Date: Wed, 11 May 94 12:35:16 EDT
From: GLAADATL@aol.com

GLAAD/Atlanta
GLAAD/News
May 11
by Carl Lange

Matt's Kiss
Fox Network is reportedly debating whether or not to air a kiss between Matt
and another man, in the season finale of "Melrose Place."  Matt, the openly
gay regular on "Melrose" has received little attention, particularly in the
realm of relationships, compared to the litany of heterosexual characters
sleeping with each other.  Let's not be denied a display of gay normalcy any
longer.  Show your support for the producers and let them know you want to
see a gay man portrayed realistically, enjoying a fulfilling relationship.
Write: Darren Starr, Executive Director, "Melrose Place," Spelling
Entertainment , 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90036; phone
213-965-5700.

Fair "Media Play"
Media Play, an entertainment store located in Stone Mountain Georgia,
recently pulled all gay publications, such as the "Advocate,"  from their
periodical section, leaving only heterosexual publications.  Stone Mountain,
a suburb of Atlanta, has a rapidly growing lesbian and gay population.  When
the store management was contacted by an angry customer, the reported
response was that this was a policy decision from the corporate office.  The
Media Play chain is owned by Musicland Group, Inc. of Minneapolis.  Recently,
however, when GLAAD contacted the store, store manager Zen Hardy (and we do
like the name) stated that he was aware of the customer's letter and that the
store was in the process of reordering those canceled gay publications for
their shelves.  Assuming the store does follow through, this is a good
example of how a single letter can work.  Media Play needs to be thanked for
responding to the needs of their gay and lesbian customers.  Write Zen Hardy,
Manager, Media Play, 5370 Highway 78, Stone Mountain, GA 30087; phone:
404-879-5557.

"Reader's Digest" is Outrageous
The "That's Outrageous" column of the May issue of "Reader's Digest" refers
to a recent safer-sex campaign as "SUBWAY SLEAZE."  According to the article
by "New York Post's" Ray Kerrison,  5,000 ads depicting homosexual and
heterosexual couples kissing and holding a condom, tube of lubricant and a
piece of latex were placed in New York subways.  The New York City
Metropolitan Transit Authority donated space for these ads produced by the
Gay Men's Health Crisis.  "Any way you read them, the posters encourage
promiscuity," states Kerrison who also refers to Rabbi Abraham Hecht,
president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America saying the ads are 'Indecent'
and not promoting 'acceptable behavior.'  Reader's Digest needs to know that
the only  unacceptable behavior is theirs.  Write: Jean Armo, Letters to the
Editor, Readers Digest, Reader's Digest Road, Pleasantville, NY 10570; phone
914-238-1000; fax 914-238-4559.

This column is a product of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation/Atlanta, Incorporated.  For more information about GLAAD/Atlanta
write PO Box 55111, Atlanta, GA 30308; phone 404-876-1398; fax 404-876-4051;
Internet: GLAAD ATL@aol.com

####