Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 16:40:57 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADlines 11.04.96 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www. glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 4, 1996 News, Tips, and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community VIOLENT HOMOPHOBIA IS THE CULPRIT: Following the lead of Jonathan Schmitz's defense attorneys, who claim his participation in the "secret crush" episode on the Jenny Jones show pushed him over the edge, the media has framed the case as if talk shows-and not Schmitz's violent homophobia-are on trial. But according to Albert Levitt, a forensic psychologist working for the Philadelphia court system, animosity for gays is developed in social groups, especially among young men: "When these men are propositioned by gays, they use this hatred to justify their violence." As the Schmitz trial continues this week, Jeffrey Montgomery of Michigan's lesbian and gay anti-violence organization, the Triangle Project, expressed concern that "the Jenny Jones element could divert attention from the fact that this is a pure case of anti-gay violence." For more information contact Jeffrey Montgomery (Triangle Project) at (313) 537-3323. SAN FRANCISCO SET TO ENACT LANDMARK DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP BILL: This week, legislation prohibiting San Francisco from doing business with contractors who do not provide equal benefits to employees' domestic partners, as they now do to spouses, will come back before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. They unanimously approved the legislation on October 28. According to Supervisor Leslie Katz, who co-wrote the ordinance with Supervisor Tom Ammiano, "This bill is cutting-edge legislation. It is the first time a major city has taken action to ensure domestic partner benefits are provided by the private sector." For more information contact Supervisor Leslie Katz at (415) 544-5335. ACTIVISTS HEAD FOR CREATING CHANGE: Two days after the election, the Ninth Annual Creating Change Conference, a national gathering for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), will be held November 6-10 in Alexandria, Virginia. This year, the estimated 2,500 attendees will feature special workshops on the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and statewide organizing sessions focusing on grassroots responses to the bills. More than 100 other workshops will reflect the dynamism and diversity of the movement, clustered into categories such as anti-violence, families, media, people of color, public schools, spirituality, transgender, workplace and youth. Speakers will include openly gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), author and activist June Jordan. For more information contact Robert Bray (NGLTF) at (703) 931-4703, pgr. (800) 757-6776 or email: rbray@ngltf.org. ARIZONA POLITICAL OPPONENTS ACCUSED OF "VENOMOUS LIE": Two political opponents of openly gay Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) are under investigation for posting signs around Tucson, Arizona over the past few weeks reading, "Kolbe: I have AIDS!". On October 30, police Sgt. Eugune Mejia noted that both Reform Party candidate Ed Finkelstein and Republican Joseph Sweeney had admitted posting them. Finkelstein is currently running against Kolbe in the November 5 election, while Sweeney lost to Kolbe in the primary. Kolbe has condemned the signs as an outrage and a "venomous lie," noting that "the individual involved is well-known in this community as a hate-monger." For more information contact Toni Hellon (Kolbe's campaign manager) at (520) 325-1996. WORKING OUT OUR RIGHTS: Colleagues, a new national organization working for gay, lesbian. bisexual and transgender rights in the workplace, will be holding its formation meeting at the Workplace Institute of the Creating Change Conference. In addition to serving as an umbrella coalition for the many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employee groups in corporations around the country, Colleagues will serve as a resource for strategy and support for individual employee groups. For more information contact Robert Bray (NGLTF) at (703) 931-4703, pgr. (800) 757-6776 or email: rbray@ngltf.org 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 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. 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