Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 23:04:39 -0600 New Mexico Rainbow , Out! Magazine , The Normal Heart , Freedom Rings , "Out, Loud and Proud" , Matrix , "Women's Voices" , GLB-NEWS@listserv.aol.com, HOMORADIO@aol.com, Grapevine , QRD , , Kate Nelson , Jessica English , Angie Drobnic , Larry Calloway , Jim Belshaw , Wende Schwingendorf , Albuquerque Journal , Daily Lobo , Focus , Crosswinds , AP Albuquerque , KFLQ-FM , KNKT-FM , KUNM-FM , KZRR-FM , "KASA-TV, Deborah James" , KNME-TV , KOAT-TV , KOB-TV , KRQE-TV , The Link , AP Santa Fe , Santa Fe New Mexician , The Magazine , The Santa Fe Sun , Up Front , The Santa Fe Reporter , The Independent , KACV-TV , "KVII-TV Kent Harrell" , "KPSA-AM/FM Ronnie Diaz" , Sangre de Cristo Chronicle , "Rio Grande Gazette, Adrian Baca" <104707.474@compuserve.com>, KSVP-AM/FM Lana Farber , Aztec Local News , Valencia County News-Bulletin , Carlsbad Current-Argus , East Mountain Telegraph , Union County Leader , Clovis News Journal , Deming Headlight , Durango Herald , KCOS-TV , KFDA-TV , KFOX-TV , KINT-TV , KTSM-TV , KVIA-TV , Estancia Valley Citizen , Farmington Daily Times , KDAG-FM/KKFG-FM , KNMI-FM , KOBF-TV , Navajo-Hopi Observer , Gallup Independent , KGLP-FM , KKOR-FM/KXXI-FM/KYVA-AM , Cibola County Beacon , Jemez Thunder , Las Cruces Bulletin , Round Up , KRUX-FM , KRWG-TV , KFUN-AM/KLVF-FM , Los Alamos Monitor , Lovington Daily Leader , KAMC-TV , KLBK-TV , KTXT-TV , KWES-TV , KTDB-FM , The Signpost , Portales News-Tribune , KENW-FM/TV/KMTH-FM , KRTN-AM/FM , The Observer , KBCQ-FM/KCKN-AM , KEND-FM , KMOU-FM/KSFX-FM , KRSY-AM , The Ruidoso News , Paydirt , KMXQ-FM , KTAO-FM , The Herald , Quay County Sun From: summers@rt66.com (Bob Summersgill) Subject: Benefit Celebrates Coming Out Episode of "Ellen" Lesbian & Gay Political Alliance PO Box 25191, Albuquerque, NM 87125 For immediate release Contact LGPA 790-2370 Steven Homer 254-2611 Bob Summersgill 277-9607 Benefit Celebrates Coming Out Episode of "Ellen" More than 300 people are expected to celebrate Ellen Degeneres' character Ellen Morgan coming out as a Lesbian on national television. The Lesbian and Gay Political Alliance (LGPA formerly NMLGPA) will be throwing a benefit Coming Out Party on Wednesday, April 30, 1997 at Legends West, 6132 4th Street, NW in Albuquerque. "There is nothing more important for a Gay person to do that come out," said LGPA Political Director Bob Summersgill. "In addition to the obvious benefits of being honest with yourself, your family and friends about who you are -- the one thing that changes a person's mind about Gay and Lesbian people is knowing someone who is Gay." The festivities begin with games, prizes and food at 5:30 pm. The hour-long episode of "Ellen" starts at 7 pm and will be shown on four TVs. The LGPA party joins more than 1,500 other parties across the country. The gatherings will commemorate the landmark occasion when Ellen Morgan becomes the first lead on network television to honestly acknowledge being Gay. According to ABC-TV, the episode is fully sponsored despite the pressure of Jerry Fawell and other religious political extremists on advertisers to pull out. Wendy's, JC Pennys, Chrysler, General Motors, and Johnson & Johnson all pulled their advetising. ABC-TV also refused ads from Olivia, a Lesbian Cruiseship, and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The ad from HRC -- a National Gay rights organization -- will also air during the coming out episode to increase awareness that job discrimination based on sexual orientation remains legal in 41 states including New Mexico. "While most Americans oppose job discrimination against gay people, most are completely unaware of the fact that it is still perfectly legal in 41 states for employees to be fired from their jobs simply because they are gay," said HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch. "The coming out episode of 'Ellen' offers a unique opportunity to shed light on this injustice and increase public awareness of the need for all Americans to be included in basic legal protection from unfair discrimination on the job." The US Senate failed to pass workplace protections last fall in a 50 to 49 vote. The New Mexico legislature failed to pass a similar bill this year. With 65 ABC affiliates willing to air the spot, HRC currently plans to place it in 33 markets across the country including Albuquerque's KOAT-TV. The ABC network turned down HRC's request to make a less-expensive single nationwide purchase of air time, citing its policy against "controversial issue advertising." Eleven of the network's affiliates also declined the commercial. The placement of the ad is being made possible by a generous contribution from Jessica Stevens, chief executive officer of Telegen, a Silicon Valley high technology firm based in Redwood City, California. "As someone who has been open and honest about being a lesbian for my entire adult life, and knowing the importance of coming out as one of the best ways to dispel myths and end discrimination, I greatly value this opportunity to give something back to my community," said Stevens. "I feel very fortunate that, after spending the past several years building my business, I am now in a position to help educate America about the basic fairness of our movement's goals." The ad, entitled "Shoes," features a woman who has just been fired from her job because of her sexual orientation. A conversation between her coworkers reveals that the firing, while unfair, is not against the law -- a fact that, like most Americans, one of her colleagues is shocked to learn. The spot then offers a phone number for the Human Rights Campaign that viewers can call to get more information. The ad was created by the Semans Co., based in Alexandria, Virginia. "The Gay and Lesbian community and our friends and families are already so excited about this historic TV event," said David M. Smith, HRC's communications director. "We didn't want to miss the chance to get people together to talk not only about "Ellen," but to see the first nationally televised ad by any Lesbian and Gay organization." The ABC television affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama, WBMA-TV, has decided to not air the coming out episode of "Ellen," according to the Human Rights Campaign. "This act is pure censorship," said Kim I. Mills, HRC's communications deputy director. "WBMA has decided to deprive its viewers of the freedom to choose. This is un-American, and it's insulting to the people of Birmingham." WBMA is the only ABC affiliate to date that has determined that the coming out episode is not appropriate for viewers. The ABC network and its parent company, Disney, spent many months working out whether and how to change the story line of "Ellen" to have the lead character come out as a Lesbian. "This is a historic moment in the history of television but the citizens of Birmingham will not be allowed to share it," Mills said. The Human Rights Campaign urged the public to contact WBMA-TV executives and ask them to reconsider their decision. Stations planning to air the ad include: Albany, NY; Albuquerque, NM; Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Bismarck, ND; Boston, MA; Columbia, SC; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Erie, PA; Fargo, ND; Fort Smith, AK; Grand Rapids, MI; Honolulu, HI; Jackson, MS; Los Angeles, CA; Madison, WI; Manchester, NH; Minneapolis, MN; New Orleans, LA; Oklahoma City, OK; Phoenix; Portland, Maine; Portland, OR; Raleigh, NC; St. Louis, MO; San Antonio, TX; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Traverse City, MI; and Washington, DC. The spot was declined by the network's affiliates in Chicago, IL; Colorado Springs, CO; Eugene, OR; Grand Junction, CO; Houston, TX; Knoxville, TN; Memphis, TN; Nashville, TN; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; and Wichita, KS. The Lesbian and Gay Political Alliance -- New Mexico's oldest Gay and Lesbian political organization -- seeks for all New Mexicans, particularly those citizens in the Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender Community, to live free from discrimination of any kind and to expect fair and equal treatment and protection under the law regardless of sexual orientation. ###