Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 17:58:09 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines August 31, 1998 GLAADLINES Contact: Sharen Shaw Johnson (202) 986-1360 x193 sjohnson@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 1998 News and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the Labor Day holiday, next week's GLAADLines will be released on Tuesday, Sept. 8 instead of its normal Monday publication. EMMA BRINGS HOME EMMY GOLD: On Saturday, Aug. 29, Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson won a primetime Emmy for her appearance last November on Ellen. The Emmy for best guest actress in a comedy series was awarded to the British actress at the creative arts portion of the 50th annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles for her depiction of a closeted lesbian actress. "Emma Thompson's disarming, honest and, above all, hilarious performance is a testament to the quality of a history-making season of television," said Joan M. Garry, GLAAD's Executive Director. "Her guest appearance on Ellen, and now her subsequent Emmy win, demonstrates the level of professionalism and talent she brings to every role." Highlights from Saturday evening will appear on cable's TV Land on Friday, Sept. 11. The main ceremony will be broadcast live two days later on NBC. Other nominations for gay-themed work include Ellen DeGeneres (outstanding actress in a comedy series), Gia (six nominations, including outstanding made-for-television movie) and Armistead Maupin's More Tales of the City (five nominations, including outstanding miniseries). For more information contact William Horn (GLAAD Assistant Entertainment Media Director) at (213) 658-6775, ext. 17 or via e-mail at horn@glaad.org . WHOLE LOTTA SINGIN' GOIN' ON: Hundreds of lesbian and gay choristers are expected to gather in Dallas Friday through Sunday, Sept. 4-7, for GALA Choruses' 1998 Leadership Conference and Singers Weekend. Special guest artists for the weekend include Sweet Honey in the Rock. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this November, the internationally renowned a capella ensemble will perform Friday evening. The weekend also will include three concerts by choruses to be formed from among participants. The Leadership Conference, which GALA Choruses is merging with its Singers Weekend, is a skills-building institute for leaders of its member choruses, most of which have produced their own tapes and CDs and have performed internationally. GALA Choruses is a national association representing 8,000 singers in 170 lesbian and gay member choruses. For more information contact Eve Campbell at (888) 275-1021. WIGSTOCK 1998: Deborah Harry, CeCe Peniston, Kristine W., Byron Stingily and other Billboard Dance Chart regulars are slated to join some 60 performers in New York City this Sunday, Sept. 6, for Wigstock 1998. Others in the all-day show, being emceed by The "Lady" Bunny, a Wigstock founder, will include Honey Dijon, Sister Codie Ravioli, Flotilla DeBarge, Candis Cayne and Sherry Vine. The celebration, expected to attract 10,000 spectators, is to take place on Pier 54 in Manhattan's West Village. The event is in its 13th year; it was the subject of Wigstock: The Movie, a 1995 feature-length documentary. For more information, contact David O'Connell at (212) 213-2438. FAMILY TREE TURNS NEW LEAF: The Family Tree, a fledging all-volunteer lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community center in Tallahassee, Fla., is throwing its first birthday party from 8-11 p.m Saturday, Sept. 5, complete with cake and presents. The Family Tree, with a total budget of just $40,000, already has provided more than 12,000 hours of community service and has reached thousands of persons through its education and training programs. The all-volunteer community center exemplifies the services many such organizations provide their communities despite small budgets and few or no paid staff. It also exemplifies the need for such centers even when similar programs are available elsewhere. Explains Executive Director Barbara Lynn Ross: "Until there are full legal protections for lgbt people, mainstream social service agencies are simply not safe for most people in our population. Members of our community will not use them. That's why our centers are vital." For more information please contact Barbara Lynn Ross at (850) 222-8555. 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 Wonbo Woo at (212) 807-1700 or at woo@glaad.org . "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered 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. 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