Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 15:58:08 -0700 From: GLAAD Subject: GLAADLines 02.03.97 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 3, 1997 News, Tips and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community "LESBIAN BAITING" CALL TO ARMS: Aiming to shoot down the common practice of retaliatory "lesbian baiting" against female servicemembers who report sexual harassment, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) wants advocates to educate Senators serving on the Armed Forces Committee, which has just scheduled sexual harassment hearings for February 4. The mere accusation of being a lesbian can end a woman's service career making it nearly impossible to report abuse. Accounting for 21% of all discharges but representing only 13% of the armed forces, women are targeted under "don't ask, don't tell" at rates much higher than their presence in the military. SLDN Co-Executive Director Michelle Benecke said, "The gay policy gives men in the military a tool to extort sexual compliance from women under the threat of calling them lesbians." For more information contact Michelle Benecke (SLDN) at (202)328-3244. ANTI-GAY CHILDREN'S BOOK ALFIE'S HOME TELLS PATHETIC TALE: Attempting to negate positive effects of gay-inclusive children's books such as Daddy's Home and Heather Has Two Mommies, the anti-gay radical religious group International Healing Foundation (IHF) is renewing a national scheme to place an anti-gay children's book, Alfie's Home, in schools and libraries. IHF director and Alfie's Home author Richard Cohen suggests in the book that (male) homosexuality is caused by distant fathers and sexual molestation, theories widely discredited. John Spear, Director of Field Services for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN), says education should provide a safe and affirmative environment for all students. "Alfie's Home promotes hatred, bigotry and stereotypes which wreak havoc on schools and the educational process." For more information contact John Spear (GLSTN) at (212) 727-0135 or email:glstn@glstn.org. FEDERAL COURT HEARS ALABAMA GAY STUDENT CASE: A panel of the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals is currently considering arguments over the constitutionality of a state law designed to keep lesbian, gay and bisexual student groups off university campuses. The law seeks to bar "any college or university from spending public funds or using public facilities...to sanction, recognize or support any group that promotes a lifestyle or actions prohibited by the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws" of the state. A lower court threw out the law as unconstitutional last year. On January 28 Matt Coles, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU) Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, told the judges the law was clearly designed to silence groups who disagree with the government and would have an "inhibited effect of the free speech of other individuals if it remains on the books." There is no indication of when the court will rule. For more information contact Denny Lee (Assistant Director of Media Relations, ACLU) at (212) 944-9800, ext. 424. NEW PUSH FOR NONDISCRIMINATION LAWS NATIONWIDE: In the face of legislative opposition across the country to same-sex marriage, some state and local governments are seeking to protect lesbians and gay men of other types of discrimination. On January 23, the "Employment Non-Discrimination Act," which bars discrimination against gays and lesbians in the workplace, was introduced into the Nebraska legislature. In the Virginia Senate, Sen, Patricia S. Ticer (D-Alexandria) has introduced three bills seeking to make sexual orientation a protected class under hate-crime legislation which would add lesbians and gay men to current employment nondiscrimination protections and allow businesses incorporated in Virginia to offer domestic partner health benefits. Meanwhile, two small towns are also dealing with nondiscrimination policies. On January 23, the Lacey, Washington, City Council amended its fair housing act to include lesbians and gay men. And, the western Illinois town of Galesburg is considering enacting legislation that would prohibit discrimination against gay people. For more information contact David Smith (Human Rights Campaign) at (202) 628-4160. MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE HIV ADA PARKING CASE: Richard Biggs, a 45-year old HIV-positive disabled man asked the city of Jackson, Michigan to create a handicapped parking space in front of his house in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); the city's answer to Biggs was that his decision to purchase a house with no off-street parking was unfortunate, and that he consider moving into public housing for the disabled. Biggs contested the decision in court, lost and has been ordered to pay the city $11,000 in legal costs. City attorney Anthony Raduazo claims he is "very sympathetic to AIDS sufferers." Jeffrey Montgomery, President of Michigan's Triangle Foundation, said , "I have to believe that there are handicapped parking spaces in front of residences all around Jackson. I suggest the city attorney reread the ADA." For more information contact Jeffrey Montgomery (Triangle Foundation) at (313) 537-3323. 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