MOVIES - Sept. 26, 1990

Films Accused of Bigotry: Nine current and future movies are accused of bigotry in their portrayals of gay and lesbian characters in a full-page ad in Tuesday’s edition of Daily Variety. A media watchdog group, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, singled out “Darkman,” “Wild at Heart,” “Men at Work,” “Q & A,” “House Party” and “Bird on a Wire,” as well as the upcoming “Basic Instinct,” “Miller’s Crossing” and “Ticking Man,” for offensive characters and language. It said the films portray gays and lesbians as “victims, or murderers and twisted villains . . . (who) are verbally abused . . . .” “We want to make the industry think twice” before using stereotypes, said Richard Jennings, GLAAD’s executive director. He said GLAAD will place an ad in the Hollywood Reporter next week about what it considers anti-gay abuses on TV.