Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1999 18:29:45 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines - April 26, 1999 GLAADLINES Contact: Jerry Weinstein GLAAD Publications Manager (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: 1. NEW HAMPSHIRE MOVES TO ALLOW GAY ADOPTION 2. PITT STUDENTS HUNGER STRIKE FOR GAY CIVIL RIGHTS 3. GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE AT CENTER OF CONTROVERSY 4. INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLERS AND WRITERS ARE HONORED 5. GFN.COM FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH GMAC NEW HAMPSHIRE MOVES TO ALLOW GAY ADOPTION: On Friday, April 23, the New Hampshire Senate repealed legislation banning lesbians and gay men from adopting children or becoming foster parents. (The law went so far as to prevent heterosexual parents from adopting if one of their extended family members was a lesbian or gay man.) While Arkansas and Utah administratively prevent lesbians and gay men from adopting children through Department of Social Services policy, with this repeal, Florida becomes the only state in the country to legislatively uphold a similar ban. Said Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, "It has been instructive that one of the two states to prohibit lesbians and gay men from adoption has reversed its policy [=8A] While such a ban has proved to b= e a political wedge issue, in the end the victims are the children." For further comment, please contact Jennifer Einhorn at (212) 206-3643. PITT STUDENTS HUNGER STRIKE FOR GAY CIVIL RIGHTS: In 1990 the city of Pittsburgh passed an ordinance barring employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. In 1995, a University of Pittsburgh writing instructor Deborah Henson sought health benefits for her lesbian partner, was denied them, and subsequently filed a writ with the Human Rights Commission. Since April 11 twenty-students, calling themselves the Equal Rights Alliance, have been on a hunger strike to protest this injustice. The students want a public forum with the trustees to discuss Pitt's flouting of the city law. "If you remove an ordinance, it would be perfectly legal to discriminate against gay people in Pittsburgh," said ACLU attorney Christine Biancheria. =46or further information, please contact Vic Walcvak, staff attorney for th= e ACLU Greater Pittsburgh chapter at (412) 681-7736 and via fax at (412) 681-8707. GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE AT CENTER OF CONTROVERSY: With last week's tragedy in Littleton, Colorado, violence in our public schools has become the topic of discussion. While East High School [Salt Lake City] Principal Kay Peterson has said, "Every student has a right to feel safe at school," many of his fellow educators disagree. After a six-minute presentation on April 9 by the school's Gay Straight Alliance, the group was rebuked, and it was announced that they could not appear at future multicultural assemblies. In 1996, the Salt Lake City Board of Education voted to ban dozens of non-curricular clubs, rather than allow the Gay Straight Alliance to meet on school property. "This action creates more division among the student body and the school," said Camille Lee, advisor to the club and teacher at East High. "Instead of uniting students to all get along and work together, adult leaders have caused more kids to feel excluded." For further comment, please contact Jim Anderson, Director of Communications for the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network at (212) 727-0135 and via e-mail: janderson@glsen.org. INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLERS AND WRITERS ARE HONORED: As independent bookstores face increased competition from giants such as Borders and Amazon.com, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender authors are particularly vulnerable to losing their audiences, which are fostered by owners of gay and lesbian bookstores. Two events highlight the contributions of our finest writers and community booksellers. The Astraea Independent Spirit Award, endowed by author Dorothy Allison in 1998, will this year honor year David Wilk, director of InBook/Womensource and Gilda Bruckman, founder and manager of New Words Bookstore (celebrating its 25th year). In addition, on Thursday, April 29, the Lambda Literary Awards will honor a list of literary lights, including Allison. Other finalists include Michael Cunningham for his Pulitzer-prize winning novel, The Hours and Michael Bronski for The Pleasure Principle. For further information on Astraea please contact Judith Wachs at (617) 491-6309. For information on the Lamdba Literary Awards, please contact Jim Marks at (202) 462-7924. GFN.COM FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH GMAC: On Friday, April 23, gfn.com (the Gay =46inancial Network) announced a one-year exclusive relationship with one of the nation's leading mortgage bankers, GMAC Mortgage Corporation. The collaboration will offer mortgage products and information related to home-financing. This month also marks the first year anniversary of gfn.com, a leading resource for the financial needs of the gay and lesbian community. "Our partnership with GMAC Mortgage adds a critical component to gfn.com's service offerings: tools and information for gays and lesbians to help them make the most informed financial decisions," said Jeffrey L. Newman, president of gfn.com. For further information, contact Jeffrey L. Newman at (212) 349-1659. GLAAD is the nation's lesbian & gay multimedia advocacy organization. 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