Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 17:29:59 -0500
From: glaad@glaad.org (GLAAD)
Subject: GLAADLINES 1.12.98

GLAADLINES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 12, 1998
News, Tips and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Community

contact:  Don Romesburg
(415) 861-2244
romesburg@glaad.org
http://www.glaad.org

DON'T ASK, DON'T AOL?: Both the Navy and America Online (AOL) are facing
scrutiny from gay and cyberlibertarian groups for a sailor facing discharge
for "homosexual conduct admittance" because his AOL screen name profile
identified him as gay. Lawyers for the sailor, Timothy McVeigh (no relation
to the Oklahoma City bomber), say that the Navy would not have been able to
legally link him with his profile if an AOL employee had not provided his
identity to a Naval investigator, which the online service provider did,
according to sworn military testimony. Providing the names of subscribers
violates AOL's confidentiality policy, and AOL denies that they would have
given such information to a third party. According to the Center for
Democracy and Technology (CDT), the Navy investigator violated the federal
Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which would require a government
agency to go through an "appropriate legal process in which, at least, they
seek an administrative subpoena." AOL may have also violated the law by
providing the information. After McVeigh and his attorneys made the
controversy public, AOL canceled his account on January 8. For more
information contact Graeme Browning (CDT Communications Director) at (202)
637-9800.

FAITH COMMUNITY RALLIES TO CHALLENGE PROMISE KEEPERS: Equal Partners in
Faith, a multi-racial grassroots coalition of mainstream people of faith
committed to equality and diversity, will hold a speak out and press
conference outside the Promise Keepers' January 15 Philadelphia kick-off of
a nine-city clergy recruitment campaign. During the morning of the event,
being held at the Apollo Arena of Temple University, Equal Partners in
Faith representatives will hand out fliers in part making clear the Promise
Keepers leaderships opposition to equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender people. "The leaders of the Promise Keepers are pushing
their vision of the heterosexual male-dominated family structure into
churches and a society that have just begun to embrace diversity," said
Chris Purdom, Co-coordinator of the local Interfaith Working Group. At
noon, the Equal Partners in Faith will hold a press conference, announcing
their commitment to countering anti-gay Promise Keepers propaganda in each
city of the recruitment tour. For more information contact Laura Montgomery
Rutt (EPF National Organizer) at (717) 581-8292.

HISTORIC S.F. DOMESTIC PARTNER LAW A SUCCESS: Six months after the City of
San Francisco began implementing a law requiring companies doing business
with the City to comply with domestic partner benefits policy, the city's
Human Rights Commission (HRC) has declared it a success. To date, 1270 City
contractors now offer the benefits to their employees. Since the ordinance
requires that companies comply in all of its locations throughout the U.S.,
approximately 642,757 employees now receive equal benefits. "This historic
piece of legislation has had a far-reaching impact on the number of
businesses providing [these] benefits to their employees and the number of
insurance providers across the country offering domestic partner coverage.
We are thrilled with the success of this anti-discrimination law," said HRC
Director Marivic Bamba. For more information contact Cynthia G. Goldstein
(HRC Program Manager) at (415) 252-2515.

GLAMA NOMINEES ANNOUNCED: On January 12, the Gay/Lesbian American Music
Awards (GLAMA) announced nominees for its Second Annual GLAMA, including
Me'Shell Ndegeocello, the Indigo Girls and Erasure. Among the 72 nominees
in 14 categories, ranging from Best Male and Female Artists to Comedy to
Original Out Song, include k.d. lang (Best Album for Drag), Lucious Jackson
(Band) and Ferron (three categories). RuPaul will receive the Outmusic
Award which honors him for his "embodiment of courage and truthful
self-expression." The awards show will be held in New York City on March 9.
For more information contact Craig Karpel (The Karpel Group) at (212)
989-0300.

To report events that merit media coverage, or news stories breaking in
your area, please contact us.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation  (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 registered trademarks
of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.

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"GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered
trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.