Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 18:01:29 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines 02.02.98 GLAADLINES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 1998 News and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org ELLEN GOES ON HIATUS: ABC has announced that their history-making sitcom Ellen will be on hiatus for six weeks beginning March 11 and GLAAD hopes that this does not signal any intentions on ABC's part to cancel the landmark program. Sources at both ABC and Touchstone Television have indicated to GLAAD that the decision to cancel or renew Ellen could happen at any time, and GLAAD is working to ensure the survival of the groundbreaking show. During the hiatus, ABC will run a new comedy, Two Guys, A Girl and A Pizza Place. "During the hiatus, millions of viewers will miss what is undoubtedly the strongest lesbian or gay representation on network television," said GLAAD Interim Communications Director Cathy Renna. "Americans who have come to expect the high quality, diverse programming Ellen represents must let ABC know that we look forward to their renewal of the show for another season. It is time to save Ellen." For more information contact Cathy Renna (GLAAD Interim Communications Director) at (212) 807-1700 or pgr. (301) 215-1354. ARKANSAS SODOMY LAW CHALLENGED: Local Little Rock, Arkansas, organizations joined with the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (LLDEF) on January 28 to announce a lawsuit on behalf of seven lesbians and gay men against the state's sodomy ban. Currently, the statute makes certain sexual behaviors, including oral sex between two same-sex consenting adults a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. LLDEF is seeking that the law be declared unconstitutional, with the plaintiffs arguing that the statute violates their rights of equal treatment and privacy. "This law creates a second-class status for lesbians and gay men, criminalizing intimate, sexual behavior that is perfectly legal for non-gay people," said LLDEF Staff Attorney Suzanne B. Goldberg. Arkansas is one of six states that single out only same-sex sexual relations for criminalization. For more information contact Peg Byron (LLDEF) at (212) 809-8585, ext. 230. MARINE COURT MARTIALED AFTER ANTI-GAY BOMBING: Groups monitoring the investigation of the July 12, 1997, bombing of a Washington, D.C. gay bar issued guarded praise to the U.S. Marines for the punishment given to a Marine who plead guilty in the attack, but hastened to criticize the Marines' for failed to identity the bombing as an anti-gay hate crime. On January 29, Lance Corporal Ryan Barren admitted to conspiracy, assault and theft and was court martialed with a bad-conduct discharge and sentenced to 120 days' confinement. "We're pleased the sentence appears to be more than a wrist slap," said Sharen Shaw Johnson of Gay Men & Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV). "But this was an anti-gay hate crime: The military court's negligence in failing to mention this insults our community." For more information contact Johnson (GLOV) at (202) 737-4569. GLAAD AWARDS HONOR DEGENERES, LANG AND OTHERS: On February 2, GLAAD announced its special honorees for the 9th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, which include Ellen DeGeneres, k.d. lang, Judith Light and Bob and Harvey Weinstein. At the March 30 New York ceremony, GLAAD will honor k.d. lang with the Vito Russo Entertainer Award, presented to an openly lesbian or gay individual who has achieved excellence in a specific area of media and has furthered the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community through his/her work. Also being honored in New York are the Co-Chairmen of Miramax Films, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who will receive the Excellence in Media Award for individuals in the entertainment and media industries who have included lesbians and gay men in their work, furthering the visibility and greater understanding of the community. At the April 4 Washington, DC ceremony, GLAAD will honor Judith Light with its Vision Award for an individual that has had a long-term vision and commitment to making a significant difference in society by promoting equal rights for lesbians and gay men. On April 19, in LA, Ellen DeGeneres will accept GLAAD's Stephen F. Kolzak Award, presented to an openly lesbian or gay individual in the media for an outstanding contribution in combating homophobia. For more information contact Cathy Renna (GLAAD Interim Communications Director) at (212) 807-1700 or pgr. (301) 215-1354. EXPOSED! KICKS OFF MONTH OF GAY CAMPUS CONFERENCES NATIONWIDE: On February 6-8, Exposed!, the Ninth Annual University of California Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference, kicks off a month of regional lesbian and gay college conferences nationwide. Exposed!, being held at UC-Santa Cruz, aims to critically address coming out and building diverse communities. On February 13-15, "Eye on the Future," the Seventh Annual Southeastern Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual College Conference, will be held at University of Florida, Gainesville to build leadership skills for activism and empowerment. Finally, at the University of Southern Maine, Portland, February 20-22, the Fourth Northeastern Regional Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Leadership Conference will focus on a wide range of concerns from activism to hate crimes and campus safety. For more information contact Chad Sanger (Exposed!) at (800) 866-6263, the UFG LGBSU office (Eye on the Future) at (352) 39201665, ext. 310 or Sarah Holmes (Northeastern Conference) at (207) 780-4379. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is the largest national lesbian & gay multimedia advocacy 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. 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