Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 13:52:22 -0700 From: glaad@glaad.org (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Subject: GLAADlines 07.22.96 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www. glaad.org News, Tips, and Information about the Gay & Lesbian Community July 22, 1996-- FIRST-EVER GAY OLYMPIC MEDIA CENTER: GLAAD has established a Media Resource Center at the Olympic's first-ever Gay and Lesbian Visitors' Center, located at 1374 West Peachtree Street. Along with computers, telephones, faxes and Internet access for all working press, GLAAD's Media Resource Center provides in-depth and up-to-date information on breaking lesbian- and gay-related stories. Lesbian and gay activists continue the fight against anti-gay legislation passed in Atlanta's Cobb County, which prompted an Olympic Committee boycott of the suburban community, and the rerouting of the Olympic Torch run. Additionally, a provocative new billboard campaign designed by local lesbian and gay groups greets Olympic visitors along a major thoroughfare. For more information on GLAAD's Media Resource Center contact Alan Klein (GLAAD) at (212) 807-1700 or klein@glaad.org or the Atlanta Media Resource Center at (404) 892-7752. GAY COUPLES SAY 'I DO' TO MARRIAGE: GLAAD will bring same-sex couples into America's living rooms. Lesbian and gay couples nationwide are on-call for interviews by electronic and print media outlets. "Couples from New York to Hawaii are ready to speak out on same-sex marriage and to put a human face on what has become this election year's most contentious issue." says GLAAD News Media Director Alan Klein. For more information contact Alan Klein at (212) 807-1700 or klein@glaad.org. GAY YOUTH ACTIVISTS IN BASIC TRAINING : Starting July 27, twenty-five lesbian, gay and bisexual youth activists from around the nation will gather at the Shenoa Retreat and Learning Center in Philo, California for a week-long Youth Training Institute sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF). The Training Institute provides intensive workshops on grassroots organizing and concrete skills-building. Proposed projects include a gay youth center in Clarksburg, West Virginia and a needle exchange and street youth outreach program in Shoreline, Washington. "NGLTF believes it is time to recognize youth organizers and activists as leaders in their own right," says NGLTF Executive Director Melinda Paras. For more information or to schedule participant interviews, contact Karen Bullock-Jordan (NGLTF) at (202) 332-6483 ext. 3206. GAY VICTIM'S MOTHER PETITIONS TO KEEP MURDERER BEHIND BARS: Dorothy Hajdys-Holman, mother of gay Navy Petty Officer Allen Schindler, is fighting to ensure that Terry Helvey, convicted of murdering her son in Sasebo, Japan in 1992, stays in jail. By circulating a petition, Hajdys-Holman hopes to get over one million signatures from people who believe Helvey should serve his full life sentence for this particularly heinous anti-gay hate crime in which Schindler was beaten so badly that he could only be identified by a tattoo on his arm. Helvey is currently seeking clemency. For more information, contact Dorothy Hajdys-Holman at P.O. Box 104, Steger, IL 60475. SAN DIEGO SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON PRIDE: "Spotlight on Freedom," San Diego's Lesbian & Gay Pride Celebration weekend kicks off July 26 at 8:00 PM in Balboa Park with the Spirit of Stonewall Rally. Guest speakers Chastity Bono, activist/author Urvashi Vaid and actor/gay youth leader Wilson Cruz will be available for interviews one hour prior to the rally. The weekend includes a 2-1/2 hour parade on Saturday and a 2-day festival anticipated to draw over 80,000 participants. For more information contact Frank Sabatini, Jr. (Sabatini & Associates) at (619)543-9544 or SDPride@ix.netcom.com. If you know of an event that merits media coverage, or if there is a news story breaking in your area, please contact us. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is a national organization that 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. To subscribe contact Don Romesburg at (415) 861-2244 or at romesburg@glaad.org. "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org VISIT THE GLAAD WEB SITE AT http://www.glaad.org! GLAAD 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 trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.