Date:         Thu, 21 Jul 1994 09:49:02 -0400

[ Send all responses to tom_limoncelli@WARREN.MENTORG.COM ]

                           P R E S S   R E L E A S E
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The New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition
PO Box 11335
New Brunswick NJ 08906-1335

For further information contact:
Tom Limoncelli, President NJLGC:
908-722-0695, tal@plts.org


             New Jersey's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered
                     Community Shocked By "Faggot" T-Shirt


 From Camden to Jersey City our community is talking about
the latest t-shirt for sale at the Jersey Shore: The t-shirt
includes a graphic of the "Trix Rabbit" and states, "Silly Faggot,
Dix are for Chix".  It's just not funny.

"Leads to violence"
 The fact that someone would produce such a t-shirt shows
disrespect for an entire segment of society.  "This atmosphere
of hate is one of the main reasons that so many gay-bashing
incidents happen each year in New Jersey", said Heidi Jones,
Vice-President of NJLGC's Personal Liberty Fund and chair of
it's Anti-Violence Project.  "Our Anti-Violence hotline receives
dozens of calls each week reporting bashing incidents."

"General Mills won't respond"
 Use of the Trix Rabbit is a copyright violation against General
Mills, maker of Trix Cereal whose slogan, "Silly Rabbit, Trix are for
kids" is being parodied.  Tom Limoncelli, President of NJLGC stated,
"I'm outraged that General Mills refuses to ask the t-shirt maker to
stop using the Trix Rabbit.  To me, this is an endorsement of the
t-shirt."

"Endorse the rally"
 NJLGC feels that such an atrocity must be brought to the attention
of the public and will be participating in the rally this Sunday
which is being organized by direct action group "Lesbian Avengers".
By educating businesses and consumers that such t-shirts encourage
hate and hurt us all, we hope other companies will not choose
to copy the idea.

"Gay's Can't Believe It"
 Thousands of flyers announcing the rally have been distributed
since last week.  Distribution has mostly been at social and political
organizations, as well as gay and lesbian bars all over the state.  The
reaction from most people is "I can't believe they'd make a t-shirt
that says that!"  There have been numerous reports of gay, lesbian and
bisexual people driving to shore just to see if the shirt are real.
Endorsements of the rally have come from in- and out-of-state
organizations; from straight as well as gay/lesbian/bisexual
organizations.

"Bad image for New Jersey"
 NJLGC believes that New Jersey's strength is in it's
diversity.  We must all live and work together if New Jersey is
going to remain strong economicly and socially".  "Such t-shirts work
against such American ideals like treating everyone respect", said Tom
Limoncelli.  "It's the tourist season and t-shirts like this
makes New Jersey look just plain bad."

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The New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition is a coalition of
approximately 2 dozen lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and
supportive straight organizations in the state.  It is an all-volunteer
organization that seeks to improve the state by eliminating
anti-homosexual/bisexual/transgender oppression through education,
legislation, and legal means.  NJLGC was incorporated in 1972.