From: owner-hrc-news@netra-1.hrcusa.org Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 11:59:32 -0400 ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, Oct. 17, 1997 LARGEST NATIONAL GAY POLITICAL ORGANIZATION PRAISES VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S REMARKS ABOUT `ELLEN' SHOW Gore Demonstrated Insight About Power of Popular Culture to Influence Public Opinion, HRC Says WASHINGTON -- The Human Rights Campaign, the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, praised Vice President Al Gore's remark about how the openly lesbian TV character Ellen Morgan has forced Americans "to look at sexual orientation in a more open light." "Vice President Gore demonstrated sensitivity and insight about lesbian and gay Americans and how we are viewed within our culture," said Elizabeth Birch, HRC's executive director. "It is so important to our community to see ourselves reflected accurately in the popular media, and the `Ellen' show does this with wit and good humor. The vice president clearly understands the power of the popular media to influence public opinion for the good." In a speech Thursday to the Hollywood Radio and Television Society, Gore singled out "Ellen" for its valuable contribution to society, along with other such influential TV characters as Archie Bunker and Oscar the Grouch. Speaking about the character played by actress Ellen DeGeneres, Gore said, "when the character Ellen came out, millions of Americans were forced to look at sexual orientation in a more open light." "Television is a mirror of society and, unfortunately, for a very long time, gay people were either invisible or highly distorted," Birch added. "By singling out a positive gay character on a groundbreaking show, the vice president has himself helped to lead Americans to view our community with greater openness." The Human Rights Campaign plans to give a special civil rights award to DeGeneres at its first National Dinner on Nov. 8 in Washington. President Clinton will also speak at the dinner. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 - Sender: owner-hrc-news@netra-1.hrcusa.org Precedence: bulk