Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 17:10:06 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines - May 17, 1999 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 17, 1999 GLAADLINES Contact: Jerry Weinstein GLAAD Publications Manager (212) 807-1700 x18 weinstein@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org Index to Stories: 1. 'COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVISM' KILLS HATE CRIMES BILL IN TEXAS 2. SENATE DEBATES FILTERING OPTIONS 3. STONEWALL DEMOCRATS CONVENE ON ATLANTA 4. THE PLAYS THE THING 5. LESBIAN AND GAY FILM FESTIVALS OPEN NATIONWIDE News and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community 'COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVISM' KILLS HATE CRIMES BILL IN TEXAS: On Friday, May 14, the Texas State Senate tabled House Bill #938, named for James Byrd Jr., the African-American man dragged to his death in East Texas last June. The bill would enhance penalties for those convicted of crimes against a person because of the victim's race, gender, sexual orientation or any of seven other categories of individuals. A coalition of community activists, law enforcement, and civil rights organizations traced the failure of the bill's passage to presidential aspirant Governor George W. Bush. Said Joel Brooks of the American Jewish Congress, "Gov. Bush may alienate the Religious Right by pushing for a bill which includes sexual [orientation], but he will be doing the right thing." While the bill has been labeled "dead," two weeks of session remain. A press conference will be held tomorrow at the home of James Byrd's family, in Jasper, Wyoming, to raise awareness for this legislation. For further information please contact Dianne Hardy-Garcia, executive director, Lesbian & Gay Lobby of Texas at (512) 626-0306, and Joel Brooks, executive director of the Southwest Region of the American Jewish Congress at (214) 368-2731. SENATE DEBATES FILTERING OPTIONS: On Thursday, May 13, the Senate approved a measure, attached to a youth crime bill, mandating that Internet service providers (ISPs) provide filtering software to subscribers. At the same time, presidential hopeful Senator John McCain (R-AZ) continues to push forward a bill that would require schools and libraries to use filtering software. Amidst the legislative debate, the Internet Free Expression Alliance, (of which GLAAD is a member), recently sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman William E. Kennard. The letter informs Kennard, "We agree with your observation that parents should be educated on Internet use and be provided with the information they need to allow them to better supervise their children's online activities. Such information should enable parents to make informed choices, including non-filtering as well as filtering options, which are consistent with their values." GLAAD is concerned that Internet users will find their access to educational, social and health resources restricted due to these measures. For more information, contact GLAAD's Interactive Media Director, Loren Javiuer at (415) 861-2244 or via e-mail at javier@glaad.org. STONEWALL DEMOCRATS CONVENE ON ATLANTA: The National Stonewall Democratic Federation, one of the first national organizations for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Democrats, will hold its first Annual Convention, "Strategy 2000," in Atlanta, GA, on May 21-23.The NSDF Convention hopes to further the gay and lesbian community's fight for justice and equality through and from within the Democratic Party and expects more than 300 delegates from 40+ affiliated Democratic clubs. "The Federation seeks to educate the Democratic Party on issues of concern to the gay and lesbian community, and ensure that its candidates, leaders and members are supportive of equal rights for gay Americans," said Michael Perez, co-chair of the Federation. Among the featured speakers are U.S. Representatives Barney Frank [MA], John Lewis [GA], and Cynthia McKinney [GA]; and Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Joe Andrews and openly gay DNC Treasurer Andy Tobias. For further information please contact Michael Perez of the National Stonewall Democratic Federation, (703) 521-0721 or via e-mail at mperezva@aol.com. THE PLAYS THE THING: When 17-year old high school student Samantha Gellar won the Charlotte Young Playwrights Festival for her play Life Versus the Paperback Romance, she could not have imagined the drama to follow. The sponsors of the contest, Children's Theatre and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, chose not to produce the work, labeling the content--two women falling in love--as age inappropriate for 11-year olds. Said Ms. Gellar, "I grew up in Charlotte when it was the 'will of the community' to keep black children out of my school," she said. "And I have seen the 'will of the community' lead young lesbian and gay youth to drop out of school and worse, rather than face harassment from other students and even from their teachers." The play will have its New York premiere as part of a benefit event, "Not Just a Stage: Youth Against Censorship," to be held at the Public Theater on June 14. It will star "Fried Green Tomatoes" actress Mary-Louise Parker, and will be followed by readings from actor Kathleen Chalfant, and playwrights Tony Kushner and Terrance McNally. For further comment, please contact Jim Anderson, Director of Communications for the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network at (212) 727-0135 or via e-mail at janderson@glsen.org. LESBIAN AND GAY FILM FESTIVALS OPEN NATIONWIDE: Throughout the summer and fall a number of Lesbian and Gay Film Festivals will take place in the U.S. and Canada. Later this week and next month, festivals will be held in Boston (May 20-June 6), Honolulu (May 29-June 5), New York City (June 3-13), Atlanta (June 12-20), San Francisco (June 17-27) and in Toronto, Canada (May 20-30). The Boston Lesbian and Gay Film Festival will kick off with Beefcake, an homage to male muscle magazines of the 1950s, on Thursday, May 20. The Adam Baran Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii will welcome Bruce Vilanch on Saturday, May 29, who will screen Get Bruce, a documentary about the Oscar-writer and Hollywood Square. For more information, contact Jim Singetary (Boston Film Festival) at (617) 369-3454, Annie Moriyasu (Adam Baran Film Festival) at (808) 941-0424, Wellington Love (The New Festival, New York) at (212) 254-7228, Genevieve McGillicudy (Atlanta Film Festival) at (404) 352-4225, SF, and Ellen Flaunders (Film and Video Festival of Toronto) at (416) 977-6847. 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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Make sure that you turn off all signatures and extraneous text. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in the media as a means of combating homophobia and challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.