Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 16:32:50 -0700 From: GLAAD Subject: GLAADLines 01.06.97 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 6, 1997 News, Tips, and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community RELATIVITY HEATS UP: ABC TV's acclaimed series Relativity will feature a passionate kiss between Rhonda, a lesbian character played by Lisa Edelstein, and her new girlfriend on the January 11 episode. Rhonda is one of the most complex and realistic lesbian characters on television today and the kiss is in keeping with her character's romantic development. The episode, which also portrays a steamy love scene between the two heterosexual main characters, airs at 10pm on ABC and will most likely be preceded by a parental advisory concerning the sexual content. "We are enthusiastic about this honest portrayal of a lesbian character's romantic relationship," said GLAAD Managing Director William Waybourn. "GLAAD hopes that the rating the episode receives is not based on the sexual orientation of the show's characters and remains free of anti-gay bias." For more information contact Alan Klein (GLAAD National Communications Director) at (212) 807-1700. CLINTON'S WAR ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA TAKES AIM AT PHYSICIANS: In a move characterized by the Chicago Sun-Times as a "classic case of overreaction," President Clinton and his drug czar, retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, are warning doctors who prescribe marijuana for variety of ailments related to AIDS that they face prosecution, exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid programs and other penalties. "Medical use is not abuse" states ACT UP Washington spokesperson Wayne Turner. The President's own HIV/AIDS Advisory Council proposed that "the administration should resist any attempts to use the federal government to intrude on the integrity of the doctor/patient relationship." For more Information contact Wayne Turner (ACT UP Washington) at (202) 547-6780. WASHINGTON LESBIANS HOST WOMEN'S INAUGURAL GALA: The Women's Inaugural Gala, the first inaugural event hosted by and for lesbians, will take place in Washington, D.C. on January 18. Produced by a group of Washington women representing business, government, academia and non-profit organizations, the event will benefit Washington's Lesbian Services Program of Walker-Whitman Clinic and the Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco. Roberta Achtenberg, who is a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and award-winning filmmaker Debra Chasnoff (It's Elementary) will co-chair the event. Said Achtenberg, "I don't know why no one ever thought of this before!" For more information contact Julie Gonen (Women's Inaugural Gala) at (202) 863-1633. TRANSGENDER LOBBYISTS HEAD TO WASHINGTON, D.C.: A national transgender lobbying event will be held in Washington D.C. February 24 and 25. Phyllis Randolph Frye, Executive Director of the International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy (ICTLEP) will train activists and coordinate state by state efforts for meeting elected representatives and their staffs. The goal of this lobbying event is to demonstrate to Congress that the transgender community is diverse, organized and tired of being victimized by hate crimes and discrimination including being excluded from the last two versions of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). For more information contact Dee McKellar (ICTLEP) at (713) 777-8452. POSTAL SERVICE CODE PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION: Joining the ranks of other Cabinet-level departments (excluding the Pentagon), the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) law enforcement branch has issued a new mandatory code of conduct forbidding employees to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. According to a spokesman for the USPS, the policy which extends to off-duty behavior as well will only affect actions that violate the law and will not impede on personal liberties such as freedom of speech. Leonard Hirsch, president of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Employees of the Federal Government (Federal GLOBE) believes that because the USPS Postal Inspection Service involves law enforcement personnel, it is appropriate to regulate after-hours conduct. "As long as they do their job well, honestly and effectively without discrimination, there will be no problem." For more information contact Leonard Hirsch (Federal GLOBE) at (202) 986-1101. 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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