Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 15:32:28 -0800 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines - February 14, 2000 GLAADLines Contact: Bob Findle, GLAAD (323) 658-6775 ext. 31 findle@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 14, 2000 News and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community 1. SAME-SEX COUPLE IMMIGRATION BILL INTRODUCED TO CONGRESS 2. FOURTH ANNUAL AMERICAN BOYZ CONFERENCE 3. CHRISTIAN COALITION PUSHING FORWARD TO REPEAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE 4. GAY FINANCIAL NETWORK JOINS FIGHT AGAINST CALIFORNIA'S ANTI-GAY PROPOSITION 22 SAME-SEX COUPLE IMMIGRATION BILL INTRODUCED TO CONGRESS: Timed with Valentine's Day, today U.S. House of Representatives Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., announced the Permanent Partner Immigration Act, a bill to provide same-sex couples all the immigration options open to opposite-sex couples. Current law permits non-U.S. citizens who are coupled with an opposite-sex U.S. citizen to immigrate and become residents. But, because same-sex couples do not have the option of marrying, the nonresident partner is either deported when visas expire or must attempt staying in the country illegally. Jennifer Aswad Higgins, program coordinator at the Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force (LGIRTF), said Nadler came to the organization about a year and a half ago after one of his staff members attended an LGIRTF chapter meeting. Higgins said Nadler was moved by the plight of binational gay and lesbian couples. "He has a huge commitment to social justice. He called and said, 'I want to do something.' We have been working closely with his office to create this bill." Contact Higgins at 212-818-9639 for more information. FOURTH ANNUAL AMERICAN BOYZ CONFERENCE: American Boyz, a support and social group for people born female but who feel that is not a complete or accurate assessment of who they are, is presenting the fourth annual True Spirit 2000, a three-day conference, Feb. 18-20, in Alexandria, Va. Organizers say the conference is for all gender variant people and their associates. It will include workshops and panel discussions about health, special needs populations, employment, legal issues and more. Trey Maurer, True Spirit 2000 media coordinator, said the conference will be attended by hundreds of people from all over the United States and beyond. "The conference has steadily grown in number since its inception," Maurer said. "As the only national conference serving the social, physical, emotional, spiritual and relational health of all gender variant people on the FTM spectrum, it represents a vital resource for and about transpeople." Contact American Boyz at 410-620-2161 for more information. CHRISTIAN COALITION PUSHING FORWARD TO REPEAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE: Take Back Miami-Dade, a political group formed by the Miami-Dade Christian Coalition and Florida Family Association, is circulating a petition to repeal the 15-month-old Miami-Dade County Human Rights Ordinance. The ordinance includes prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and exempts religious or nonprofit groups. Take Back Miami-Dade must gather 33,400 signatures in less than 60 days to force a repeal vote on the September or November ballot. SAVE Dade is working to keep the ordinance in place. Felix Beccera, media coordinator, said the group has been expecting the petition and possible vote. He said SAVE Dade is approaching the issue in two ways. "What we are doing is a two-tiered effort," he said. "One is the education of the citizens of Dade County. Two is raising money. Battles like this have proven to be extremely expensive." SAVE Dade is also working with the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and People For the American Way. Beccera said there is concern that Take Back Miami-Dade will use deception to gather the necessary signatures. The group originally called itself the Miami Human Rights Coalition until faced with a lawsuit for false representation. Also, during a signature drive, the Miami-Dade Christian Coalition circulated a "Gay Manifesto," an unsigned inflammatory radical document that was made to look as if it came from and was endorsed by the lesbian and gay community. "Turning paranoia into propaganda" was how a Miami Herald reporter characterized the trickery. Contact Beccera at 305-576-0444, ext. 225, for more information. GAY FINANCIAL NETWORK JOINS FIGHT AGAINST CALIFORNIA'S ANTI-GAY PROPOSITION 22: Current polls show more than 50 percent of respondents support California's Proposition 22, the Knight Initiative, which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. The No On Knight campaign is beginning its major push before the March 7 elections to defeat the initiative, which many believe if passed will be used by radical religious extremists and anti-gay conservatives to roll back established laws protecting gay men, lesbians and their families. New York City-based Gay Financial Network (GFN), a free online resource devoted to the financial needs of the gay and lesbian community, is joining the fight by pledging to match $5 donations made through its web site to the No On Knight campaign. Access www.gfn.com and click the No On Knight button. Donors also receive a free membership to GFN. Walter B. Schubert, founder and CEO, said he instituted the matching program to raise public awareness and spark a national grassroots effort to defeat the initiative. Tracy Conaty, No On Knight press secretary, said, "We are grateful for GFN's leadership in the fight against Prop 22, which is everyone's fight. We hope that everyone will take advantage of GFN's offer." Contact Alice Leeds, public relations director, at 212-349-1659, ext. 13, for more information on Gay Financial Network. Contact the No On Knight campaign at 415-227-1020 or access www.NoOnKnight.org GLAAD, the nation's lesbian & gay media advocacy organization, promotes fair, accurate, and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. To subscribe, contact Wonbo Woo at (212) 807-1700 or at woo@glaad.org. 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