Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 21:32:10 -0800 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines - December 6, 1999 GLAADLINES Contact: Bob Findle, GLAAD (323) 658-6775 ext. 31 findle@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DECEMBER 6, 1999 News and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community INDEX: 1) COURT-MARTIAL STARTS FOR SOLDIER'S ACCUSED KILLER 2) LOBEL TO LEAVE TASK FORCE 3) NEW EXXON-MOBIL CORP. NOT OFFERING GAY-FRIENDLY BENEFITS COURT-MARTIAL STARTS FOR SOLDIER'S ACCUSED KILLER: Dec. 7 marks the opening of the court-martial of Pvt. Calvin N. Glover, 18, who is accused of bludgeoning to death fellow Fort Campbell soldier Pfc. Barry L. Winchell, 21, on July 5. Although Winchell was not openly gay and by accounts appeared to be in the exploration stages of his homosexuality, he was perceived as gay and that is alleged to be Glover's motivation. Testimony was given at the Article 32 hearing, the military's equivalent of a grand jury hearing, that Winchell was often the subject of daily anti-gay harassment that was never addressed by supervisors. Also, it was reported that Glover talked about hating "faggots." The case is being watched carefully by gay activists, particularly the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), because it is considered to be the first anti-gay murder court-martial to occur under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" policy. C. Dixon Osburn, SLDN co-executive director, said he expects the evidence presented at the court-martial will show that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" is a policy that creates harassment. "It shows why 'Don't Ask' is an awful policy," he said. "Leaders need to step up to the plate and make sure all soldiers are safe." For more information contact SLDN's Steve Ralls at 202-328-3244. Access to the proceedings can be arranged through Maj. Pamela Hart at 502-798-3025. LOBEL TO LEAVE TASK FORCE: After a five-year stint with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), the nation's second largest gay and lesbian organization, Executive Director Kerry Lobel steps down effective April 7. She joined the group as deputy director in 1995 and took the lead position in 1996. She said having accomplished her goals for the organization, it is time for her to move on to new challenges. During her tenure, the organization's budget grew from $2 million to $3.6 million and staff more than doubled, expanding from 16 to 34. While at NGLTF, Lobel focused on encouraging the growth of local and state-level groups, and building coalitions with national organizations, thus fulfilling NGLTF's mission statement to work to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people at the local, state and national level. Most notably she helped launch the Federation of LGBT Statewide Political Organizations, which now includes all 50 states; organized Equality Begins at Home, a grassroots mobilization in March that had more than 350 events in all state capitals, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico; and helped grow the organization's annual Creating Change Conference from a 800-participant event in 1994 to one of 2,500 this year. GLAAD Executive Director Joan Garry said of Lobel: "She's smart, thoughtful, dedicated and passionate. Our community and the Task Force have been lucky to have Kerry, and we move into the 21st century stronger and more vibrant because of her leadership and vision." For more information, contact NGLTF Communications Director David Elliot at 202-332-6483, ext. 3303. NEW EXXON-MOBIL CORP. NOT OFFERING GAY-FRIENDLY BENEFITS : Fair treatment of gay and lesbian employees took a hit as a result of the $81 billion merger between oil giants Exxon Corp. and Mobil Corp. Although Mobil Corp. began offering domestic partner benefits in 1998 and had a non-discrimination clause in place to protect gays and lesbians, the newly formed company, Texas-based Exxon-Mobil Corp., will not offer domestic partnerships nor include the words "sexual orientation" in its non-discrimination policy. This follows a failed attempt in May by the New York-based Equality Project to have Exxon Corp. add sexual orientation to that policy. Tom Cirigliano, an Exxon-Mobil Corp. spokesperson, said although the company would not offer domestic partnerships, it will honor existing benefits plans of former Mobil Corp. employees already enrolled in the program. He said the company would only offer benefits to legally valid marriages, including legally valid common law marriages. When asked about the fairness of denying benefits to same-sex couples who are not allowed to legally marry, he said, "We need some criteria to establish a relationship" and not offering domestic benefits eliminates the need for Exxon-Mobil to establish what relationships are valid. Cirigliano also said Exxon-Mobil Corp.'s non-discrimination policy follows federal law, which does not include sexual orientation. He said the company has stated publicly that its policy covers all people, but it does not need to add "sexual orientation" to the policy's list. When asked why, he answered, "Where do you stop?" The policies of Exxon-Mobil Corp. has caused Grant Lukenbill, president of GLV Reports & Communications, to remove the company from the 1999 GLV Index, an annual ranking of gay-friendly companies closely followed by socially responsible investors. "If Exxon/Mobil thinks it can kick gay and lesbian consumers, employees and investors in the teeth by rolling back its employment and benefits policies to the 1970s, it has another thing coming," he said. For more information on Exxon-Mobil Corp., contact Exxon-Mobil Corp. spokesperson Tom Cirigliano at 972-444-1000. For more information on the Equality Project and the 1999 GLV Index, contact GLV Reports and Communications President Grant Lukenbill at 212-925-7300, ext. 271. CORRECTION: In the 11.29.99 GLAADLines, Coretta Scott King was misidentified as Cordetta. GLAAD regrets the error. GLAAD, the nation's lesbian & gay media advocacy organization, promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. To subscribe, contact Wonbo Woo at (212) 807-1700 or at woo@glaad.org. 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