August 12, 2016: Fight Over Fracking. New Faces of Hunger in NYC. LGBT Fair Play.

TONIGHT ON METROFOCUS, THE FIGHT OVER FRACKING.

A NEW DOCUMENTARY AIMS TO EXPOSE THE ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS OF FOSSIL FUELS, BUT ARE THE ANTI-FRACKERS RIGHT?

WE'LL SHOW YOU.

> FROM THE WORKING POOR TO THE STRUGGLING MIDDLE CLASS, MEET THE NEW FACES OF HUNGER HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT.

> AND LGBT ATHLETES IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

FIND OUT HOW PLAYERS ARE CLAIMING THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

ALL THAT AND MORE AS 'METROFOCUS' STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪ ♪

Announcer: THIS IS 'METROFOCUS,' WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY --

CORPORATE FUNDING FOR 'METROFOCUS' WAS PROVIDED BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA, YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.

AND BY PSE&G, SERVING CUSTOMERS, STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE JPB FOUNDATION AND THE FORD FOUNDATION.

> ACCORDING TO ITS PROPONENTS THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXTRACTING PROCESS KNOWN AS FRACKING IS BRINGING ENERGY INDEPENDENCE TO THE COUNTRY, DECREASING THE PRICE OF ENERGY FOR ALL AMERICANS AND CREATING HIGH PAYING JOBS FOR AN UNDEREMPLOYED WORKING CLASS, ALL WHILE HELPING REDUCE THE NATION'S CARBON FOOTPRINT.

THE OPPONENTS OF FRACKING, HOWEVER, SEE THINGS VERY DIFFERENTLY.

ACCORDING TO THEM FRACKING IS A SERIOUS HAZARD TO OUR HEALTH, AND COULDN'T NATS THE ENVIRONMENT AND DAMAGES PROPERTY AND EACH INCREASES THE FREQUENCY OF EARTHQUAKES.

ALL THOSE ANTI-FRACKING ARGUMENTS ARE PRESENTED IN A NEW FILM CALLED 'DEAR PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION IS NOW.'

HERE IS A LOOK.

FEW THINGS HAVE BEEN MORE VOLATILE DURING THIS PRESIDENT'S TENURE THAN TRYING TO BLEND OUR ENERGY NEEDS AND CLIMATE FUTURE.

THE TIME HAS COME ONCE AND FOR ALL FOR THIS NATION TO FULLY EMBRACE A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.

BUT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S WATCH FRACKING BECAME A HOUSEHOLD WORD AND 80,000 NEW OIL AND GAS WELLS WERE DRILLED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

TODAY'S NEW EXTREME ENERGY EXTRACTION GOLD RUSH MAY PROVE TO BE THE PRESIDENT'S MOST PROFOUND ENVIRONMENTAL LEGACY.

WE, IT TURNS OUT, ARE THE SAUDI ARABIA OF NATURAL GAS.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF IT.

IT SOUNDED SO GOOD.

IF WE SUDDENLY HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL GAS WHEN WE CAN SWITCH FROM BURNING COAL TO BURNING NATURAL GAS IT WILL BE GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

HOW GOOD CAN IT GET?

I THINK THE INDUSTRY IS SCARED OF SCIENCE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE INTIMIDATED OR BULLIED BY INDUSTRY.

I THINK THERE'S NOTHING SACRED.

IT'S ALL GOING TO CHANGE.

YOU FEEL LIKE A PAWN IN THIS GAME.

YOU ARE DISPOSABLE.

IT'S PROFIT ABOVE PEOPLE.

THE DRILL, BABY, DRILL, WHEN DO YOU QUIT?

THIS GUY SHOWS UP, SAYS WE'RE GOING TO DRILL A WELL THERE.

YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS A FACT.

YOU CAN'T LEAD ON CLIMATE AND FRACK YOUR STATE DRY OF EVERY LAST DROP OF OIL.

TIME FOR A CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION IS NOW.

JON BOWERMASTER IS THE DIRECTOR OF DEAR PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HE JOINS ME NOW.

JON, WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

NOW, JON, FIRST OF ALL, FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK DEFINITION OF WHAT FRACKING IS.

YES.

PRETTY SIMPLY IT'S A PROCESS OF EXTRACTING OIL AND GAS FROM THE SHALE WHICH LIES A COUPLE MILES BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH AND INVOLVES SENDING HIGH POWERED CHEMICALS, WATER AND SAND TO BREAK APART THE SHALE AND THEN THEY ESSENTIALLY SUCK THE GAS AND OIL BACK OUT, BUT IT GOES A COUPLE MILES DEEP AND CAN GO MILES OUT HORIZONTALLY.

THAT'S THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN MODERN DAY FRACKING.

SO THE FILM IS LITERALLY DEDICATED TO PRESIDENT OBAMA.

WHY IS THAT?

I MEAN, HE'S ONE OF OUR MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS PRESIDENTS IN RECENT HISTORY.

WELL, THE PRESIDENT HAS LEARNED A LOT DURING THE COURSE OF TWO TERMS.

I THINK IN HIS INITIAL TERM HE BOUGHT INTO THIS NOTION THAT THIS BOOM IN NATURAL GAS AND OIL WAS GOING TO CREATE JOBS AND BE GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY AND CREATE THIS AMERICAN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, BUT I THINK AS NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE I THINK HE'S SEEN -- HE'S SEEN THE REALITY THAT THE BOOM IS KIND OF SHORT LIVED AND ALSO I THINK HE'S WITNESSED KIND OF THE DOWN SIDES OF FRACKING AS WELL.

TALK ABOUT THE DOWNSIDE.

GIVE US A QUICK REBUKE OF THE DOWNSIDE.

IT SOUNDED GREAT.

THEY HAD THIS NEW PROCESS THAT WAS GOING TO DELIVER ALL THIS OIL AND GAS THAT THEY THOUGHT HAD BEEN LOCKED UP FOREVER IN THE SHALE AND IT WAS GOING TO CREATE JOBS AND PROVIDE CHEAP ENERGY, ET CETERA.

BUT THE REALITY IS THE JOBS COME AND GO AS IS TYPICAL IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, IT'S POLLUTED WATER AND AIR AS YOU MENTIONED IN OKLAHOMA, A STATE WHERE THEY TRADITIONALLY HAVE TWO EARTHQUAKES A YEAR THEY NOW HAVE MORE THAN 600 A YEAR BECAUSE THE PROCESS INVOLVES TAKING ALL THIS WASTEWATER BACK OUT OF THE GROUND --

HAS THE SCIENCE SETTLED ON THAT, THAT THE EARTHQUAKES ARE RELATED TO THE FRACKING.

ABSOLUTELY.

TO THE DEGREE THAT THE OKLAHOMA STATE LEGISLATURE WHICH IS NOT A BODY THAT'S TYPICALLY UNFRIENDLY TO GAS AND OIL IS PASSING LAWS LIMITING WHAT THEY CAN DO IN OKLAHOMA.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT THE OTHER SIDE HAS THAT IT DOES GIVE US DEPENDENCE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST.

IT HAS DONE THAT, RIGHT, AND IT CERTAINLY HAS DECREASED THE PRICE OF ENERGY FOR AMERICANS, THOSE ARE GOOD THINGS, AND THOUGH IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S A CYCLE ECONOMY UP AND DOWN, IT HAS CREATED JOBS AND IT WILL AGAIN.

RIGHT.

BUT IT'S VERY SHORT-SIDED.

YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING MAN HAS ALWAYS DONE SINCE HE COULD STAND ON TWO FEET IS BURN STUFF, THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW, WHETHER IT'S BEEN COAL, GAS, OIL, ET CETERA, AND THE RESULT OF THAT IS INCREDIBLE HARM TO BOTH LOCAL AIR AND WATER BUT ALSO TO THE GLOBAL CLIMATE, YOU KNOW, NO ONE WOULD DENY THAT BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS IS CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN NATURAL -- WHEN THIS BIG BOOM IN NATURAL GAS WAS DISCOVERED THEY THOUGHT, WELL, THIS IS THE CLEAN FOSSIL FUEL.

THAT'S HOW IT WAS SOLD TO THE PUBLIC, BUT THE REALITY IS IN THE SHORT TERM -- THERE'S NOTHING NATURAL ABOUT NATURAL GAS.

IT'S METHANE.

IT'S METHANE.

AND IN THE SHORT TERM OVER 20 YEARS METHANE IS A FARCE WORSE CONTRIBUTOR TO CLIMATE CHANGE THAN C02 FROM BURNING COAL.

IT WAS PITCHED AS A BRIDGE TO RENEWABLES, IT WAS A CLEANER FUEL, WE WILL BURN IT NOW AS WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET TO USE MORE SOLAR AND WIND, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THAT BRIDGE IS A DEAD END.

SO MARK RUFFALO THE ACTOR WHO NARE RATES THE FILM ALSO THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE FILM SAYS AT ONE POINT THAT THE ISSUE OF FRACKING IS DIVIDING NEIGHBOR -- IS PITTING NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR, BUT IN THE FILM WE DON'T HEAR OR SEE THOSE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF FRACKING.

WHO ARE THEY?

WELL, I MEAN, IN SOME STATES PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO LEASE THEIR LANDS FOR QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO ALLOW THEM TO BE FRACKED.

AGAIN, VERY SHORT TERM.

A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE GOT MONEY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF LEASE AND THEN WHEN THE LEASE WAS FINISHED THEIR LAND IS LEFT BEHIND AND IT'S CONTAMINATED.

YOU'RE SAYING ONLY THE PROPONENTS OR THE SUPPORTERS OF FRACKING ARE ONLY THE ONES THAT HAVE BENEFITTED FROM IT DIRECTLY?

I THINK SO, YEAH.

REALLY?

THEY CALLED THEM SHE WILL HONNAIRES.

ACCORDING TO THE GALLUP POLL 36% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT FRACKING.

THEY ARE NOT ALL BENEFITTING FROM FRACKING --

WELL, NO, THEY ARE PROBABLY AT THE GAS PUMP.

THEY ARE THEY ARE.

BUT AGAIN ALL THAT'S VERY SHORT TERM BECAUSE THE REALITY IS WE'RE GOING TO RUN -- FOSSIL FUELS ARE FINITE.

WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF THEM EVENTUALLY.

MAYBE THE PROBLEM WILL SOLVE ITSELF.

IT KIND OF WILL.

THE MARKET IS SOLVING IT NOW BECAUSE WE'VE OVERPRODUCED THAT'S WHAT IS DRIVING DOWN COSTS, BUT THE REALITY IS WE'RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO MOVE TO A RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURE ANYWAY.

I GUESS MY ARGUMENT, THE ARGUMENT IN THE FILM IS WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?

WELL, YOU KNOW, AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW THERE'S A GROWING MOVEMENT AGAINST WIND TURBINES, THOSE ARE THE WIND MILLS THAT GENERATE WIND POWER, HARNESS THE WIND POWER TO GENERATE.

AND THE ARGUMENTS THAT MOVEMENT MAKES IN THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD ARE SIMILAR TO THE ANTI-FRACKING MOVEMENT WHICH IS IT'S A HAZARD TO YOUR HEALTH, IT BRIGHTS THE ENVIRONMENT AND IN THIS CASE IT KILLS A LOT OF BIRDS.

DO THEY HAVE CREDENCE?

DOES THAT MOVEMENT --

DEFINITELY I THINK -- THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO, I THINK, SLOW THE TURBINES SO THAT THE BIRDS AREN'T AT QUITE A GREAT RISK AND THE REALITY IS IF SOMEBODY COMES AND PLOPS A BUNCH OF WIND TURBINES IN THE PROPERTY NEXT TO YOU YOU PROBABLY WON'T BE A LOT HAPPIER THAN IF IT WERE GAS AND OIL ALTHOUGH I WOULD CONTEND DRILLING FOR GAS AND OIL THERE IS FAR MORE RISK OF CONTAMINATION THAN FROM A WIND MILL.

BUT THE REALITY TO ALL THIS IS, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SSACRIFICE.

THAT'S WHAT THE PRO FRACKING PEOPLE SAY ABOUT SACRIFICES ENTAILED IN FRACKING.

THE BEST SELLING CARS TODAY STILL ARE FORWARD F-150 AND THE CHEVY SILVERADO.

AS AMERICANS WE WANT BIG CARS, WE WANT BIG HOUSES WE WANT BIG LIVES AND THE REALITY IS IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO RENEWABLES WE MAY HAVE TO CHANGE SOME OF THAT.

JON, I'M SORRY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FILM 'DEAR PRESIDENT OBAMA' VISIT US ONLINE AT METROFOCUS.ORG.

> TONIGHT WE CONTINUE OUR ONGOING INITIATIVE CALLED CHASING THE DREAM, POVERTY AND OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA, WITH A LOOK AT THE NEARLY 50 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE LIVING WITHOUT RELIABLE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND WONDERING WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM.

IN NEW YORK CITY ALONE ABOUT ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN LIVE IN FOOD INSECURE HOMES AND IN MANY CASES AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN THE FAMILY IS EMPLOYED.

HUNGER HAS MANY FACES AND BROOKLYN-BASED PHOTOJOURNALIST JOEY O'LOUGHLIN SET OUT TO FIND AND DOCUMENT THEM, SPENDING NEARLY THREE YEARS DOCUMENTING CLIENTS AT NEW YORK CITY'S FOOD BANK.

SOME OF THOSE PORTRAITS ARE ON DISPLAY AT THE BROOKLYN LIST OR AL SOCIETY ENTITLED HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT.

EACH ONE HANNA PUTS FOOD ON HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE'S TABLES.

SHE AND HER FAMILY RUN A SMALL FOOD PANTRY PACKING BAGS OF GROCERIES, A ROTATING MIX OF THE STAPLES SHE GETS FROM FOOD BANK, CITY HARVEST, UNITED WAY AND OTHERS AND GIVING THEM TO ANYONE WHO SHOWS UP.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO SHOW US THEIR NAME, THEIR STATUS, THEIR -- YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY ARE ELIGIBLE OR NOT.

IF YOU COME TO A FOOD PANTRY AND WAIT IN LINE YOU ARE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST EMBARRASSING THING THAT A PERSON CAN DO.

THAT EMBARRASSMENT ALONE IS PAYMENT.

SHE KNOWS THE FEELING.

BEFORE HANNA OPENED HER OWN PANTRY SHE WAS WAITING IN THOSE LINES.

IT WAS A HARD EXPERIENCE FOR US SO WE ARE SENSITIVE TO CLIENTS WHO COME.

WE STARTED OUT LIKE THAT.

WE WERE LIVED TO TAKE -- IT WAS A HORROR.

FOR US TO TAKE WE'D RATHER BIG A HOLE AND BURY OURSELVES THAN ACTUALLY TAKE.

IT IS ONE OF THE STORIES DOCUMENTED HERE AT THE BROOKLYN HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN AN EXHIBITION CALLED 'HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: FOR TRAITS OF HUNGER IN NYC.'

THESE PHOTOS SHOW A SNAPSHOT OF THE PEEL PEOPLE WHO STAND IN LINE AND WORK BEHIND THE COUNTERS AT FOOD PANTRIES THROUGHOUT THE FIVE BOROUGHS WHICH FISH OUT TENS OF MILLIONS OF MEALS TO NEW YORKERS EACH YEAR.

JOEY O'LOUGHLIN IS THE PHOTOGRAPHER BEHIND THE EXHIBIT.

SHE'S EXTRAORDINARY.

SHE'S EXTRAORDINARILY GENEROUS AND ORGANIZED AND DILIGENT AND THE FACT THAT SHE WAS ONCE ON A PANTRY LINE AND THEN WAS SO COMMITTED TO CREATING ONE OF HER OWN WHEN SHE HAD THE MEANS I THINK IS PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY, TOO.

WHICH ONES DID YOU MAKE?

THESE.

WE SAID THAT ONE DAY WHEN WE BECOME IN A BETTER STATE THEN WE WILL GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

THE EXHIBIT'S TITLE 'HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT' SPEAKS TO THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO STAND HOURS IN LINE AT FOOD PANTRIES, MANY OF THEM WITH FULL-TIME JOBS WHO STILL CAN'T MAKE ENDS MEET.

IT'S YOUR NEIGHBOR, IT'S THE PERSON YOU WORK WITH, IT'S THE PERSON ON THE TRAIN, IT'S ANYBODY.

IT COULD REALLY BE -- IT'S THE PERSON YOU ARE WALKING DOWN THE BLOCK WITH.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO KNOW -- THEY DON'T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE IT'S EMBARRASSING.

IT'S MIDDLE CLASS, YOU'RE STRUGGLING, YOU CAN'T PAY THE BILLS.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REACTED BY ANSWERING THE TITLE, BY SAYING, I DIDN'T KNOW.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WERE WORKING PEOPLE IN THESE LINES OR THAT THESE LINES EXISTED.

WHEN YOU'RE STANDING ON A LINE YOU'RE KIND OF INVISIBLE.

NOBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT YOU, YOU DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT ANYONE AND, YOU KNOW, NOBODY WANTS TO KNOW IT.

WHEREAS SOUP KITCHENS SERVE HOT MEALS TO PEOPLE WITHOUT ACCESS TO A KITCHEN, FOOD PANTRIES GIVE OUT GROCERIES.

WHEN THERE WAS LITTLE ELSE, HANNA SAYS THESE WERE SOME OF THE MEALS SHE AND HER FAMILY SAVORED MOST.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU IT'S THE BEST FOOD THAT WE EVER ATE IN OUR LIFE.

IT WAS DRY BAGELS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PUT ON IT, WE DIDN'T HAVE CHEESE, WE DIDN'T HAVE TUNA FISH AND SOMETIMES THE BAGELS WOULD COME DRY SO WE PUT IT QUICKLY UNDER THE WATER IN ORDER TO CUT IT.

OKAY.

WE CUT IT, PUT IT IN THE OVEN, TOASTED T MARGARINE OR BUTTER, GOOD STUFF.

CITY HARVEST 2014 SELF-SUFFICIENCY STANDARD REPORT REVEALS THAT TWO IN FIVE NEW YORKERS CAN'T COVER THE BASICS, FOOD, RENT, HEALTHCARE, TRANSPORTATION AND CHILD CARE.

THAT'S NEITHER A MILLION HOUSEHOLDS OR 2.7 MILLION PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

AMONG THESE 83% OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE AT LEAST ONE PERSON WITH A JOB.

MANY, MANY NEW YORKERS ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PAYCHECKS, BUT A LOT OF US TAKE IT RIGHT DOWN TO THE LAST DOLLAR, BUT FOR THE WORKING POOR THERE AREN'T AS MANY SOFT PLACES, THERE AREN'T AS MANY PLACES WHERE YOU CAN CUT CORNERS BECAUSE THEY ARE DOWN TO THE QUICK.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE COST OF LIVING.

SO IT'S NOT WHO IS EMPLOYED AND WHO IS UNDEREMPLOYED, IT'S CAN I MAKE IT FOR THE AMOUNT OF MOUTHS THAT NEED TO EAT IN MY HOUSEHOLD?

AND FOR CHILDREN HUNGER CAN HAVE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION REPORTS THAT HUNGER AND UNDERNUTRITION CAN HINDER CHILDREN'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, REDUCE MOTOR SKILLS AND PUT CHILDREN AT A GREATER RISK OF CHRONIC HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

SO PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS DO WHAT THEY CAN.

I FOUND THE PEOPLE ON THE FOOD PANTRY LINES TO BE RESOURCEFUL, RESOURCEFUL AND HARD WORKING, DOING WHATEVER THEY FELT MADE THE MOST SENSE TO KEEPING THEIR FAMILY SAFE AND HAPPY.

O'LOUGHLIN SAYS SHE HOPES HER FOR TRAITS GET NEW YORKERS TO ACTUALLY SEE THE HIDDEN POOR AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE REAL CHALLENGES HUNGER BRINGS ARE MUCH MORE THAN AN EMPTY STOMACH.

I THINK PART OF HOLDING ON TO YOUR HUMANITY IN HARD TIMES IS BEING ABLE TO HAVE A MEAL AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A HARD TIME FINANCIALLY IT FEELS TERRIBLE.

IT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD.

RIGHT.

IT LOWERS YOURSELF ESTEEM.

YOU CAN BE ANXIOUS, YOU CAN BE MISERABLE AND TO HAVE SOMEBODY PUT DINNER DOWN AT NIGHT, I THINK IT REALLY HELPS.

HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT IF ANYBODY NOBODY, YOU KNOW, GIVES YOU A LITTLE SOMETHING TO EAT?

THAT'S PART OF BEING PART OF SOCIETY, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HELPING HAND, IT'S GIVE AND TAKE, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T JUST -- YOU CAN'T JUST IGNORE WHAT'S GOING ON IN FRONT OF YOU BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A TIGHT CITY WHERE EVERYBODY IS BUSY AND BUSTLING.

THERE IS HUNGER OUT THERE AND PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE SIGNS.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE FOOD PANTRIES FOR.

BUT IF YOU NOTICE SOMETHING, DON'T IGNORE IT.

AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART.

IN BROOKLYN, I'M ANDREA VASQUEZ FOR 'METROFOCUS.'

> AND SO MY TRUTH IS THAT I AM A GAY AMERICAN.

AND I AM BLESSED TO LIVE IN THE GREATEST NATION.

WHILE MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY ARE INCREASINGLY FINDING MAINSTREAM ACCEPTANCE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY AND IN THE SPORTS WORLD, MEN'S PROFESSIONAL SPORTS CONTINUES TO BOAST FEW OPENLY GAY ATHLETES.

A NUMBER OF VICTORIES HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED OVER THE YEARS, SUCH AS THE DRAFTING OF OPENLY GAY NFL HOPEFUL MICHAEL SAM BY THE ST.

LOUIS RAMS AND THE COMING OUT BY NBA CENTER JASON COLLINS AND PROFESSIONAL SOCCER STAR ROBBIE ROGERS, BUT JUST HOW FAR HAS THE SPORTS WORLD REALLY COME IN TERMS OF LGBT EQUALITY?

IN HIS NEW BOOK FAIR PLAY, HOW LGBT ATHLETES ARE CLAIMING THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE IN SPORTS, CYD ZIEGLER LOOKS AT KEY MOMENTS THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED SPORTS FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER ATHLETES TODAY AND HE JOINS ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

CYD, LET ME START BY ASKING YOU I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT YOU YOURSELF MADE SPORTS HISTORY WHEN YOU AND A SMALL GROUP OF COHORTS STARTED THE GAY AND LESBIAN FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM HERE IN NEW YORK.

IS THAT RIGHT?

WE DID.

WE WON THREE STRAIGHT GAY SUPER BOWLS, SO WE WERE THE FIRST TEAM TO DO THAT.

I DON'T KNOW.

I WONDER WHERE YOU GOT THAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT LEAGUE, THANK YOU FOR STARTING IT.

NOW, TO YOUR BOOK.

WHAT MADE YOU -- WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO WRITE IT?

WHAT MISSION DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH IT?

I THINK THERE'S STILL A MAJOR MISCONCEPTION IN AMERICA THAT SPORTS ARE A PLACE WHERE LGBT PEOPLE ARE NOT WELCOME AND MY MAIN PURPOSE WAS TO SHOW THAT WE -- LGBT ATHLETES AND COACHES ARE REALLY FINDING A PLACE IN SPORTS, THEY'RE FINDING A LOT OF ACCEPTANCE, PARTICULARLY AMONG OTHER ATHLETES AND OTHER COACHES.

BUT ALSO TO SHOW WHERE -- PARTICULARLY IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS -- THE GUYS IN SUITS, THE OWNERS AND GENERAL MANAGERS AND LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS CAN REALLY DO A LOT OF GOOD IN HOW THEY CAN TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS TO KIND OF FINALLY BLOW OPEN THE CLOSET DOOR OF SPORTS.

BRANCH RICKEY, THE FAMOUS BRANCH RICKEY WAS A GENERAL MANAGER OF THE BROOKLYN DODGERS WHO HIRED JACKIE ROBINSON THEREBY BREAKING THE COLOR LINE.

WHY ISN'T THERE A BRANCH RICKEY TODAY IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TO BREAK THE LGBT LINE?

SURE.

BRANCH RICKEY WAS A GENERAL MANAGER AND HE JUST DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO INTEGRATE BASEBALL IN 1947 AND HE DID JUST THAT.

I THINK THAT THE REASON YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A TEAM OWNER OR A GENERAL MANAGER IN ONE OF THE REALLY GO FIND AN LGBT ATHLETE AND BRING THEM ON TO THEIR TEAM IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW.

I THINK THAT WE'RE TOLD THAT YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT SECRET TO YOU THAT I THINK THEY FEAR GOING TO TRY TO FIND SOMEONE WHO HASN'T REVEALED THAT SECRET.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST REASON, THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

SO HOW DO THEY DO IT?

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN AND AROUND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS, WADE DAVIS IN THE NFL, JASON COLLINS IN THE NBA, BILLY BEAN IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WHO WORK WITH A LOT OF THESE GUYS AND WHO KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND WORKING THROUGH THEM TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT THE LEAGUES AND TEAMS CAN REALLY SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE IN COMING OUT, NOT OUTING THEM, BUT SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR COMING OUT PROCESS PERSONALLY AND PUBLICLY.

I THINK THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT STUFF THEY CAN TAKE.

SO THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THE FRONT OFFICE BUT HOW ARE THINGS IN THE LOCKER ROOMS?

YOU KNOW, SPORTS, MEN'S SPORTS, HAS NOTORIOUSLY BEEN A VERY MACHO WORLD.

HOW ARE TEAMMATES RESPONDING TO GAY TEAMMATES?

DO YOU KNOW?

WELL, IN THE 16 YEARS THAT JIM AND I HAVE BEEN RUNNING OUTSPORTS.COM WE HAVE HEARD ONLY ONE NEGATIVE COMING OUT STORY OF AN ATHLETE AND THAT WAS BECAUSE HIS COACH OUTED HIM TO HIS FAMILY.

EVERY OTHER STORY THAT WE HAVE HEARD HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT EMBRACED BY TEAMMATES AND COACHES.

PEOPLE WANT TO WIN IN SPORTS AND WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN WITH SOMEONE IN THE LOCKER ROOM FOR MONTHS OR YEARS YOU GET TO KNOW THEM AS A PERSON NOT JUST THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST PIECE, THAT BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE GET TO KNOW SOMEONE BEFORE THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE SLEEPING WITH, IT KIND OF -- IT SMOOTHS OUT THE COMING OUT PROCESS IN THE LOCKER ROOM BECAUSE THEY DON'T VIEW THEM AS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THEY VIEW THEM AS A TEAMMATE FIRST.

WHAT ABOUT THE FANS, ANY OBSTACLES WITH THE TANS?

YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS EVERY SINGLE POLL OF FAN THAT'S BEEN TAKEN HAS SHOWN A VAST MAJORITY, THAT IS, 75% PLUS OF FANS -- AND THIS IS EVEN DATING BACK TO 15 YEARS AGO -- SAY THEY WOULD SUPPORT OPENLY GAY PLAYER ON THEIR FAVORITE TEAM, BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT 75% OF THEM ALSO SAY THAT THE GUY SITTING NEXT TO THEM IN THE STANDS WOULDN'T SUPPORT AN OPENLY GAY ATHLETE ON THEIR TEAM.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF FANS ARE TOTALLY OKAY WITH IT BUT WE ALSO THINK THAT EVERYONE ELSE ISN'T OKAY WITH IT.

THAT'S KIND OF THE DYNAMIC THAT ATHLETES HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

THERE IS THIS PERCEPTION THAT FANS ARE A PROBLEM AND THEY ARE REALLY NOT.

YOU TALK ABOUT DYNAMICS.

YOU WRITE IN YOUR BOOK THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF DYNAMIC WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN IN SPORTS THAN THERE IS WITH MEN IN SPORTS, THAT, IN FACT, THE STEREOTYPICAL ASSUMPTION BY MANY FANS IS THAT WOMEN, SAY, IN PROFESSIONAL COLLEGE BASKETBALL ARE LESBIANS.

HOW DOES THIS PLAY INTO THE LGBT EQUALITY IN SPORTS?

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT IT IS COMING OUT IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.

YOU KNOW, EXPRESSING WHO YOU ARE IS A REAL JOURNEY THAT EVERYONE, WHETHER YOU ARE A MAN OR WOMAN THIS SPORTS, GOES THROUGH.

BUT, YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD FROM WOMEN IN SPORTS, TAKE WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL, I SAY THIS IN THE BOOK, ANYWHERE FROM A THIRD TO 75% OF THE WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACHES ARE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LGBT SPECTRUM.

THAT'S NOT ME TALKING, THAT'S THE WOMEN IN BASKETBALL HAVE TOLD ME THAT.

THE FACT THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO OUT HEAD COACHES IN WOMEN'S DIVISION I COLLEGE BASKETBALL TELLS YOU HOW MUCH FEAR THERE IS AND I THINK PART OF THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THAT STEREOTYPE YOU TALK ABOUT.

THEY DON'T WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT STEREOTYPE THEY LIVE WITH THAT ALL THEIR LIVES.

SO I THINK THEY ARE AFRAID OF ADDING TO THAT.

IT IS A VERY REAL FEAR THAT THEY FEEL.

WHAT'S BEEN THE AFFECT OF THE TRANSITIONING OF CAITLYN JENNER TO THE WORLD OF SPORTS?

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE AFFECT THAT CAITLYN HAS HAD ON THE ENTIRE WORLD HAS BEEN POWERFUL.

THAT SHOW, THAT TV SHOW, THE REALITY SHOW THAT IS ABOUT HER IS BROADCAST IN COUNTRIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD WHERE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY ARE NOT NEARLY WHERE WE ARE ON TRANS ISSUES IN AMERICA.

WE HAVE SO MANY ISSUES, THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES THAT ARE A LOT WORSE AND CAITLYN IS REALLY HAVING A BIG IMPACT, SHE'S LIKE A WORLDWIDE AMBASSADOR ON TRANS ISSUES.

WORLDWIDE SHE IS GOING AN AFFECT.

IN THE SPORTS WORLD IT WAS LIKE MICHAEL SAM'S AND JASON COLLINS COMING OUT, IT STARTED A CONVERSATION IN PLACES WHERE IT HAD NOT EXISTED.

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES PROBABLY MOST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TRANSGENDER WAS, NOW THEY DO BECAUSE OF KATE LISTEN.

THAT'S SUPER POWERFUL.

HOW WOULD YOU GENERALLY GRADE THE MEDIA IN THE WAY THAT IT HAS COVERED LGBT ISSUES?

WITHIN THE SPORTS WORLD?

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

THE SPORTS MEDIA -- YOU KNOW, I GIVE THEM MAYBE A C PLUS OR A B MINUS.

I THINK THAT WHEN ATHLETES COME OUT THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT, BUT WHAT I DON'T SEE ENOUGH OF IS REALLY PROACTIVELY IDENTIFYING STORIES AND TELLING MORE STORIES.

THEY ARE ON THE BALL WHEN A MICHAEL SAM OR JASON COLLINS OR CAITLYN JENNER COMES OUT, BUT WHAT THEY REALLY SHOULD BE TELLING IS MORE OF THE STORIES OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE ATHLETES WHO ARE THE JACKIE ROBINSONS OF SPORTS.

THOSE ARE THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE CHANGING SPORTS ON THIS ISSUE.

SO I THINK THAT THEIR LACK OF TELLING THOSE STORIES IS A BIG PROBLEM.

OKAY.

WELL, HOPEFULLY THIS CONVERSATION WILL HELP IN THAT DIRECTION.

CYD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU.

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