Date: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 18:07:19 -0500
From: glaad@glaad.org (GLAAD)
Subject: GLAAD "CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC" AFTER INTERNET SUMMIT 

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Liz Tracey, GLAAD (212) 807-1700
pgr. (800) 946-4646 pin# 1423527
e-mail: tracey@glaad.org

GLAAD "CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC" AFTER INTERNET SUMMIT
ORGANIZATION'S INTERNET FILTERING SOFTWARE REPORT BREAKS NEW GROUND AT
HISTORIC DC CONFERENCE, YET TROUBLING QUESTIONS REMAIN

NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1997-The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's only lesbian and gay media advocacy group,
today announced its successful participation in the Internet Summit: Focus
on Children and, while having reservations about certain policy issues,
pledged to continue educating the technology industry, as well as
developing resources for parents, educators and librarians.

GLAAD released its groundbreaking report Access Denied: The Impact of
Internet Filtering Software on the Lesbian & Gay Community at the Summit to
demonstrate its concerns about the use of filtering software and the
consequences for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied users of
the Internet. This report marks the first time a lesbian and gay national
organization has produced research and analysis of such depth on the issue
of Internet access.

While GLAAD appreciates the importance of beginning a dialogue around child
safety on the Internet and recognizes and shares parents' concerns, it is
troubled by the overemphasis on the "technology toolbox" set forth by the
Summit. As outlined in Access Denied, current technology is still imperfect
and poses a threat to many educational, informational and support resources
on the Internet.

"GLAAD challenges the industry to develop technology that will filter
inappropriate  materials on the Internet while leaving intact many
resources that have accidentally been blocked through under-developed
technology," said Loren Javier, GLAAD's Interactive Media Director. "GLAAD
plans to continue offering itself as a resource to the various Internet
filtering software manufacturers, and is encouraged to see that many in the
industry are receptive."

GLAAD also plans, in the spirit of public education outlined at the Summit,
to form a coalition of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parent,
family, youth and education organizations to develop a list of
"family-friendly" lesbian and gay Web sites that it will make available
through GLAAD Online (www.glaad.org).

"We commend GLAAD for their careful analysis of commercial filtering
software, for surfacing serious issues, and for their constructive
recommendations," said Daniel Weitzner, Deputy Director of the Center for
Democracy and Technology (CDT), a leading Internet civil liberties group in
Washington, DC (http://www.cdt.org/).  "In order to help assure that the
goals of diversity and informed user choice among filters are met, CDT has
announced the creation of the Filtering and Free Speech Forum and is
pleased that GLAAD will participate in this important dialogue between
civil libertarians, press and publishing organizations, Internet service
providers, filtering companies, and child advocacy groups."

"Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender parents want a world without
inappropriate images or speech for our children.  However, we are concerned
that the current versions of filtering software display a world without
contrast, diversity or our families.  The Internet Online Summit is a
start, but future meetings must focus on solutions where all divergent
views are included and the community is an active participant in the
process," said Jim Fagelson, a Summit participant and a director of the Gay
& Lesbian Parents Coalition International (GLPCI) which represents the 25
million lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents, their partners and
children in the United States.

Media professionals who wish to receive an e-mailed or hard copy version of
Access Denied may do so by contacting Liz Tracey, GLAAD Associate
Communications Director at tracey@glaad.org or by calling (212) 807-1700.

GLAAD is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive
representation of individuals and events in the media as a means of
combating homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual
orientation or identity.

-30-
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Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
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GLAAD is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive
representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual
orientation or identity.
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"GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered
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