Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 14:03:37 GMT
Subject: GENDERPAC NAMES LEGAL SERVICES COORDINATOR
From: riki@nyc.pipeline.com (Riki Anne Wilchins)

MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
CONTACT: Riki Anne Wilchins 
(212)645-1753, GPac@Gpac.Org 
Christopher DiEdoardo, sdtlc@juno.com 
 
 
GENDERPAC NAMES LEGAL SERVICES COORDINATOR 
=============================================== 
 
[WASHINGTON - October 1, 1996] GenderPAC, the  
nationwide advocacy group dedicated to "gender,  
affectional, and racial equality" today  
announced Christopher DiEdoardo as its first  
National Legal Services Coordinator. 
 
    "This community already possesses well- 
considered legal policies on a variety of  
matters," said Executive Director Riki Anne  
Wilchins.  "But we lack anything like Legal  
Defense and Education Fund to litigate them or  
provide basic advocacy services.  This is a  
small first step in that direction." 
 
   One of GenderPAC's first entries into the legal  
arena will be completed later this month with  
an amicus brief in a case currently before the  
Missouri Court of Appeals.  At the request of  
Elizabeth Harris Christmas, Esq., a Brentwood,  
Missouri attorney representing a postoperative  
transexual client, GenderPAC will focus on the  
harm to the children that would take place if  
visitation with their parent was restricted or  
eliminated.   
 
    "This case is exciting because it appears 
to be the first time the parental rights of  
transexuals have ever been considered by the  
Missouri Court of Appeals," said DiEdoardo.   
"It's also important because the Supreme Court  
of Missouri has a unique history of hearing  
family law cases on a fairly regular basis. A  
decision in this case, whether it is disposed  
of at the Court of Appeals or goes on to the  
Supreme Court, will have ramifications across  
the country."  
 
    Explained DiEdoardo, "We will begin working 
on the issues that affect the lives of our  
community.  Being differently-gendered  
shouldn't mean you lose your rights to your  
children, fair treatment in the workplace, or  
equal protection under the law, but it often  
does. It will be my job to assemble a  
nationwide team of attorneys, paralegals and  
other legal personnel to help change that."  
 
    DiEdoardo is a paralegal based in San Diego  
whose legal experience ranges from civil rights  
to family law.  Before working in the legal  
field, he was an investigative reporter for  
nearly a decade. In addition to his work with  
GenderPAC, he is a volunteer with the San Diego  
Volunteer Lawyer's Program. 
 
                  ### 
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