Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 16:22:34 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines 06.23.97 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 1997 News, Tips and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community SOUTHERN BAPTIST BOYCOTT OUT OF STEP WITH AMERICAN VALUES: Most Americans in general and many Southern Baptists-including President Clinton-oppose the boycott of Disney that church leaders are attempting to impose on their followers. The call for boycott, which came last week at the Southern Baptist Convention, targets Disney and all subsidiaries in part because of domestic partnership benefits for same-sex partners of employees, allowing an unofficial "Gay Day" at its theme park and inclusive representation within its programming. A June 30 Newsweek poll indicates over 70 percent of Americans reject the idea of the Disney boycott, nearly two-thirds said that gay couples at Disney theme parks do not reduce the enjoyment of straight visitors and a majority felt that gay couples should be legally recognized for inheritance rights and health benefits. In addition to Clinton's rebuffing of the anti-gay agenda of Southern Baptist church leaders, many local ministers and followers have also expressed ambivalence. "Most of the Baptist pastors I've talked to are not paying attention to [the boycott]," stated Rev. Mack Thompson of the Ridge Road Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C. "Americans can see through this boycott as an attack on the country's basic values of equality and inclusion," said GLAAD Executive Director Joan Garry. "All fair-minded people reject this call for divisiveness and a radical anti-gay agenda." For more information contract Liz Tracey (GLAAD Associate Communications Director) at (212) 807-1700 or pgr. (800) 946-4646 pin# 1423527. MCDONALD'S STANDS STRONG WITH DISNEY IN FACE OF ANTI-GAY ATTACK: On June 19, McDonald's Corporation affirmed marketing partner Walt Disney Company in the face of the Southern Baptist Convention attempted boycott. "The Walt Disney Co. is an outstanding organization with an excellent, well-deserved reputation for promoting family entertainment," McDonald's spokesman Charles Ebeling said. "'Family' entertainment includes representations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," said Liz Tracey, GLAAD associate communications director. "It is heartening to know that McDonald's supports Disney in recognizing the importance of inclusion and celebrating family in all its forms." For more information contact Liz Tracey (GLAAD) at (212) 807-1700 or pgr. (800) 946-4646 pin# 1423527. RADICAL RELIGIOUS GROUPS "FAMILY FRIENDLY" LISTINGS REVEAL HYPOCRISY: The Parents Television Council, an arm of the anti-gay radical religious group Media Research Center, recently released its annual list of the top ten most and least "family-friendly" television programs with seemingly conflicting standards. While ABC's Spin City and FOX's Melrose Place were cited at some of the "Least Family-Friendly" for gay-inclusive stories, two of the top "Most Family-Friendly" programs, CBS's Touched By An Angel and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, both of which prominently featured shows about confronting anti-gay intolerance, appreciating lesbian and gay relationships and celebrating love and acceptance for gay members of one's family. "Touched By An Angel was even nominated for a 1997 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Television-Individual Episode," noted Chastity Bono, GLAAD Entertainment Media Director. "The apparent confusion of the Parents Television Council just goes to show how good family entertainment goes hand-in-hand with fair, accurate and inclusive representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people-and how difficult it is for anti-gay groups to comprehend this obvious fact." For more information contact Liz Tracey (GLAAD Associate Communications Director) at (212) 807-1700 or pgr. (800) 946-4646 pin# 1423527. PRIDE WEEKEND CELEBRATES FREEDOM: During the last weekend of June, to commemorate the Stonewall Riots that symbolically kicked off the movement for lesbian and gay civil rights, cities all over the country are holding major Pride celebrations. Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus. Eugene (OR), Houston, Key West, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, San Francisco and St. Louis venues will bring millions of lesbian. gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families and friends together. "GLAAD is proud to participate in Pride events in 12 communities nationwide," said Joan Garry, GLAAD Executive Director. "We are particularly excited to be able to coordinate Pride with the opening of our Atlanta Media Resource Center which will enable us to serve the South even better in ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive media representation." For more information contact Liz Tracey (GLAAD Associate Communications Director) at(212) 807-1700 or pgr. (800) 946-4646 pin# 1423527. NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY: On June 27, nearly 10,000 organizations nationwide will offer free HIV testing and counseling for the Third Annual National HIV Testing Day. "The earlier a person is diagnosed and begins to monitor his or her health, the greater chance of remaining healthy," said A. Cornelius Baker, executive director of the National Association of People with AIDS. For more information, contact James Dale (Medisphere Communications) at (212) 213-4211. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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