Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 17:22:49 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines 07.21.97 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 1997 News, Tips and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community CUNANAN COVERAGE ALL OVER THE MAP: After the death of fashion designer Gianni Versace, media coverage of suspected murderer Andrew Cunanan has been mixed. Some stories have discussed the important angles of lesbian and gay anti-violence projects around the country alerting their communities, or named Gianni Versace's partner when reporting on his murder, while others continually referred to Cunanan as a "bloodthirsty gay serial killer", and speculated about how Versace's sexual orientation (he was openly gay) put him in harm's way. GLAAD has issued a guide for media professionals, "The Do's and Don'ts of Reporting 'Murder By Design'", that has been distributed to more than 5,000 media outlets and professionals. Additionally, GLAAD has issued a media roundup of some of the coverage since Versace's death, discussing the best and worst coverage. "Many of the articles and reports GLAAD is seeing around the Cunanan case are based on tired, archaic stereotypes of the community, and only serve to further confuse the public about who lesbian and gay people are. Of course these stories should refer to Cunanan's sexual orientation, but only as far as it serves to tell the story, not to sensationalize it," said Liz Tracey, GLAAD's Associate Communications Director. For more information, or to get a copy of the "Do's and Don'ts," please contact Liz Tracey (GLAAD) at (212) 807-1700, or via pager at (800) 946-4646, PIN # 1423527. 17 CONNECTICUT COLLEGES FACE LOSING FEDERAL AID: The Pentagon recently released a list of colleges in the U.S. that stand to lose their federal aid, in the form of federal contracts and grants, if they continue to outlaw military recruiting. On the list are 17 of Connecticut's colleges, complying with a state Supreme Court decision that said military recruiting on campus violates the state law which forbids discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation. The Connecticut colleges are in a double bind, not able to comply with both federal and state expectations. Other colleges on the list include Kenyon College, Mills College, and the City College of San Francisco. Many law schools have banned military recruiting because it violates their campus policies against discrimination. The colleges have until March 29 of next year to make changes. For more information contact Natalie Turner, spokesperson for the Connecticut State University System at (860) 493-0000. 4TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE ON BISEXUALITY: To help educate and foster a stronger bi community, BiNet Los Angeles presents a conference this weekend, July 25-27, at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. Examining issues such as bisexual activism, coming out as bisexual, the bisexual continuum and acceptance by the lesbian and gay community, the conference includes 16 workshops and several other events. For more information contact BiNet L.A. at (213) 882-4402. GAY COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS CONVERGE IN SALT LAKE CITY: The International Gay Rodeo Association's (IGRA) 13th Annual Convention takes place in Salt Lake City, July 24-27. While the convention is the business meeting for members of IGRA, another event is being held in conjunction---the International Country Western Dance Competition on the 25th and 26th. At the dance competition, members of the chapters of IGRA will be competing in four levels of dance competition, from first time to advanced. For more information, contact Thom Sloan, IGRA PR Spokesperson at (505) 272-2670. LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS "BUILD THE BIG TENT" IN D.C.: Senator Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY) and openly gay Representative Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) will address the Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) at their National Convention in Washington D.C. from July 23-27. Log Cabin Republicans is the largest gay and lesbian Republican organization with 11,000 members and over 50 chapters nationwide. Rep. Sonny Bono (R-FL) and Rep. Tom Shays (R-CT) will also attend parts of the event. D'Amato will be receiving the "Spirit of Lincoln" Award from the LCR. While in D.C., members will take time to lobby their representatives with their 1997 Agenda, which includes AIDS funding and employment non-discrimination legislation. For more information, contact Kevin Ivers (202) 347-5306 x12. 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. 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.