Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1996 13:03:31 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADlines 09.09.96 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www. glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 9, 1996 News, Tips, and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community SENATE TO VOTE ON HISTORIC GAY EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION ACT: On Tuesday, September 10, the Senate is expected to pass the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), but will also consider the widely-supported Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would outlaw job discrimination based on sexual orientation. ENDA, a bill on the front line of the battle for basic protections for all lesbians and gay men, has a great deal more popular and political support than DOMA. Do to its prohibition on quotas, and because it does not apply to religious organizations, small businesses and the military, it has a good chance of passage. For more information contact Alan Klein (GLAAD) at (212) 807-1700 or e-mail at klein@glaad.org. HAWAII GAY MARRIAGE CASE TELEVISED: As Baehr v. Miike, the Hawaii same-gender marriage case gets underway in the Honolulu Circuit Court on September 10, Court TV will broadcast the trial. In the case, the burden of proof rests with the state to justify compelling interests in continuing discrimination against same-sex couples by denying them the right to civil marriage. For more information contact Tom Ramsey (Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project) at (808) 944-6742 or e-mail at ramsey@math.hawaii.edu. RADICAL RELIGIOUS CONVENTION PROTESTED WITH PRAYER: On September 14, Pride, Faith and Anger (PFA), a Washington, D.C. neighborhood alliance, the local chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), clergy and other supporters will protest the Christian Coalition's annual conference, being held in Dupont Circle, an area considered to be the center of the District's gay community. According to Frank Asher, co-coordinator of PFA, the protest will "speak out to the Christian Coalition by reaffirming our faith while demanding a more inclusive definition of 'Christian.' We are outraged that the Christian Coalition is promoting a legislative agenda which denies our fundamental freedoms." For more information contact Frank Asher (PFA) at (202) 332-6476. FALL T.V.'S OUT LINEUP: At least 5 new shows in the upcoming television season have openly gay regular characters. Two of the shows, Party Girl and Lush Life, premiere on Fox tonight following Melrose Place. On Party Girl, John Cameron Mitchell plays Derrick, a gay friend of the lead, while on Lush Life John Ortiz is cast as a gay bartender named Nelson Margarita Marquez. On September 17, the ABC's Spin City premieres, with Michael Boatman as a gay activist in charge of minority affairs for the City of New York. A week later Relativity, also on ABC, casts Lisa Edelstein as Rhonda Roth, the lesbian sister of the male lead. Finally, the new CBS/Bocho production Public Morals will bring in John Irvin to recreate his role from NYPD Blue. For more information contact Alan Klein (GLAAD) at (212) 807-1700 or e-mail at klein@glaad.org. GAY BACK-TO-SCHOOL CAMPAIGN EDUCATES NATION'S SCHOOLS: A letter-writing effort targeting educational leaders nationwide and organized by The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) has exceeded its initial goal of 5,000 letters in one week. The Back-to-School Campaign asks lesbian, gay and bisexual adults and supporters to write letters to their former schools to demand action to end homophobia. "Almost half of the approximately 5 million gay and lesbian kids in K-12 schools in the U.S. will be harassed because of their sexual orientation sometime during their school careers," said GLSTN Executive Director Kevin Jennings. Joining GLSTN are Olympic Gold-Medalist Greg Louganis and gay student leaders Kelli Peterson and Jamie Nabozny. For more information contact Kevin Jennings (GLSTN) at (212) 727-0135. AFRICAN-AMERICAN LESBIANS AND GAYS TAKE CONTROL: Black lesbians, gay men and bisexuals from across the county will gather in Washington, D.C. September 13-14 for Take Control: Conference '96. The conference, sponsored by the D.C. Coalition of Black Lesbians, Gay Men & Bisexuals (CBLGB), will include a host of economic, political and spiritual workshops. For more information contact Everett Hamilton (CBLGB) at (202) 265-1428. 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. "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (glaad) glaad@glaad.org REPORT DEFAMATION IN THE MEDIA! CALL OUR ALERTLINE AT 800.GAY.MEDIA OR VISIT OUR WEB PAGE AT www.glaad.org! GLAAD is the nation's lesbian and gay news bureau and the only national lesbian and gay multimedia watchdog organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.