Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 13:57:59 -0400 From: glaad@glaad.org (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Subject: GLAADLines 05.12.97 GLAADLINES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 1997 contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 1997 News, Tips and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community GAY-RELATED PROGRAMS GARNER PRESTIGIOUS PEABODYS: Among the recipients of the 1996 George Foster Peabody Awards for excellence in broadcasting, a number of gay-inclusive programs stand out. Two network television series, ABC's NYPD Blue and Fox's The Simpsons both have prominent gay and lesbian characters and plotlines. The Celluloid Closet, HBO's groundbreaking documentary on the history of lesbian and gay representation in the movies, also will be honored during the ceremony being held in New York May 12. "It seems that the Peabody Awards, like many of the programs receiving them this year, recognize the additional quality that diversity and lesbian and gay inclusion can bring to entertainment media," said Chastity Bono, GLAAD Entertainment Director. "GLAAD congratulations go out to the producers and networks of NYPD Blue, The Simpsons and the Celluloid Closet." For more information contact Bill Horn (GLAAD Publicity Associate) at (212) 807-1700. ONQ CREATES INTERNET SAFE ZONE FOR GAYS IN MILITARY: onQ, the largest and oldest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender area on America Online, has created a new, safe area for active duty service members affected by the Pentagon's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" policy. The new area will offer a "secure" message board entitled "Operation Free Speech" that will allow full anonymity for service members to post messages. The area will also include personal stories, observations, essays and other resources for service members. To access the area, log on to America Online, using the keyword: Military onQ. For more information contact Gwen Smith (onQ Director of Programming) at (415) 626-8424 or by e-mail at onQGwen@aol.com. AIDS WALK NEW YORK MARCHES ON: The "world's largest AIDS fundrasier," the 12th Annual AIDS Walk New York, gets underway at 9:00 AM on May 18. Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), the sponsoring organization, expects over 35,000 to step out for the event. Celebrity hosts include Tony Randall with special guests Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins and Nell Carter. Aside from GMHC, 70 other AIDS service organizations will benefit from the walk. For more information contact Stephen Soba (GMHC) at (212) 337-3477. SIR IAN MCKELLEN PERFORMING SHOW TO BENEFIT GLAAD: In his first Los Angeles performance in four years, Sir Ian McKellen will perform in a one-man solo show, "A Knight Out in Los Angeles," to benefit local theatre and gay community organizations, including GLAAD. Staged at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, "A Knight Out" tells the story of his experiences in theatre and his own sense of sexual identity and decision to come out just before Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 1990. In addition to GLAAD, the performances, running May 16-June 1, benefit the Ian McKellen Scholarship in Acting at UCLA, Highways Performance Space, the Gay and Lesbian Center and the Hobart Boulevard School Shakespeare Program. For more information please contact Ken Werther at (818) 972-4676. LONG BEACH PRIDE TO BE HUGE EVENT: On May 18-19, the Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival will bring over 85,000 people to the California city for a parade, entertainment and a forum for the community to learn more about its organizations and businesses. This year's event, themed "Power, Progress, Pride = Equality Through Visibility," will feature over 200 vendors of food, information and artisans, the largest dance floor in Southern California and talent including Lea Delaria, Karen Williams, Jason Stuart, disappear fear and BETTY. For more information contact Carol A. Hass (Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Publicity Committee Co-chair) at (310) 987-9191. 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. "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bill Horn Publicity Associate (New York Office) GLAAD -- The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation E-Mail: horn@glaad.org Phone: (212) 807-1700 Fax: (212) 807-1806 GLAAD Online http://www.glaad.org -- AlertLine 1-(800) GAY MEDIA GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging all forms of 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.