Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 18:50:23 -0800 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLINES - March 29, 1999 GLAADLINES - March 29, 1999 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jerry Weinstein (212) 807-1700 x18 weinstein@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org News and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Index to stories: MATTHEW SHEPARD TRIAL BEGINS METHODIST MINISTER CONVICTED FOR PERFORMING COMMITMENT CEREMONY GAY AND LESBIAN MUSIC AWARDS SCHEDULED FOR MID-APRIL BOY SCOUTS IN CALIFORNIA SUED FOR FIRING GAY EMPLOYEE MIDWESTERN BISEXUALITY CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN MINNESOTA MATTHEW SHEPARD TRIAL BEGINS: Laramie, Wyoming braced itself for a media barrage as the state opened its case against Russell Arthur Henderson, the first of two defendants charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery. (Co-defendant Aaron McKinney is scheduled for trial in August.) The trial comes in the midst of two recent killings which has drawn public attention to hate violence and the need for hate crimes legislation. (Only twenty-one states have hate crimes that include incidents tied to sexual orientation. Wyoming is one of ten states that have no hate crime laws.) Federal approval of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act would speed up prosecutions and allow tougher sentencing guidelines. "They can help change the climate in this country, where some people feel it is OK to target specific groups of people and get away with it," said Judy Shepard, at a Washington D.C. news conference last Tuesday. Opening statements are tentatively set for April 6. For more information, contact John Little, president, United Gays & Lesbians of Wyoming at (307) 766-2939, and Jim Osborn, advisor to the LGBTA at the University of Wyoming, (307) 766-2939. METHODIST MINISTER CONVICTED FOR PERFORMING COMMITMENT CEREMONY: A Chicago pastor was convicted by a United Methodist court for violating a newly articulated church law forbidding ministers to celebrate same-sex unions. The Rev. Gregory Dell argued that he was fulfilling the deepest needs of his parishioners when he presided over the union of two gay men. In a vote of 10-3, a jury of thirteen church elders rejected this argument. Pending sentencing, Dell might be stripped of his ministerial credentials, or be met with a light punishment. glaad's Manager of Educational Services Jane Ralph observed, "Even when a trial is lost, attention is brought to the ongoing discrimination that exists. Such visibility always benefits our community. As someone who has also experienced removal from the office of ordained ministry because of a policy that discriminates, I feel deeply for Pr. Dell's loss. My hope is with greater visibility and more people challenging these discriminatory standards, they will change." The case has broad impact as it might influence the outcome of a mass trial, later this year, of sixty-nine California Methodist ministers who took part in a lesbian wedding service in Sacramento in January as a group act of defiance. For further information, contact Jane Ralph at (816) 756-5991, or via e-mail at ralph@glaad.org . GAY AND LESBIAN MUSIC AWARDS SCHEDULED FOR MID-APRIL: On Monday, April 12,1999 The Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards will honor musicians in the categories of acoustic/folk, alternative, jazz, comedy, choral, cabaret, dance, pop and classical. Nominees include: The Klezmatics with Chava Albertstein; Sandra Bernhard; Fred Hersch; Rufus Wainwright; Ani Di Franco; Bob Mould; and Steven Kowalczyk. Co-producers Michael Mitchell and Tom McCormack began the event three years ago "to honor the achievements of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender artists in the music industry because their challenge is to not only create great music but do so without compromising their integrity." The event will be held at the Manhattan Center, 311 W. 34th St., New York City. General admission seats are $25. For further information, visit the web site at www.glama.com . To purchase tickets phone Box Office Tickets at (800) 494-8497. BOY SCOUTS IN CALIFORNIA SUED FOR FIRING GAY EMPLOYEE: Eagle Scout Chris Keener was an employee of the Boy Scouts of America for twenty-two years before an intensive internal investigation into his personal life caused him to be terminated. On March 23 the former Assistant Council Executive filed a complaint alleging wrongful termination, emotional distress, sexual orientation discrimination and invasion of privacy. "This treatment of a gay employee by the Boy Scouts is outrageous," said Keener's attorney Geoffrey Kors. "For an organization which purports to be instilling boys and young men with values and moral character to have a policy of firing employees known to be gay is highly offensive and illegal." While the California Supreme Court ruled in 1998 that the Boy Scouts was a private organization, and as such could bar gays from its employ, California's employment discrimination laws apply to private associations, thus allowing employees to sue when they are fired based on sexual orientation." For further information please contact Jerry Weinstein glaad's Publications Manager, at (212) 807-1200. MIDWESTERN BISEXUALITY CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN MINNESOTA: On April 23-25, Metropolitan State University will host "Because '99: A Home of Our Own," the 8th annual upper Midwest conference by and for bisexuals, their friends and allies. Keynote speakers include Dr. Fritz Klein, author of The Bisexual Option, and Robyn Ochs, well-known bisexual activist, co-founder of the Boston Bisexual Women's Network and former Vice President of Boston's Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Speaker's Bureau. For registration and conference information email because99@hotmail.com, phone (612) 822-0127 x503. 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. 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