Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 16:53:27 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines April 13, 1998 GLAADLINES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 13, 1998 News and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org L.A. GALA CONCLUDES 9TH ANNUAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS: On April 19, GLAAD will conclude its three-city, 9th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the Century Plaza Hotel in L.A.. Expected at the gala are Jennifer Aniston, Nell Carter, Cher, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ellen DeGeneres, Dana Delaney, Fran Drescher, Anne Heche, Larry King, Garry Marshall, Dionne Warwick and many others. "The Media Awards reflect a years' growth by the entertainment and news media in how they represent lesbian and gay lives," said Joan M. Garry, GLAAD Executive Director, "and highlights the work GLAAD has contributed to this important process. The awards bring industry and community advocates together to celebrate the power of positive change." The awards were created in 1989 to honor individuals and projects in the media and entertainment industries for their balanced and accurate representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives. For ticket sales, please contact Levy Pazanti and Associates at (888) 655-6529. For press credentials, please contact Susan DuBow (Bragman Nyman Cafarelli) at (310) 274-7800. GLAAD COMMENDS GEORGE MICHAEL FOR COMING OUT: Following George Michael's coming out during an April 10 CNN interview, GLAAD congratulated the pop star for his honesty and courage. In the interview, coming on the heels of what he called an "extremely stupid" act leading to a lewd conduct arrest in Los Angeles, Michael said, "I'm in a relationship with a man right now. I have not been in a relationship with a woman for almost 10 years." GLAAD Executive Director Joan M. Garry commented, "GLAAD congratulates George Michael on his courageous decision to publicly come out. Obviously, the circumstances were less than ideal. But Michael's honesty and openness will serve as an inspiration for countless lesbian, gay and bisexual people. It will help foster a safer atmosphere within the music industry for all artists." For more information contact Assistant Entertainment Media Director Bill Horn (GLAAD) at (213) 658-6775 or pgr. (800) 946-4646, pin # 1423528. DESPITE PENTAGON SPIN, REPORT SHOWS HUGE PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-GAY POLICY: The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) is encouraged by a Department of Defense report identifying the drastic increase in discharges of gay servicemembers under "don't ask, don't tell" and suggesting ways to address the issue, but SLDN adds that the Pentagon used "false and misleading rhetoric" to announce it. The report revealed that a 67 percent increase in discharges under "don't ask, don't tell" amounts to the highest number of discharges since 1989 and the highest percentage increase since 1986. It suggests that commanders be told that anti-gay harassment will not be tolerated and instructed to investigate reported harassment, not those victimized by it. In addition, commanders will be told to seek guidance from higher headquarters prior to launching any investigations. Also, commanders will be evaluated annual on their adherence to the "don't ask" policy." "If implemented, these would be good first steps," said SLDN Co-Executive Director Michelle Benecke. "However, we would give the Pentagon an 'F' for the false and misleading rhetoric they have employed in the press, where they have asserted with no basis whatsoever that the significant increase in gay discharges is due to people who come out in order to avoid their service obligation. This is not contained in the report, which admits the Pentagon has no way to ascertain the facts of these cases." She added that, "SLDN has, however, proven that commanders are asking, pursuing and harassing servicemembers out of the closet. It is disappointing to see the Pentagon using such evasive and gay-baiting tactics within the media." For more information contact Co-Executive Director Michelle Benecke (SLDN) at (202) 328-3244. RADICAL ANTI-GAY EXTREMISTS TARGET OPENLY GAY OREGON LEGISLATOR: According to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, "radical political extremists" seek to unseat Oregon State Representative Chuck Carpenter--the nation's first and only openly gay Republican state legislator--by running a radical religious front man against him in the May 10 primary. Last year, as chief sponsor of a statewide employment nondiscrimination bill, Carpenter forced the state House of Representatives to a standstill until the Republican leadership allowed his bill a fair hearing. After passing the House, the bill failed by one vote in the Senate, bringing Oregon closer to passing an employment nondiscrimination bill inclusive of sexual orientation than ever before. For the upcoming election, Bill Witt, a founding member of the Oregon Christian Coalition and a major donor to the virulantly anti-gay Oregon Citizen's Alliance, has announced his candidacy. A Victory Fund release noted that Witt's "exposure as an anti-gay activist and former congressional candidate gives him immediate access to a huge national base of donors." Victory Fund Political Director Kathleen DeBold said, "This is much more than a race for the Oregon State House. This is a battle for the soul of the Republican Party." For more information contact Political Director Kathleen DeBold (Victory Fund) at (202) 842-8679. TRANSPEOPLE, YOUTH TAKE ACTION IN NATION'S CAPITAL: Both transgendered people of all ages and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth will hold events next weekend in Washington, D.C., April 19-21. GenderPAC will sponsor the Third National Lobbying Day, in which over a hundred gender activists will head for Capitol Hill to address a number of concerns including employment discrimination, hate crimes, HIV funding and same-sex marriage. In addition, the Second Annual Youth Pride Day, hosted by the Youth Pride Alliance, is expected to draw nearly a thousand lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth and their supporters to promote awareness, visibility and pride. For more information contact Riki Anne Wilchins (GenderPAC) at (212) 645-1753 and Christopher Dyer (Youth Pride Alliance) at (202) 588-8008. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is the nation's lesbian & gay multimedia advocacy organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate, and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. To subscribe contact Don Romesburg at (415) 861-2244 or at romesburg@glaad.org. "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 DISPATCH AND 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.