD has been upset for some time over the way Spanish-language TV frequently portrays gays and lesbians and is enthusiastic about the upcoming training. Monica Taher, the people-of-color media director for GLAAD, told The Miami Herald, "We're actually very, very excited. This is definitely the start of a long-standing relationship."