Date: Mon, 2 Mar 1998 16:57:20 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines 03.02.98 GLAADLINES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 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 NATIONAL ANTI-GAY VIOLENCE REPORT MARKS DISTURBING TRENDS: On March 3 in cities around the nation, anti-violence organizations will unveil the latest annual report, "Anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, HIV Violence in 1997," which gives startling new information on the rise in violence against the community. In Atlanta, Boston, Columbus, Detroit, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC, local organizations will release the report along with particular information relevant to violence within their own communities. Despite a significant decline in non-hate violent crime in America, anti-gay violence continues to rise. A drastic increase of anti-gay violence at the hands of law enforcement officers is just one of the deeply troubling trends identified. "It is extremely disturbing that more and more people are suffering homophobic violence at the hands of the police, the very people who are entrusted with ensuring the safety of all citizens," said Jeffrey Montgomery of Detroit's Triangle Foundation, a member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). A dramatic rise in attacks on heterosexuals perceived as being gay is also noteworthy. "This underscores the fact that hate crimes are crimes of perception. Victims are chosen not necessarily because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or HIV positive, but because the perpetrator perceives them to be," said New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (GLOV) Executive Director Christine Quinn. "No one is safe from hate crimes. It is in everyone's interest to stop this epidemic of hate." For more information contact NCAVP spokespeople Jeff Montgomery at (313) 537-3323 or Christine Quinn at (212) 807-6761. THE LAST FRONTIER TAKES FIRST STEPS TOWARD EQUAL MARRIAGE RIGHTS: On February 27, a judge in Alaska ruled that the state must show a compelling reason why same-sex marriage should be illegal or else allow gay couples equal marriage rights. In the case, brought by 20-year couple Jay Brause and Gene Dugan of Anchorage, Alaska Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski stated that choosing a partner is a fundamental right. "Whether the decision results in a traditional choice or the choice Brause and Dugan seek to have recognized...the same Constitution protects both," Michalski wrote. The decision is similar to the 1993 Hawaii Supreme Court ruling which forced the state to justify its bias against same-sex couples. That state's arguments were rejected by a state circuit court in 1996. For more information contact Bob Wagstaff (attorney for Brause and Dugan) at (907) 277-8611. MISSOURI SODOMY LAW REPEAL INTRODUCED BY GAY LEGISLATOR: Attempting to abolish an archaic sodomy statute from 1856, the first openly gay member of the Missouri State House has filed a bill with 15 other sponsors to do away with the Sexual Misconduct Law. While Representative Tim Van Zandt (D-Kansas City) is open about being gay, he is better known for his support of legislation relating to local law enforcement, zoning variances and a bistate cultural district, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We talk and we rail about big government being intrusive in our lives," said Rep. Van Zandt. "This is a perfect example of having too much government....This is about two things: Privacy and consent." For more information contact Rep. Tim Van Zandt at (573) 555-1212. GLAMA GALA TO CELEBRATE LESBIANS AND GAY MEN IN MUSIC: On March 9 at New York City's Manhattan Center, the Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA) will have its second annual awards presentation, featuring such nominees as k.d. lang, Luscious Jackson, Indigo Girls and Me'shell Ndegeocello. Performers at the event will include Anthony Rapp of Rent, Grammy-winner Fred Hersch and The Murmurs, and celebrity appearances include RuPaul, k.d. lang, Jill Sobule and Steven Kowalczyk. For more information contact Tom McCormack (GLAMA Executive Producer) at (212) 592-4455. NEW STUDY SHOWS MORE "THOUSAND POINTS OF LIGHT" ARE GAY: A study released March 2 by the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies (IGLSS) on gay giving to non-profit organizations indicates that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people volunteer much more time to non-profit organizations than do heterosexuals. The study, the first of its kind, surveyed over 2,300 people in Milwaukee, Philadelphia and San Francisco and found that members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people volunteer 61 percent more time (29 hours/week) to non-profits than do straight people (18 hours/week). In addition, the study reveals that gay people divide charitable contributions almost equally between gay and non-gay causes. For more information contact Lee Badgett (IGLSS) at (413) 577-0145 or (413) 545-0159. 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 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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