Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 16:37:49 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: "GLAADAlert" Special: Tell Dr. Laura The Truth -- August 3, 1999 "GLAADAlert" Special: Tell Dr. Laura The Truth -- August 3, 1999 The GLAADAlert is the bi-weekly activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Dr. Laura Schlessinger, a best-selling author and syndicated talk-show host, has recently escalated her homophobic remarks. For example, Schlessinger repeatedly berates the American Psychological Association for its 1972 decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. Schlessinger, who refers to our community members as "biological mistakes," recommends reparative therapy for lesbians, gay men and bisexual people, as she advocates that our sexual orientation is something to be "cured." She describes the adoption of children by lesbian couples as "despicable," "unhealthy" and "a travesty." In recent months, Schlessinger's remarks about our community - which reach 20 million listeners - have become more frequent and she has been more frequently referencing the ultra-conservative Family Research Council as a source of her opinions. (For more of Schlessinger's thoughts on our community, visit http://www.glaad.org .) Recently, Joan M. Garry, GLAAD's Executive Director, met with Schlessinger and received the following challenge: "If your organization doesn't agree with me then they will attempt to shut me down. Which, frankly, you've got to tell your people that when they do public attacks, it makes me more popular. It gets me more sponsors. It's counterproductive." Clearly, Schlessinger needs to hear the truth about our lives and about how her comments incite hate. But remember, Schlessinger believes public attacks against her actually benefit her. Therefore, GLAAD is making an appeal to you. Obviously, she is expecting (perhaps even hoping for) angry letters with attacks as personal as those she directs - fodder to use against us on the air. So we are requesting that you write to her and register your opinions as clearly and strongly as possible without rising to her "bait." Think about your own experiences and help her see the impact her words have upon real people - how her words fan the fires of prejudice and discrimination. In addition, you can send a copy of your letter directly to your local station which airs the program by visiting http://www.glaad.org . At the same time, GLAAD is working on other fronts, including with other members of the media and entertainment communities to counter Schlessinger's influence. You will hear more about that from us in the future. We are also contacting her program's advertisers. Please send your letters to: Dr. Laura Schlessinger, c/o PREMIERE RADIO NETWORKS, 15260 Ventura Blvd., Suite 500, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403, fax: 818.461.5140, e-mail: webmaster@drlaura.com Because real-life stories and experiences can aid GLAAD in our quest to gain understanding about the issues that face our community, we hope you will send a copy of your letter to the following address: Dr. Laura Letters, c/o GLAAD, 8455 Beverly Blvd., Suite 305, Los Angeles, CA 90048, fax: 323.658.6776, e-mail: glaad@glaad.org Thank you so much for joining a "strength in numbers" show of support. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation in the media as a means of challenging homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. Feel free to pass GLAADAlert on to friends, family and associates! Report defamation in the media and breaking news of interest to the LGBT community by calling GLAAD's Toll-Free AlertLine! 1-800-GAY-MEDIA (1-800-429-6334) Visit GLAAD Online at http://www.glaad.org "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. GLAADAlert may be freely distributed and reprinted in all forms of media under the condition that any text used carry the full attribution of "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org TO REPORT DEFAMATION IN THE MEDIA - Call GLAAD's Alertline at 1.800.GAY.MEDIA or go to the GLAAD Web Site at www.glaad.org and report through our Alertline Online. TO JOIN GLAAD AND RECEIVE GLAAD's QUARTERLY GLAADNOTES MAGAZINE, call 1.800.GAY.MEDIA or join on the Web today at www.glaad.org/glaad/join/join-about.html TO SUBSCRIBE TO GLAAD-Net, GLAAD's electronic mailing list, send e-mail to majordomo@vector.casti.com with the message "Subscribe GLAAD-Net" (without the quotation marks). Make sure that you turn off all signatures and extraneous text. TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send e-mail to majordomo@vector.casti.com with the message "Unsubscribe GLAAD-Net" (without the quotation marks). Make sure that you turn off all signatures and extraneous text. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in the media as a means of combating homophobia and challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.