Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 16:15:03 +0100 From: glaad@glaad.org (GLAAD) Subject: Dispatch-Bulletin, December 1995 DISPATCH-BULLETIN December 1995 PFLAG LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN CBN Threatens Legal Action PFLAG, in an effort to increase awareness and understanding of the potential violence in anti-gay/lesbian attitudes, has launched Project Open Mind. Two television advertisements have been produced: one shows a teenage woman contemplating suicide while Radical Right voices espouse anti-gay/lesbian ideas, and the other depicts a man running from a gay-bashing group. Both ads clearly demonstrate how dangerous such bigotry can be, illustrating the continuum from violent rhetoric to violence. Project Open Mind was simultaneously launched publicly at press conferences in Washington DC, Atlanta, Tulsa and Houston, on November 8th. In Houston, all but one of the local television stations refused to air the ads. The General Manager, Allan Howard, of Channel 11 (CBS) said he would agree to air only one of the ads. In Tulsa, KJRH (NBC) did run the ads for five days, only to cave in to pressure from the Christian Broadcasting Network, pulling the ads. A one-time buy on CNN's Larry King Live was pulled because of legal threats. PFLAG has received extraordinary media coverage on this project via radio, television and the press. In order to thank the stations that did agree to air the ad(s), please write/call: Channel 11 (CBS) Allan Howard, General Manager 1945 Allen Houston , TX 77019 (713) 526-1111 / fax (713) 520-7763 WTTG (FOX) General Manager Washington, DC (202) 244-5151 To let the other non-cooperating stations know how you feel, please write/call: Channel 2 (NBC) Steve Wasserman, General Manager 8181 SW Houston, TX 77094 (713) 222-2222 / fax (713) 270-9334 Channel 13 (ABC) Jim Masucci, General Manager 3310 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005 (713) 666-0713 / fax (713) 666-2432 KHTV (Ind), Houston: Jerry Marcus, (GM), (713) 781-3939 KJRH (NBC), Tulsa: Bill Donahue, (GM), (918) 743-2222 KTUL (ABC), Tulsa: Ron Stevens, (NSM), (918) 445-9316 WAGA (FOX), Atlanta: Jack Sander, (GM), (404) 898-0240 WSB (ABC), Atlanta: Greg Stone, (GM), (404) 897-7000 GLAAD/PFLAG PFLAG COUNTERS WITH USA TODAY AD PFLAG ran an ad in USA Today on November 21st using images and language from their Project Open Mind campaign. This allowed PFLAG another forum for their message without the obstacle of the Christian Broadcast Network. Letters to the editor to balance the negative response that USA Today will receive can be sent to: Editor USA Today fax (703) 276-5513 or email: usatoday@clark.net (note: be sure to include your name, address and daytime phone number for verification purposes) A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW WVIA, a public television and radio station in Scranton, Pennsylvania, has refused to air a sponsorship announcement for Recreationally and Educationally Active Community Heroes (REACH), which is a local social club for gay, lesbian and bisexual members. Typically, for $150, organizations or individuals can have their sponsorship aired on WVIA during the day, along with a brief message. WVIA refused the sponsorship, citing that the station does not air announcements from "political organizations." REACH's intended message clearly states that they are a non-political club. What REACH wanted to convey to its listening members, as well as to the general public, was its support of WVIA in honor of October being Gay History Month. Larry Vojtko, a WVIA official, said, "We don't want the station to be embroiled in any sort of controversial public relations situation." Vojtko also claims that WVIA is not being discriminatory, because the station is not airing sponsorships from Planned Parenthood and Pennsylvanians for Human Life. WVIA's policy is to not "push a certain point of view". Vojtko and Bill Kelly, President of WVIA, discussed REACH's sponsorship and concluded they needed to avoid possible bad publicity. To let WVIA know what you think of their policy, please write/call: WVIA Bill Kelly or Larry Vojtko 70 Old Boston Road Pittston, PA 18640 (717) 655-2808 Scranton Times PRIEST COMES OUT IN LITTLE ROCK, FINALLY After months of resistance from representatives of the Catholic Church, theater owners and Miramax, GLAAD/Little Rock and the Unitarian Universalist Church produced a special showing of Priest on November 18th. Priest was scheduled to show at the Market Street Cinema in August, but was pulled after the theater received several complaints. That decision touched off controversy over censorship, prompting GLAAD/Little Rock and others to protest the theater. Deen Lincoln, owner of the Market Street Theater, acknowledged that he was "flooded" with calls from the public requesting that Priest be shown, but said he felt the movie was too controversial. Acting with assistance from GLAAD/Tuscaloosa, the UUC Film Society was able to obtain the film from a distributor dealing in 16mm versions, which is the format generally used by film societies. The UUC board approved the showing at the church. As GLAAD Little Rock's first event it was a big success. More than 250 people viewed the movie. Kudos to David Ivers and GLAAD/Little Rock for their tenacity. GLAAD Little Rock IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL! The two authors of an editorial column entitled "Familymatters/Families Matter" from the Laurel Leader-Call (Mississippi) are encouraging people to boycott Disney for several reasons. The column mentions Disney's new policy of extending employee benefits to same-gender partners, which, the authors believe, promotes "values and lifestyles that are injurious to our family and our culture." Other reasons include Disney's more adult-oriented movies, like "Priest" (which deals with a gay member of the clergy), and a book called "Growing Up Gay", (which is published by a Disney-owned company). The columnists are chastising Disney for having a Gay and Lesbian Day at Disneyworld in Florida. In addition, Disney's film company, Miramax, participates in the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. The columnists want families to not visit the Magic Kingdom, to stop renting or buying Disney movies for their children, and to cease from purchasing any Disney-marketed toys or products. To let Disney know you support their open-minded policies, please write or call: Michael Eisner, Chairman & CEO Walt Disney Company 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521 (818) 560-1000 If you wish to send your comments to the columnists: Jane Blackledge & Christie Landgraf c/o Laurel Leader-Call 130 Beacon Street Laurel, MS 39440 Laurel Leader-Call / Camp Sister Spirit OF SOUND MIND? The American Family Association (AFA) is attacking several companies that are encouraging business from the gay and lesbian community. Among them are Charles Schwab Corporation, MCI Communication Corporation and Walt Disney Company. The AFA has launched nation-wide hate campaigns against these businesses, exhibiting much homophobia. Charles Schwab was recently one of the major sponsors of the 19th annual Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival in San Francisco. They also have begun testing how to use direct-mail to contact the gay and lesbian community. MCI is another company invested in direct-mail efforts, in order to cross-promote themselves with the National Gay and Lesbian Business Alliance (NGLBA). In addition, according to the AFA, MCI offers long-distance discounts to businesses owned by "homosexuals". The recent attack on Disney centers around an upcoming film "Lie Down With Dogs"; according to the AFA, it is "a homosexual film." Bill Smith of Smith Capital Management wrote about the "degenerate impact of homosexuality on people and societies." Other letters mention "moral opposition" and "disappointment." In the AFA Journal, Austin Pryor of "Sound Mind Investing" answers readers' concerns regarding Schwab: "Indifferent to the lessons of several thousand years of human history and the moral force of Judeo-Christian tradition, our society and government has increasingly legitimized homosexual conduct..." To demonstrate your support of Schwab, MCI and Disney, contact: Charles R. Schwab, Chair The Charles Schwab Corporation 101 Montgomery Street San Francisco, CA 94104 (415) 627-7000 / fax (415) 627-8894 Bert C. Roberts, Jr., Chair MCI Communication Corporation 1801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20006 (202) 872-1600 / fax (202) 887-2195 / toll free (800) 444-3333 (for Disney's address & phone number, please see "It's A Small World After All!") Reuters WEB SITE BLOCK RECONSIDERED The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) commends Microsystems Software, Inc. for their decision to reconsider blocking gay and lesbian web sites through its software "Cyber Patrol". This software, along with one called "SurfWatch", was originally slated to block any gay or lesbian resources on the World Wide Web, without knowing what those sites contained. "If sexual explicitness was the issue, we were worried that gay and lesbian sites were being blocked more so than non-gay sites. There was too much inconsistency," stated William Waybourn, GLAAD's Managing Director. "We are committed to making sure that the community is treated in a fair and balanced manner." Richard Gorgens, of Microsystems Software, Inc., says their panel of decision-makers is made up of parents and educators. GLAAD would like to see members of the gay and lesbian community added to that panel. Waybourn states that Microsystems is "receptive" to that idea. Gorgens has suggested that regular meetings take place, involving educators, parents, clergy and gay/lesbian community members. GLAAD encourages you to thank Microsystems for their reconsideration of the blockage. Become part of the dialogue, become part of the solution! Microsystems Software, Inc. 600 Worcester Road Framington, MA 01701 (508) 879-9000 e-mail: cyberinf@microsys.com GLAAD NOT IN OUR TOWN An anti-Semitic incident in the town of Billings, Montana inspired its residents to organize and show their solidarity. When a brick was thrown through the window of a Jewish family's home displaying a menorah, the other residents responded by displaying paper menorahs that had been distributed via the local newspaper. More windows were then broken. What happened in Billings is the focus of a program produced by the California Working Group called Not In Our Town. The producers are encouraging human rights groups everywhere to participate in a Not In Our Town week, where the program can foster open community dialogue. This inspiring story of people working together is slated to play on Public Broadcasting Stations around the country, in late December or early January. Call your local PBS station and urge them to show Not In Our Town. Thank them if the program is already scheduled. Rural Organizing Project Oregon SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW Martina Navratilova joined with Visa, Travellers Bank and Suburu to give gays, lesbians and bisexuals a special Visa credit card. It is the Rainbow Card and it allows cardholders to specify chosen family members, and allows for joint applications from lesbian or gay couples. A portion of the charges are supposed to be donated to a new non-profit gay and lesbian charity (created by the financial backers) called the Rainbow Card Foundation. They are to distribute the moneys to such organizations as the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, as well as donate funds towards general AIDS and breast cancer research. The advantage, of course, is high visibility. Gays, lesbians and bisexuals can let merchants know about their purchasing power. Navratilova says the card is a good way to "harness the economic power of our community." On the card itself is a wide-angle photograph of the 1993 March on Washington. The Pride Foundation of Seattle began offering its own credit card for the lesbian and gay community in 1991. Uncommon Clout is another such credit card that markets to the gay and lesbian community and turns back a portion of its profits to non-profit groups. ARIZONA REPUBLIC REVIEWER SAYS "BALLOT MEASURE 9" BIASED Ballot Measure 9 is a documentary that reveals the intense and bitter struggle that Oregonians faced against the Oregon's Citizen Alliance (OCA). The OCA used fiction, not fact, to whip up support of its anti-gay/lesbian initiatives. The citizens of Oregon decisively defeated the OCA's efforts in the November 1992 election. In a film review of Ballot Measure 9, Bob Fenster of The Arizona Republic writes that, "It's evident that the filmmakers side with the gay activists." He says despite the film's coverage of "vandalism and violence visited upon gay supporters" that it has nothing to say on "cases of retaliation against the OCA." Fenster points out that the film "always" shows OCA leaders "making extreme, hate-mongering statements." What Fenster obviously does not understand is how damaging the hate rhetoric used in these anti-gay/lesbian attitudes is, and how violence is bred in such an atmosphere. Gay people were, and are, under attack. Other reviewers saw the bigger picture: Los Angeles Times review by Kevin Thomas -- "... 'Ballot Measure 9' - a comprehensive, incisive documentary on the emotion-charged campaign...is all the more chilling because of its methodical, cool approach." Variety review by Emanuel Levy -- "Though the results are known, this important account also works as a suspenseful tale, one that goes beyond gay rights to encompass such timely and broader issues as human rights, cultural diversity and the American political system." Advocate review by Garrett Glaser -- "'Ballot Measure 9' is an engrossing and skilled piece of work....Perhaps most valuable, it sheds light on the opposition's brilliant strategy of framing the issue of equality as one of 'special rights'." San Francisco Chronicle review by Peter Stack -- "The result is a film that gives both a depressing and inspiring look at grassroots activism and what may have foreshadowed the political future in many states via a climate of hate fanned by extremist groups opposed to 'diversity'." In addition, the film won the "Audience Award" at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Ballot Measure 9 is being distributed by Zeitgeist Films. You can call them at (212) 274-1989 (or fax them at (212) 274-1644) for information about where Ballot Measure 9 might be playing near you. To send your comments, please fax or write: Bob Fenster The Arizona Republic Box 1950 Phoenix, AZ 85001 fax (602) 271-8933 e-mail: Opinions@aol.com The Arizona Republic DETROIT MAGAZINE OUT OF ORBIT ON GAY ISSUES A Detroit-based publication, Orbit Magazine, has included anti-gay content in its November issue. The Triangle Foundation, also located in Detroit, has called on Orbit's readers, advertisers and distributors to boycott the magazine. Evidently, two articles in particular are anti-gay/lesbian: one centered on the murder of a local Catholic priest, who was gay, and another listed several local support/social groups with homophobic slurs and insults. Triangle Foundation President, Jeffrey Montgomery, has communicated several times with the publisher of Orbit Magazine, Jerry Peterson, regarding these homophobic pieces. Peterson told Montgomery he had not considered what might happen to the gay/lesbian social groups whose telephone numbers he irresponsibly printed. If you wish to let Orbit Magazine know what you think, please write or call: Jerry Peterson, Publisher/Editor Orbit Magazine 919 S Main Street, Suite #2001 Royal Oak, MI 48067 (810) 541-3900 Or, for more information, please contact: Jeffrey Montgomery, President Triangle foundation 19641 West Seven Mile Road Detroit, MI 48219-2721 (313) 537-3323 / fax (313) 537-3379 Triangle Foundation MORE COMPANIES INSURING DOMESTIC PARTNERS According to Common Ground, a Massachusetts-based consulting firm, the number of companies offering benefits to partners of gay employees has almost doubled since the first of this year. Walt Disney Company is just one of these businesses. Also on the rise is the number of companies instituting anti-discrimination policies in order to protect their lesbian and gay employees. The count of Fortune 1000 companies implementing such policies has grown from 500 to an estimated 750, says Liz Winfield, co-founder of Common Ground. There are an estimated twelve million gay employees laboring here in the United States, but without anti-discrimination statutes in place everywhere, many such employees may be hestitant to request domestic partner benefits. Costs for businesses willing to offer this insurance is low, due to a lower incidence in gay relationships of childbirth. In addition, many domestic partnerships may earn two incomes, and each person may already receive individual benefits from their particular employer. According to Winfield, domestic partner coverage adds "less than one percent to the total medical insurance budget of any of the private sector employers in the U.S." Starbucks, Coors Brewing, Sony, American Red Cross, Paramount, Apple Computer, and the city governments of Seattle, New York, Baltimore, San Diego, Montreal and Toronto, to name just a few, are all among the growing number of companies offering such domestic partner benefits. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) will be offering workplace kits in 1996, to assist in educating gay and lesbian employees about these important issues. Please call the Field Office to reserve your kit. Reuters GLAAD DIRECTORY National Field Office, Portland (new address as of December 1st) 707 SW Washington St., Suite 350 Portland, OR 97205 (503) 224-5285 FAX: (503) 224-5480 Los Angeles Office 8455 Beverly Blvd., Suite 305 Los Angeles, CA 90048 (213) 658-6775 FAX: (213) 658-6776 New York Office 150 West 26th St., Suite 503 New York, NY 10001 (212) 807-1700 FAX: (212) 807-1806 GLAAD CONNECTS! GLAAD@glaad.org (main e-mail address, moderated by Loren Javier in Los Angeles) world wide web GLAAD site http://www.glaad.org ****************************************************************************** Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org 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 combatting homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. **************************************************************************** **