Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 15:52:06 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines 03.10.97 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 10, 1997 News, Tips and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community GLAAD L.A. MEDIA AWARDS TO BE GALA EVENT: On March 16, GLAAD will kick off its three-city Media Awards in Los Angeles. Fifteen hundred people will gather at the Century Plaza Hotel for the star-studded event, with such special guests as Ellen DeGeneres, Gina Gershon, Jennifer Tilly, Gregory Peck, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Mitchell Anderson, Cher, Adam Arkin, Valerie Bertinelli, Tracey Ullman, Ed McMahon and many more. Awards presented at the event will include: Outstanding Film (Wide Release), Outstanding Television Comedy Series, Outstanding Television Drama Series, Outstanding Television-Individual Episode, Outstanding Music Single, Outstanding Los Angeles Theater Production and the Stephen F. Kolzak Award. For more information contact Bragman Nyman Cafarelli (Public Relations) at (310) 274-7800. ARMY SCRAMBLE FOR RECRUITS: In the face of increased discharges under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and a heightened scrutiny of sexual abuse, the Army has announced plans to lower recruiting standards and increase its advertising budget in hopes of meeting 1997 recruiting goals. The Army will make high school diplomas a requirement for only 90 percent of recruits, with the remaining 10 percent needing only General Equivalency Diplomas (GEDs). In addition, the Army will increase its advertising budget from $12 million to $44 million. Army Lt. Gen. Fredrick Vollrath admitted that "negative publicity like the current Army issue with sexual harassment does not help recruiting." The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) has figured that the 1996 cost of training replacements for those discharged for gay-related offenses under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" at $25 million. This figure does not include the costs of investigations of gay people, administrative boards and court martials, or defending the policy in court. "Maybe if they spent less money abusing the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy and more on addressing the serious crimes of rape and sexual assault at Aberdeen and other bases, they wouldn't have this recruitment problem in the first place," said Kirk Childress, SLDN staff attorney. For more information contact Kirk Childress (SLDN) at (202)328-3244. COURT RULES LESBIAN MOMS CAN CROSS-ADOPT DAUGHTERS: In a precedent-setting decision, Suffolk (New York) Family Court Judge William Kent allowed two lesbians to cross-adopt each others' daughters. Dee Hoole and Robin Shlakman petitioned to adopt one anothers' biological children (who were conceived through the same sperm donor) in order to protect them in case one of the mothers dies. "This is the first cross-adoption in the U.S. by two lesbians whose children are half-sisters," said Dominic Barbara, the women's lawyer. "It is tremendously gratifying that even in a country and legal system that denies to lesbian and gay couples a right as basic as marriage exits a mechanism for providing stability and security for our families and children," said Kate Kendall, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). "With a decision such as this, our children's future looks more solid and bright." For more information contact Kate Kendall (NCLR) at (415) 392-6257. SAME-SEX MARRIAGE-IT'S ABOUT DISCRIMINATION: According to the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (LLDEF), a new congressional report from the General Accounting Office (GAO) reveals that at least 1,049 laws addressing martial status deny benefits, rights and privileges to same-sex couples. The study was quietly released last month in response to questions raised during the debate over the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). "Six months after voting for this radical anti-marriage bull, Congress just now is checking out what civil marriage means under federal law," said Evan Wolfson, marriage project director for LLDEF. "They shoved lesbian and gay couples outside this entire system of federal protections." For more information contact Evan Wolfson (LLDEF) at (212) 809-8585, ext. 205. GLAAD BRINGS MEDIA AWARDS LIVE VIA THE INTERNET: GLAAD will be bringing its 8th Annual Media Awards live to a global audience via the Internet. This cyber-event is sponsored by Pride!, CompuServe and OUTBOX.COM. On March 16 in Los Angeles, GLAAD will present a CyberAuction, a live celebrity chat and, for the first time, a live video and audio cybercast of the Media Awards. GLAAD will also cybercast the award ceremony in New York on March 31. For more information contact Loren Javier at (213) 658-6775, e-mail javier@glaad.org or visit the GLAAD Web site at www.glaad.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. TO JOIN GLAAD AND RECEIVE GLAAD's DISPATCH AND QUARTERLY IMAGES MAGAZINE, call 1.800.GAY.MEDIA or join on the Web today at www.glaad.org/glaad/join/join-about.html 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" GLAAD is the nation's lesbian and gay news bureau and the only national lesbian and gay multimedia watchdog organization. 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