Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 17:13:46 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines June 15, 1998 GLAADLINES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 15, 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 1) ROBERTSON COULD FACE LEGAL TROUBLE FOR TERRORIST THREATS: 2) MEDIA SPOTLIGHTS HIV/AIDS ON SIXTH ANNUAL DAY OF COMPASSION: 3) NORTHERN CALIFORNIAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS BLAST BAPTIST ANTI-GAY RHETORIC: 4) HISTORIC NEW JERSEY COUPLE TO WED ON FATHER'S DAY: 5) WORLD'S LARGEST GAY/LESBIAN FILM FEST BEGINS IN SAN FRANCISCO: ROBERTSON COULD FACE LEGAL TROUBLE FOR TERRORIST THREATS: According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Chief Counsel Tony Varona, remarks made last week by religious political extremist and Christian broadcasting media mogul Pat Robertson could expose him to civil and criminal charges, should the city of Orlando face a terrorist attack. On the June 8 700 Club, Robertson predicted that Orlando could suffer "terrorist bombs...earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly a meteor" because the city flew gay pride flags along city streets to honor June as Pride Month. In the past, Robertson has issued similar warnings, predicting that natural disasters will befall perceived sinners who have somehow invoked the wrath of God, but the inclusion of the man-made "terrorist bombs" was a significant departure from his prior predictions. "Robertson has exposed himself and his Christian Broadcasting Network to significant legal action should a terrorist attack take place," said Varona. "These remarks clearly indicate a reckless disregard for the safety and well-being of the people of Orlando." Varona noted that, particularly in the wake of last year's bombings of Olympic Park, an Atlanta lesbian bar and several women's reproductive health care clinics, Robertson's remarks have the potential to incite more violence. For more information contact Communications Director David Smith (HRC) at (202) 628-4160. MEDIA SPOTLIGHTS HIV/AIDS ON SIXTH ANNUAL DAY OF COMPASSION: On June 19, media outlets nationwide will call attention to the continuing crisis of HIV/AIDS by observing the sixth annual Day of Compassion. Numerous network and cable television outlets, print publications, Internet providers and radio stations will dedicate special programming and content specifically geared toward educating and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS. Participants include General Hospital, MTV, Cristina, E! Entertainment Television and America Online (AOL). "Over the past five years, Day of Compassion has demonstrated the media's ability to call attention to compelling social issues such as HIV/AIDS," said Joan M. Garry, GLAAD Executive Director. "While it is important to highlight the remarkable progress being made in the medical arena, it is critical to remind the public that this is not a time to be complacent. Now, more than ever before, education and accessible information are essential elements in the prevention of this disease." On June 19 (10pm EST/7pm Pac), GLAAD, Datalounge and gay.com will conduct a global Virtual Town Meeting with HIV/AIDS activist Sean Sasser. See GLAAD Online for more details ( http://www.glaad.org ). For more information contact Bill Horn (GLAAD Assistant Entertainment Media Director) at (213) 658-6775 or via e-mail at horn@glaad.org. NORTHERN CALIFORNIAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS BLAST BAPTIST ANTI-GAY RHETORIC: A group of more than 75 religious leaders in Northern California has expressed outrage over the anti-gay messages issued in the Southern Baptist Convention's recent "Faith and Message" statement. Speaking for the All Our Families Coalition (AOFC) Clergy Caucus, a newly-formed interfaith group devoted to the basic civil and religious rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families, Rev. Doug Donley of the Delores Street Baptist Church in San Francisco, said, "The Southern Baptist Convention does not speak for the majority of Baptists on this issue. We are shocked and horrified by the climate of exclusivity in the Southern Baptist Convention. We find the statement passed by the Convention extremely anti-family as well as short-sighted." Of the Clergy Caucus' formation, lesbian mom and AOFC Executive Director Cheryl Deaner added, "The willingness of so many clergy from so many religious traditions to support same-gender marriage contradicts the fundamentalists' claim that America's families should conform to their narrow vision." For more information contact Cheryl Deaner (AOFC) at (415) 681-1960. HISTORIC NEW JERSEY COUPLE TO WED ON FATHER'S DAY: Jon and Michael Galluccio, the New Jersey couple who, in December 1997, became the first in the state to successfully jointly adopt their children, will be joined in Holy Union on Father's Day, June 21 at the Episcopal Church of Atonement in Fair Lawn. "This Diocese has pledged to support our clergy when they act as priest and pastor to the gay and lesbian members of our Church," said the Right Reverend John Shelby Spong, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. "I am proud to honor the Galluccio family by supporting this blessing as part of the full ministry of this diocese." GLAAD Executive Director Joan M. Garry, the first person in New Jersey to legally adopt her partner's biological child, said, "Jon and Michael's commitment to one another demonstrates what 'family values' are really about: love and determination. Clearly, it is time for our community to receive the legal respect and dignity which our heterosexual friends and families enjoy." For more information contact Dale Gruner (Public Relations, Episcopal Church) at (973) 430-9915. WORLD'S LARGEST GAY/LESBIAN FILM FEST BEGINS IN SAN FRANCISCO: The new Ally Sheedy film High Art will open the 22nd Annual San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, which is the oldest and most-attended lesbian and gay film festival in the country. Other highlights of the 11-day festival include Dakan, the first gay feature from West Africa, Relax...It's Just Sex, starring Jennifer Tilly, Mitchell Anderson and Lori Petty and a host of films and videos by and about female to male transsexuals. GLAAD is co-presenting two TV related documentaries on June 19, The Real Ellen Story and Tickled Pink. "As a longstanding supporter of Ellen and an advocate for diverse and accurate television representations, GLAAD is proud to be co-presenting these documentaries," said GLAAD San Francisco Media Resource Center Manager Don Romesburg. For more information contact Karen Larsen (Larsen Associates) at (415) 957-1205. 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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