Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 13:04:48 +0100
From: glaad@glaad.org (GLAAD)
Subject: GLAAD APPLAUDS "THE BIRDCAGE"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
contact:        Tamra King
                (213) 658-6775
                tamrak@glaad.org

GLAAD APPLAUDS "THE BIRDCAGE"

LOS ANGELES, CA -- March 5, 1996 -- The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD) commends United Artists for its film "The Birdcage." The
film, based on the French play "La Cage Aux Folles," is directed by Mike
Nichols and stars Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman and Dianne
Wiest.  The story revolves around Armand (Williams) and Albert (Lane) a gay
couple from South Beach, Florida, who have to drastically alter their lives
to impress the ultra-conservative family of their son's fiancee.

The flamboyant Albert, though attempting to disguise himself throughout the
film, finds altering his demeanor difficult.  "There is a fine line between
having an offensive stereotypical character and one that is represented
fairly," says Tamra King, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Director, "We have
seen so many films with very one-dimensional stereotypical characters.
Their purpose has been to play the 'straight man' to rounds of jokes. In
'The Birdcage' we go beyond the stereotypes to see the characters' depth
and humanity."

As the story progresses, an evening with the two families quickly becomes a
nightmare as Armand, Albert and their son, Val, begin to realize how
difficult it is to masquerade their lives.  "The film celebrates
differences," continues King, "and points out the outrageousness of hiding
those differences."

"Armand and Albert don't live in a separate world," comments "The Birdcage"
star Robin Williams, "They're a couple and they have the same dynamics as
any couple.  It may not go with what was initially thought of as a nuclear
family, but there are a lot of families like this, and they all share the
same kinds of problems trying to get through life."

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

GLAAD encourages its members to write letters of support to:

John Calley
President
United Artists
2500 Broadway Street
5th Floor
Santa Monica, California 90404

##

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Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
glaad@glaad.org
http://www.glaad.org

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GLAAD, is a national
organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of
individuals and events in the media as a means of combatting homophobia and
all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.
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