Date: Sun, 06 Jul 1997 21:13:33 -0400 From: Jim Fagelson Subject: McDonald's Rejects Valuable Families FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: _McDonald's Excludes Lesbian and Gay Headed Families_ McDonald's has turned away lesbian and gay families and their children. Valuable Families is an organization of lesbian, gay, and bisexual parents, their children and friends, based in Western Massachusetts. Our mission is to create opportunities for our families to participate fully in neighborhoods and communities. We believe strongly in community service, mutual respect for our neighbors, and the interdependence of all families. We are united in our concern and care for the children in our lives and in our communities. In June, Valuable Families received a letter of invitation, and subsequently arranged for, a community fundraising event ("Food, Folks, and Fundraising") at the Northampton, Massachusetts McDonald's restaurant. Some days following, the manager of this restaurant requested a meeting with Jeannie Dewey, Board of Directors Chair of Valuable Families. In this meeting it was stated that McDonald's would not "allow" Valuable Families to participate in an event at the restaurant, because, it was explained, this organization is, "controversial". Dewey was informed that this decision was made at McDonald's corporate headquarters. Dewey states: "We are valuable families. My children deserve the same support from McDonald's as any other child in this country. By first inviting, and then rejecting our children's participation in an event of this kind, McDonald's has made it clear that our families are not equally welcome in their restaurant. There are many valuable families in this country - and a lot of children for whom a Happy Meal is now a very sad thing indeed." In response to this situation we request your presence at a PRESS CONFERENCE: Date: Thursday, July 10, 1997 Time: 4 PM Location: In front of McDonald's Restaurant King Street Northampton, MA 01060 Contact: Jeannie Dewey 413.367.9432 jdewey@crocker.com Anna-Beth Winograd 413.549.4321 Marian Wolfsun 413.549.2736 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Jeannie Dewey, MSW jdewey@crocker.com I am not standing Here before the Light to cast shadows ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~