here! takes a stand against GLAAD...

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation will hold it's annual awards ceremony in Hollywood next month honoring mainstream media that portrays the LGBT community in a positive and realistic light. But it is becoming a sore spot among here! Networks that its gay and lesbian programming is not eligible.
In a letter sent yesterday to GLAAD President Neil Giuliano, here! Networks did not mince words in letting their feelings about being excluded known. They say they "completely disagree" with GLAAD's decision to continue the focus of the Media Awards on mainstream media last year after this same issue was raised by the folks at (MTV's LGBT network) Logo.
"Media has changed dramatically over the years because of the blood, sweat, and tears of brave LGBT activists, yet GLAAD has not adjusted its policies and strategies to account for this as it relates to the high profile Media Awards," wrote Stephen F. Macias, senior vice president, corporate and marketing communications of here! Networks. "In the absence of strategic change from GLAAD, the organization’s largest event is on the verge of becoming irrelevant and the millions of dollars raised wasted when LGBT Americans need strong leadership more than ever."
Guiliano (pictured) maintains that the decision is consistent with their primary mission which "is to advocate for fair, accurate, and inclusive LGBT stories in mainstream media.  We want mainstream media outlets to include us in their stories and programming – and to do it well.  The GLAAD Media Awards program is designed to help GLAAD achieve that mission, and is the logical extension of – and in many ways the culmination of – our work with media outlets throughout the year.”
 Counters Macias: "Is GLAAD defining mainstream as only “Straight” outlets? Your Media Awards logic suggests that. It is a defining moment when a LGBT civil rights organization equates mainstream and straight as synonymous implying that fringe and LGBT are also synonymous. GLAAD should either change in its mission statement to clearly state that it is only promoting straight/mainstream media programming or discontinue the exclusion of gay media from submitting work for a GLAAD Media Award."
He adds that "gay networks are raising the bar around what mainstream media should consider fair, accurate, and inclusive work. No longer is the LGBT community beholden to “mainstream” media as the only place where we might catch a glimpse of ourselves. We salute those outlets that in the past have included our community in their programming, and now LGBT media joins them in expanding our stories."
Here! is playing hardball with more than just words. They said they will no longer be supporting GLAAD or its awards as a major sponsor"until this policy is changed to be fair and inclusive."