Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 09:51:33 -0700 From: glaad@glaad.org (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Subject: GLAADlines 09.16.96 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www. glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 1996 News, Tips, and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community WILL ELLEN COME OUT?: If rumors prove to be true, Ellen Degeneres' title character on her hit ABC sitcom Ellen will announce this season that she's a lesbian. According to the September 28 TV Guide, producers of the show, including Ellen herself, plan for the coming out to be a gradual process over the first nine episodes. At press time, ABC and Disney, which produces the show through its Touchstone subsidiary, have declined to comment. Alan Klein, GLAAD's National Communications Director, said that the possible "outing" of Ellen "reflects Hollywood's commitment to diversity...this would be a milestone." For more information contact Alan Klein (GLAAD) at (212) 807-1700 or e-mail at klein@glaad.org. HAWAII GAY MARRIAGE CASE UNDERWAY: The Hawaii equal marriage rights case, Baehr v. Miike, goes into its second week in the Honolulu Circuit Court. In the case, the burden of proof is on the state to justify compelling interest in continuing discrimination against same-sex couples by denying them the right to civil marriage. The Friends of Hawai'i Equal Rights Marriage Project has established 1-900-97-MARRY in order to raise funds for the defense of same-sex marriage. For more information contact Tom Ramsey (Friends of Hawai'i Equal Rights Marriage Project) at (808) 944-6742 or e-mail at ramsey@math.hawaii.edu. For information on the trial, please contact Peg Byron (Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund) at (212) 995-8986. DOMA PROTESTS ERUPT NATIONWIDE: Lesbian and gay activists continue to stage protests to urge President Clinton to veto the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Protesters in Seattle, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. rallied last week against the large majority votes in both houses of Congress for the anti-gay bill. The San Francisco demonstration included a "rice-toss," in which rainbow-colored rice showered the crowd. Nine people were arrested during a mid-day protest outside the White House on Saturday. TONIGHT, in Los Angeles, at 6:00 PM, a rally at the corner of San Vicente and Santa Monica Boulevard will feature a number of speakers including national gay activist/author David Mixner. At 6:30 PM the protesters will attempt to block traffic, risking arrest. For more information contact Sky Johnson (L.A. Gay & Lesbian Community Center) at (213) 860-7350. NAVY GAY BASHING MURDERER ASKS FOR CLEMENCY: Terry Helvey, serving a life sentence for the vicious murder of gay Navy Petty Officer Allen Schindler in 1992, is attempting to have his sentence reduced. On October 27, 1992, in Sasebo, Japan, Helvey and his accomplice, Charles Vins, beat Schindler so badly that a medical examiner compared the injuries to those that would occur in an airplane crash. In the ensuing trial Helvey made it clear that he felt justified because Schindler was gay. Helvey's clemency hearing is scheduled for September 18. For more information contact Kirk Childress (Servicemembers Legal Defense Network) at (202) 328-2344 or e-mail at sldn1@aol.com. SHOOTING ON NEW GAY MOVIE BEGINS: On September 16, shooting begins on In and Out, a film starring Kevin Kline as a teacher who is outed by a former student (played by Matt Dillon) when the student receives an Oscar for a gay role. Tom Selleck plays a gay reporter for Entertainment Tonight who is attracted to Kline, and Debbie Reynolds plays Kline's mother. Once Kline's character is outed, he breaks off the engagement to his fiancee, played by Joan Cusack. Openly gay screenwriter Paul Rudnick penned the screenplay, Frank Oz directs and Scott Rudin produces. For more information contact Eric Myers (Paramount Pictures) at (212) 664-0364. ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE BUILDS BRIDGES: On September 21, the Denver chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will host a conference at the Denver Hilton South to address homophobia and its detrimental effects on the whole community. The training is for professionals in the fields of education, religion, business and mental health who strive to achieve diversity and acceptance. The next day, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) will hold "Changing Hearts, Changing Minds," a one-day seminar for educators seeking to bring greater inclusion of lesbian and gay issues into schools. For more information contact Tracy Phariss (GLSTN) at (303) 232-3789. To report events that merit media coverage, or news stories breaking in your area, please contact us. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is the nation's lesbian & gay news bureau and the only national lesbian & gay multimedia watchdog 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. 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