Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1996 13:47:57 -0700 From: glaad@glaad.org (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Subject: GLAADlines 08.23.96 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www. glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 26, 1996 News, Tips, and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community WINDY CITY SUBURB BLOWS OFF ANTI-GAY HATE CRIME: As Chicago authorities spit-polish the city for the Democratic National Convention, officials in a northern suburb have swept a gritty hate crime under the rug. Two Fox Lake teenagers were recently charged with criminal damage to property, criminal trespass and violation of curfew for a series of acts of harassment and intimidation culminating in the August 18 smearing of human excrement on the door of a gay male couple's home. The couple, Mark Manczko and his partner, feel they are being forced to move and many are questioning why police did not immediately pursue hate-crime charges against the 14-year-old suspects. After pressure from gay rights activists, the state attorney's office asked that police investigate further to determine whether enough evidence existed to prosecute under the hate-crime statute. For more information contact Rick Garcia, executive director of the Illinois Federation for Human Rights at (312) 477-7173. MARRIAGE MISCARRIAGE IN MISSISSIPPI: Lesbian and gay rights activists are outraged by Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice's executive order, issued on August 22, which bans same-sex marriages in the state. Gov. Fordice claimed the purpose of the order was to strengthen the state's existing sodomy law while preventing county clerks from issuing marriage licenses to lesbians and gay men and recognizing such unions from other states. Mississippi is the first state in the nation to try to bar same-sex marriage by executive order. According to David Ingebretsen, the executive director of the Mississippi chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the state's constitution makes it clear that it is the legislature, not the governor, who defines the duties and authorities of county clerks, and accused the governor of pandering to the religious right. Such a measure died in committee during the last session of the state's legislature. For more information contact Alan Klein, GLAAD's communication director, at (212) 807-1700, ext. 11 or e-mail at klein@glaad.org. 7-ELEVENS HAVE NO ALIBI FOR CENSORSHIP: Regional 7-Eleven stores have pulled a popular free alternative weekly newspaper from their racks because of their same-sex personal ads, according to Dan Scott, general manager of the Albuquerque, New Mexico Weekly Alibi. "We're the second largest publication in the state, and we have been on the rack of free publications in 7-Elevens for a couple of years," says Scott. "But after someone from Southwest Convenience Stores saw our gay, lesbian and bisexual literature issue in June, our distributor recently informed us that due to our same-sex personals, they would no longer carry us." Southwest Convenience Stores, based in Odessa, Texas, claimed the move had more to do with the "general content of the paper." The Weekly Alibi previously distributed 3,500 papers through the stores. "I think it is just basically homophobia," Scott noted. For more information contact Dan Scott (Weekly Alibi) at (505) 268-3456. MEN OF COLOR GATHER FOR MAJOR AIDS CONFAB: The National Task Force on AIDS Prevention will host their annual Gay Men of Color AIDS Institute in Miami Beach August 30-September 2. Beginning with a pre-institute conference for youth, the Institutes sessions will also include HIV prevention strategies, organizational development and program evaluation for Native American, Latino, Asian-Pacific Islander and African American gay and bisexual men. For more information contact Willis Johnson at (415) 356-8134 or e-mail at ntfap@aol.com. CINCINNATI OBSCENITY TRIAL SETTLED: Follow up: Cincinnati gay bookstore The Pink Pyramid was recently put on trial on obscenity charges for renting world-renowned filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini's critically acclaimed Salo: 120 Days of Sodom. Citing heavy legal costs and time, defendants in the case pleaded to a lesser charge of attempted pandering of obscenity and a $500 fine. By doing so, The Pink Pyramid can continue to rent and sell the film and will have all criminal charges dropped against its employees. Leanne Katz, executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) called the move, "an imperfect victory, but a victory nonetheless." For more information contact Leanne Katz (NCAC) at (212) 807-6222 or e-mail at ncac@netcom.com. To report events that merit media coverage, or news stories breaking in your area, please contact us. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is the nation's lesbian & gay news bureau and the only national lesbian & gay multimedia watchdog organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate, and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. To subscribe contact Don Romesburg at (415) 861-2244 or at romesburg@glaad.org. 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