Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 15:16:33 -0700 From: glaad@glaad.org (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Subject: GLAADLines 09.24.96 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 24, 1996 News, Tips, and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community BATTLING FOR ELLEN'S SOUL: Touchstone Television has been abuzz with both positive and negative comments since a September 28 TV Guide story reported that Ellen Degeneres' title character on her hit ABC sitcom Ellen may announce that she is a lesbian. GLAAD has responded by mounting a letter-writing and Web advocacy campaign, which appears to be in line with public opinion. Some reports indicate a 5:1 ratio of positive to negative responses. A handful of radical religious organizations, including the American Family Association, has issued what appear to be meaningless threats to boycott advertisers sponsoring Ellen. Alan Klein, GLAAD's communications director, said that the potential Ellen coming out "would be a major cultural milestone. It seems that a few radical religious organizations are failing to dictate the viewing privileges of the many." For more information contact Alan Klein (GLAAD) at (212) 807-1700 or e-mail at klein@glaad.org. BIG BLUE SAYS "I DO": In a history-making move, IBM announced on September 19 that it would extend health-care coverage to the same-sex partners of its employees. In doing so, it has become the largest U.S. business to offer domestic partnership benefits, and has joined a progressive trend of nearly 500 major American corporations that have extended such benefits over the past few years. "These eligibility criteria changes will help us meet the crucial needs of our current workforce and, at the same time, attract new employees, as many of our competitors offer these benefits," said Jill Kanin-Lovers, vice president of human resources at IBM USA. "Most important, these changes continue our long-standing tradition of providing benefits plans for all employees." Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Xerox and Hewlett-Packard offer similar benefits. For more information contact Richard Jennings (Hollywood Supports) at (213) 655-7705 or e-mail at hsupports@aol.com UTAH POLITICOS REBUFF GROUNDBREAKING DOCUMENTARY: On September 17, nine days before the national release of the award-winning documentary film It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School, 130 Utah lawmakers were invited to a special preview in Salt Lake City but not one attended the function. Salt Lake City was chosen for the preview because of the controversy surrounding students at East High who wanted to form a gay-straight alliance. In response, the local school board banned all extracurricular clubs. In light of the controversy, says Charlene Orchard of the Utah Human Rights Commission, "we felt it was important for concerned policy-makers to have an opportunity to see this documentary. I thought at least a couple would come, [but] I'm not surprised." The national release kick off is September 26 at the Tower Theatre. For more information contact Ellen Toplin (Toplin & Associates) at (215) 886-4644 or e-mail at ellen@toplin.com. GAY BASHING BUS DRIVER GETS HIS DAY IN COURT: A San Francisco city bus driver charged with assault with a deadly weapon and an anti-gay hate crime went to court to enter a plea on Monday, September 23. The driver, Wardy Joubert, allegedly defamed two gay men and then brutally beat one of them. Joubert was off-duty but in uniform when he saw one man kiss the other on the cheek. John Shanley, spokesman for the district attorney's office, said Joubert then began, "a combination of preaching religion and hate-filled epithets." He then attacked one of the men as the couple tried to disembark. The police hate crimes unit investigated and recommended Joubert be charged with a hate crime, which could significantly increase the sentence if he were to be convicted. For more information contact John Shanley (S.F. District Attorney's Office) at (415) 553-1696. "HANGIN' OUT" ON THE NET: On September 29 from 4-6 p.m. PDT, the worldwide interactive talk show for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities will debut at http://www.hanginout.com. Seattle-based co-hosts John McMullen and Lucia Regan will welcome cyber-listeners for two hours of talk. The first week will cover the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and will include Seattle City Councilwoman Tina Podlodowski and other surprise politicians. Week two will be on location from the First Annual Gay and Lesbian Music Awards (GLAMA) in New York. For more information contact John McMullen (Progressive Networks) at (206) 674-2649 or e-mail at john@hanginout.com. FIRST-EVER INDIANAPOLIS GAY PRIDE: On September 29, GLAAD Director of Community Affairs Donna Red Wing will help kick-off "Indy '96," a first-annual week-long celebration of events for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities of Indiana. Hignlights of the week include Sunday's candlelight march and rally, an evening of theater, a lecture by Candace Gingrich, a Pride fair, a dance and a concert with local and regional celebrities. For more information contact Michael DeFanto (Hetrick Communications) at (317) 262-8080. 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 TO SUBSCRIBE TO GLAAD-Net, GLAAD's electronic mailing list, send e-mail to majordomo@vector.casti.com with the message "Subscribe GLAAD-Net" TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send e-mail to majordomo@vector.casti.com with the message "Unsubscribe GLAAD-Net" 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. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.