Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 07:32:09 -0500 From: "David Casti" Subject: ACTION ALERT: Tulsa OK Submitted by: The GLAAD item on the Contra Costa Times on not using the words, Gay or Lesbian, prompts us to share the following: The Tulsa World, which is the major daily newspaper for northeastern Oklahoma as well as for Tulsa (Tulsa metro area: 700,000), has a policy banning the use of the words, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, homosexual or straight in ANY advertising. The World which is privately owned by the Lorton family has refused to explain the rationale for its policy. FYI, the newspaper has no policy protecting its employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and in related civil rights area, recently lost an EEOC lawsuit where employees protested racial discrimination in its hiring and promotion. The impact of the "Lesbian/Gay word in ads" ban has been that businesses catering to the community such as retail stores carrying newsmagazines (Advocate, Out, etc.), cards, pride wear, etc. have had their ads refused. One ad used language like this: we serve the Lesbian, Gay, Bi folk and their families and friends but all welcome. Furthermore, the World's personals obviously can't include us under this policy. More significantly, requests to run signature ads, like the Dallas community did for National Coming Out Day, have been denied since you can hardly explain coming out without mentioning being Lesbian or Gay. PFLAG has just run into this with its Project Open Mind. Tulsa was one of the test sites for the national PFLAG tv spots. Because of CBN threats and therefore, no air time, Tulsa PFLAG is organizing a signature ad. However, The Tulsa World, because of its policy, will allow PFLAG to use its acronym but not to spell its full legal name. Tulsa PFLAG co-chair, Bill Hinkle, stated that the World will require them to call themselves something like Parents, Families and Friends of "People with Minority Sexual Orientations"! Feedback to the Tulsa World can be directed to President /Chief Operating Officer, Kenneth S. Fleming and Advertising Director Lynnette Scott at 918-581-8300, fax: 918-581-8353 or at World Publishing Co. 318 Main Mall, Tulsa, OK 74103. Although the news department is separate and is "allowed" to use the words, Lesbian and Gay in newsreporting, letters (max. length 200 words or they trash them) to the editor about the "word ban" policy are useful and can go to the same fax or address. Copies to Tulsa's 15 year old Lesbian/Gay/Bi community organization, Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR) would be appreciated. TOHR, c/o POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159. 918-743-GAYS or GayCommCtr@aol.com -30- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Casti Pager: disc-page@digex.net Information Scientist http://www.casti.com/casti/David.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------