Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 21:01:17 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAAD, HRC, NGLTF AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS MEET WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO TO DISCUSS NEED FOR HATE CRIMES PROTECTION MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Einhorn, GLAAD Director of Communications phone: (212) 807-1700 x14 e-mail: einhorn@glaad.org pager: (888) 656-9045 Contact: Wayne Besen, HRC Associate Communications Director phone: (202) 216-1530 e-mail: wayne_besen@hrc.org pager: (800) 386-5997 Contact: Tracey Conaty, NGLTF Communications Director Phone: (202) 332-6483 x3303 e-mail: tconaty@ngltf.org pager: (800) 757-6476 GLAAD, HRC, NGLTF AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS MEET WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO TO DISCUSS NEED FOR HATE CRIMES PROTECTION NEW YORK, NY, THURSDAY, 15 OCTOBER, 1998 -- In the wake of the brutal murder of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, on the day of an historic rally in the nation's capital to push for passage of legislation to protect Americans from violence and hatred, and on the eve of the White House Conference on School Safety, Attorney General Janet Reno and senior members of her staff, including Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder and Associate Attorney General Raymond C. Fisher, met with representatives from leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations. Attendees at yesterday's meeting included: Joan M. Garry, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD); Kevin Jennings, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and a 16-year-old student and former bias-crimes victim; Everett Hamilton of Gay men and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV); Elizabeth Birch, executive director and Winnie Stachelberg, Political Director of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC); Kerry Lobel, executive director and Rebecca Isaacs, political director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF); and Rea Carey, executive director of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC). Reno and her staff discussed with these representatives the urgent need for legislation guaranteeing all Americans protection from hatred and violence. Representatives present spoke to different aspects of the issue of bias crime, ranging from political to educational to symbolic implications of such crimes, and Reno renewed her commitment to the passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. In addition, representatives worked with the Attorney General to explore the impact of last November's White House Conference on Hate Crimes and attempted to determine methods of developing more solid relationships with local law enforcement agencies. "By meeting with GLAAD and our partners, Janet Reno has sent a powerful message: she is deeply concerned with the welfare of her constituents. Her renewed commitment to supporting the passage of hate crimes legislation gives the devastated citizens of Wyoming hope that someone is actively willing to support them," said GLAAD Executive Director Joan M. Garry. "Ms. Reno has truly used the power of her voice to advocate for fairness, living up to her position as head of the Department of Justice." "We appreciate the Attorney General's leadership and commitment on so many issues of concern to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community, including hate crimes," said HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch. "It was clear that she understood the magnitude of sorrow from our community and the need for a Federal response." "When the Task Force has requested Department of Justice intervention in previous anti-gay homicides the Attorney General has been responsive, as she has with the murder of Matthew Shepard," said NGLTF Executive Director Kerry Lobel. "The Justice Department, however, often has its hands tied because of lack of jurisdictional authority. Unfortunately, the power to resolve this problem lies not with the Attorney General, but with congressional leaders who care more about placating the right wing than saving the lives of innocent people." Shepard died on the morning of Monday, October 12, after having been viciously attacked the week before. A vigil co-sponsored by GLAAD, HRC and NGLTF, was held on the West steps of the U.S. Capitol building last night, commemorating the life of Matthew Shepard and demonstrating the need for legislation protecting members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community from hate crimes. Speakers included Ellen DeGeneres, Anne Heche and Third Rock From the Sun's Kristen Johnston, and Frasier's Dan Butler, as well as numerous politicians and lesbian and gay community leaders. The U.S. Parks Department estimated some 7,000 people attended the rally. GLAAD is the nation's lesbian and gay media advocacy organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of combating homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. The Human Rights Campaign is the nation's largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country, effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support, and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has worked to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level since its inception in 1973. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. -30- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org TO REPORT DEFAMATION IN THE MEDIA - Call GLAAD's Alertline at 1.800.GAY.MEDIA or go to the GLAAD Web Site at www.glaad.org and report through our Alertline Online. TO JOIN GLAAD AND RECEIVE GLAAD's QUARTERLY IMAGES MAGAZINE, call 1.800.GAY.MEDIA or join on the Web today at www.glaad.org/glaad/join/join-about.html TO SUBSCRIBE TO GLAAD-Net, GLAAD's electronic mailing list, send e-mail to majordomo@vector.casti.com with the message "Subscribe GLAAD-Net" TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send e-mail to majordomo@vector.casti.com with the message "Unsubscribe GLAAD-Net" GLAAD is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.