Date: Fri, 11 Mar 1994 18:09:17 -0500 (EST)
From: HALSALL@MURRAY.FORDHAM.EDU
Subject: PRESS RELEASE - FLORIDA CITRUS BOYCOTT

GAY &LESBIAN AMERICANS

For Immediate Release
Contact: Paul Halsall  [halsall@murray.fordham.edu]
March 10, 1994

NEW YORK GAY & LESBIAN AMERICANS JOIN CALL TO BOYCOTT
FLORIDA ORANGE JUICE

Protest $1 Million Florida Contract With Rush Limbaugh

New York, NY - The New York chapter of the new national
civil rights organization, Gay & Lesbian Americans
(GLA), today joined the call for a one week boycott of
all Florida citrus products in protest at the Florida
Citrus Commission's decision to award a $1 million
advertising contract to radio talk show host Rush
Limbaugh's top-rated program.  The week-long boycott is
in effect March 12-19.

        GLA/NYC member Ray Dries said, "Rush Limbaugh is one
of the most homophobic and vitriolic voices in America
today. How dare the Florida Citrus Commission expect us
to buy its products while supporting our enemies?"  In
New York City GLA members will leaflet the A&P market at
6th Ave and 12th St. [Saturday, March 12, 10am-noon]
urging shoppers to avoid Florida Orange Juice.
Additionally, GLA members will distribute "Flush Rush
and the Florida Citrus Commission" bumper stickers and
posters as part of an educational campaign.

        NY City Council Member Tom Duane, a boycott
supporter, said "How can the Florida Citrus Commission
be so stupid? They have been through this before with
Anita Bryant. You would have thought they had learned
their lesson - next thing you know they will be putting
Patrick Buchanan pictures on cartons of Tropicana".

        The New York actions are part of a nationwide
protest organized by Gay & Lesbian Americans, a new
national organization dedicated to preserving and
advancing the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgendered people at all levels of American
government and society.

        In his book, *See, I Told You So*, Limbaugh writes
about his opposition to lifting the ban on gays in the
military, and he criticizes New York City's Board of
Education "Children of the Rainbow" curriculum because
it teaches respect for gays.

        The Florida Citrus Commission has a history of
controversy with homosexuals and their civil rights.  In
the late 1970's singer Anita Bryant served as
spokeswoman for the commission while leading a
successful crusade to repeal a law that prohibited
discrimination against gays and lesbians in Dade County,
Florida.  After a boycott of Florida orange juice was
organized by the gay community in 1980, Bryant's
contract was not renewed.

- END--



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Gay and Lesbian Americans is a diverse, nonpartisan coalition
of grassroots advocates committed to civil rights for gay,
lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people,
and to a cure for AIDS.