Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1999 20:05:18 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines - October 4, 1999 GLAADLINES - October 4, 1999 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Wonbo Woo GLAAD Communications Associate (212) 807-1700 x24 woo@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org News and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community 1) LARAMIE, WYO., PREPARES FOR SECOND SHEPARD TRIAL AND ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH 2) CALIF. GOV. GRAY DAVIS SIGNS THREE BILLS PROTECTING LESBIANS AND GAY MEN 3) FAIRNESS PREVAILS IN HENDERSON, KY. 4) OCTOBER IS HISTORY MONTH 1) LARAMIE, WYO., PREPARES FOR SECOND SHEPARD TRIAL AND ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH: On Oct. 11, the eve of the first anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death, jury selection will begin in the trial of Aaron McKinney, the second of two men charged in Shepard's murder. Russell Henderson, the other man charged in the crime, pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping and felony murder in April and is currently serving two consecutive life terms in prison. McKinney could receive the death penalty if convicted. Local community members and activists have planned a wide range of activities to commemorate the start of the trial and the anniversary of Shepard's death, which coincide with the University of Wyoming's annual Gay Awareness Week. A partial listing of events follows. … The "Hike for Hope," a 70-mile hike sponsored by Bringing Equality And Respect (The BEAR Project), will begin Oct. 9 in Ft. Collins, Colo., and end Oct. 12 in Laramie, Wyo., at the fence where Shepard was left to die. For more information, contact Jerry Switzer of the BEAR Project at (303) 377-6471 or by e-mail at jerswit@aol.com . … The world premiere of Brent Scarpo and Martin Bedogne's documentary, Journey to a Hate Free Millennium will take place in Ft. Collins, Colo., on Oct. 12, with special addresses by relatives of Matthew Shepard, James Byrd, Jr. and one of the Columbine shooting victims. For more information, contact Brent Scarpo at (303) 639-8450 x4412. … On Oct. 11, filmmaker Beverly Seckinger will host a preview and discussion of her forthcoming documentary, Laramie: In Love and Trouble, chronicling the effects of Shepard's murder on her hometown of Laramie. … Folk legends Peter, Paul and Mary will give a special performance at the University of Wyoming on Oct. 10. … Candlelight vigils will be held in Laramie on Oct. 10 and Oct. 12 honoring Shepard's life and calling for an end to violence and intolerance. For more information on any events taking place (except as noted above), contact Jim Osborn at (307) 766-6340 or by e-mail at jimosbrn@uwyo.edu . For more information on the trial, contact GLAAD Director of Community Relations Cathy Renna at (202) 986-1360 or by e-mail at renna@glaad.org . 2) CALIF. GOV. GRAY DAVIS SIGNS THREE BILLS PROTECTING LESBIANS AND GAY MEN: Calif. Gov. Gray Davis signed three key lesbian and gay rights bills into law on Saturday, Oct. 2. While Davis had voiced his intention to sign AB 26, a bill creating a statewide domestic partner registry and authorizing provision of health insurance benefits to same-sex partners of government employees, no such announcement had been made as to his position on AB 537 and AB 1001 [see GLAADLines 09.13.99 for more information on AB 537 and AB 1001]. In a prepared statement, Gov. Davis said: "These three bills will send a message across this country and around the world that we are determined to unleash the full potential of the human spirit here in California. They will help us to beat back the forces of hatred and discrimination that strike at the very heart of what it means to be a Californian." According to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), California currently leads all 50 states in passing measures this year to protect lesbian, gay , bisexual and transgender persons. For more information, or for a complete legislative update, contact NGLTF Communications Director David Elliot at (202) 332-6483 x3303 or by e-mail at delliot@ngltf.org . 3) FAIRNESS PREVAILS IN HENDERSON, KY.: After months of debate, the Henderson (Ky.) City Commission voted Sept. 29 in favor of the Fairness measure, which prohibits discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations. Under the new measure, violators would be subjected to a fine of not more than $250. The decision comes amidst the battle to pass a similar bill aimed at barring discrimination in Kentucky's Jefferson County. While that vote was also slated to take place last week, Judge Rebecca Jackson took advantage of a parliamentary maneuver to delay the decision until Oct. 12. The proposed Jefferson County measure includes protections on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, and would subject violators to far higher fines. With the passage of its fairness measure, Henderson joins Louisville and Lexington as the third Kentucky city to enact such legislation, and joins 11 states, the District of Columbia and more than 200 municipalities across the country in barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. For more information, contact Carol Kraemer of the Fairness Campaign at (502) 893-0788 or by e-mail at fairness@fairness.org . 4) OCTOBER IS HISTORY MONTH: October marks the sixth annual celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month. The Gay.com Network, in partnership with GLAAD, is featuring 31 of the most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender icons from past and present on the Gay.com website. Gay.com is posting a new feature daily, with biographical information designed to address the multitude of contributions that have been made by artists, politicians, activists, writers and more. Also in celebration of History Month, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is highlighting a new "PFLAG Pioneer" on its website every weekday throughout the month, chronicling the history of the revolutionary family-based organization through the stories of its founders and longtime members. To view the Gay.com profiles, log on at http://content.gay.com/history_current.html, or for more information, contact John Finco at (415) 252-6700 x222. To read PFLAG's profiles, visit the organization online at http://www.pflag.org or for more information, contact PFLAG Communications Director Eric Ferrero at (202) 638-4200 x212. 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. TO JOIN GLAAD AND RECEIVE GLAAD's QUARTERLY GLAADNOTES MAGAZINE, call 1.800.GAY.MEDIA or join on the Web today at www.glaad.org/glaad/join/join-about.html TO SUBSCRIBE TO GLAAD-Net, GLAAD's electronic mailing list, send e-mail to majordomo@vector.casti.com with the message "Subscribe GLAAD-Net" (without the quotation marks). 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