Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 17:11:55 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines 04.21.97 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 1997 News, Tips and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community BIRMINGHAM "WELCOME OUT ELLEN PARTY" A COMMUNITY AFFAIR: In an event that is becoming a focal point for Alabama organizations and community members to come together, Birmingham Pride Alabama, working with GLAAD, will hold the "Official Welcome Out Ellen Party" at Boutwell Auditorium on April 30. The event was prompted by the local ABC affiliate, ABC 33/40, refusing to air the history-making episode of Ellen. In addition to ensuring lesbians, gay men and their families and friends a chance to see the show, the party will also include dancing, letter-writing and an "indoor street fair," where local gay, AIDS and civil rights organizations will have the opportunity to promote and educate the community about their work.. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Alabama (GALAA) will also be holding a press conference April 24 at 2 p.m. to discuss the station's ban, and a protest is planned for April 28. For more information, contact Alan Klein (GLAAD National Communications Director) at (212)807-1700 or David White (GALAA) at (205) 985-5609. AFTER LEGISLATIVE DEFEAT, HAWAII LEGAL EFFORT CONTINUES: Hawaii state lawmakers may have voted April 17 to send to voters a proposed constitutional amendment letting the Legislature ban same-sex marriage, but the state Supreme Court may rule in favor of same-sex marriage before then. The amendment would specifically not ban same-sex marriage outright, but give lawmakers the right to define marriage. Dan Foley, the lawyer representing the lesbian and gay couples involved in Baehr v. Miike, predicts that if the court rules in favor of same-sex marriage, which is likely, Hawaiians will see that granting equal rights to same-sex couples won't adversely affect the economy, the family or heterosexual marriage, and thus they would be far less likely to approve any such amendment. According to Evan Wolfson, marriage project director for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (LLDEF), even if the public passes the amendment, the Legislature still has to vote to ban same-sex marriage and public favor may turn against them. "Once lesbian and gay couples marry legally," Wolfson noted, "people will see that the sky does not fall." For more information contact Evan Wolfson (LLDEF) at (212) 809-8585, ext. 205. NATIONAL YOUTH ADVOCACY COALITION HOLDS FIRST SUMMIT: The National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC), an organization made up of members from organizations around the country dedicated to improving the lives of young people facing discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity, is holding its first annual summit in Washington, D.C., April 27-29. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth, service providers and advocates attending will exchange cutting-edge information, develop local, state and national advocacy strategies and participate in a host of roundtables and skills-building discussions. For more information contact Andy Garcia (NYAC outreach and education coordinator) at (202) 319-7596. LESBIAN PARTNERS DISHONORED BY CEMETERY: Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (LLDEF) has filed a suit against Har Jehuda Cemetery in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, for refusing to erect a headstone requested by a lesbian and her partner. In Barone v. Har Jehuda Cemetery, LLDEF will argue that Sherry Barone and her now-deceased partner, Cynthia Freidman, signed extensive documents in an effort to ensure that Barone would be given full legal authority about arrangements after her death in 1994. The cemetery now insists it cannot follow Barone's instructions for the headstone, which is to read: "Beloved life partner, daughter, granddaughter, sister, and aunt." Har Jehuda cites the wishes of Freidman's parents to remove "life partner" as their reason to leave the grave unmarked. "This couple did everything a lesbian or gay couple can do to make sure their relationship was given legal effect," said David S. Buckel, Lambda staff attorney. "Sherry Barone instead has faced the pain and stress of seeing her partner's explicit wishes disrespected and of having to fight for the most basic respect for their relationship." Both women are Jewish, and as a result of the cemetery's refusal, the traditional unveiling of the headstone had to occur without a gravemarker. "My life cannot go on fully until I know that Cynthia's spirit is at rest, her wished having been carried out," Barone said. For more information contact Peg Byron (LLEDF) at (212) 809-8585 or prg. (888) 987-1984. EDUCATORS GO TO SCHOOL ABOUT GAY ISSUES: "Working Together for Understanding," a conference for educators and those interested in the issues of sexual orientation, inclusiveness, homophobia and diversity, will be held in Sylmar, California on April 26. The event is hosted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) and the United Teachers of Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Issues Committee (GALIC). In addition to keynote speaker California Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Sheila Kuehl, there will be workshops, resources, networking and a screening of the 1997 GLAAD Media Award-winning documentary It's Elementary. For more information contact Cathy Figel (GLSTN) at (818) 367-1971. 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. "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 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 the nation's lesbian and gay news bureau and the only national lesbian and gay multimedia watchdog organization. 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 registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.