Conservatives,
Athletes Top GLAAD's "Worst of 2007" List

Ann Coulter, Isaiah Washington, and Snickers are all on the list for the worst antigay offenders of 2007. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation issued its roster of the eight most offensive, including right-wing pundits and media outlets.

Former Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington appeared first in the chronological list after using a gay slur during a Golden Globes interview. Next was Snickers, for promoting antigay sentiment with a Super Bowl ad campaign that depicted two men kissing accompanied by a video of NFL players viewing the spot with disgust.

Basketball player Tim Hardaway also made the list, after saying he hates gay people on a radio show after a former colleague, John Amaechi, announced that he is gay. Pundits Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, and Rush Limbaugh also appear for using homophobic and transphobic slurs.

Joint Chiefs of Staff chair Gen. Peter Pace said in the Chicago Tribune that gay and lesbian soldiers are "immoral" when talking about the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Finally, the New York Post used dehumanizing references to transgender people in October, once for referring to a reality show contestant as a "she-male" and another for referring to a transgender woman as a "he/she."

GLAAD president Neil G. Giuliano said in a statement Friday that the upcoming year will provide "heightened challenges."

"Too often our lives are used as political fodder in election years and told with sensational distortion so as to distract from substantive issues of policy that affect every American," he continued. "With the stakes higher than ever, GLAAD will be there to ensure that media are responsible for those persons and ideas to whom they give their public platform. Through collaboration with sister organizations, allies, and responsible media, LGBT representation can be more fair, accurate, and inclusive in 2008." (The Advocate)