Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 15:38:26 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines 05.05.97 GLAADLINES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 1997 contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org News, Tips and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community GAY VETS MEET WITH PENTAGON AS MILITARY EXPLORES GAY RUMORS IN PLANE CRASH: The Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America (GLBVA) today held a first-ever meeting with Pentagon officials. On the agenda was the appointment of an independent review board to investigate abuses of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue." "No other gay veterans organization has ever done this," said Jim Darby, national president of GLBVA. Since May 2, rumors that the pilot whose A-10 crashed recently was gay fueled further criticism of the Pentagon's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, "We are concerned about any ongoing investigations under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue' against additional servicemembers at Davis-Monthan or Laughlin Air Force Bases. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Button family over their loss." For more information contact Edward Clayton (GLBVA) at (205) 833-8391 and Kirk Childress (SLDN) at (202) 328-3244. CORPORATIONS CONTINUE TO AFFIRM DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP: As the deadline draws nearer for companies who do business with the City of San Francisco to commit to providing same-sex partner health benefits for all employees, two major corporations announced that they would comply and made statements supporting diversity in the workplace. On April 24, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) granted medical, dental and vision care to domestic partners of employees, which augmented previously existing benefits such as joint pension plans and bereavement leave. Chevron Corporation announced April 30 that it will extend health, dental, bereavement and relocation benefits to both opposite- and same-sex domestic partners. "Addressing lesbian and gay issues makes excellent business sense," said Kirk Nass, chair of the Chevron Lesbian and Gay Employees Association (CLGEA). For more information contact Kirk Nass (CLGEA) at (510) 242-3932 and Mary Rodrigues (PG&E) at (415) 973-1007. ANTI-GAY FLORIDA FAMILY LAW AND BOTTOMS CASE BACK IN COURT: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will spend the week fighting for the rights of lesbian and gay parents in both Florida and Virginia. On May 5, the ACLU opened its case against Florida, arguing that a 1977 statute stating that "no person eligible to adopt under this statue may adopt if that person is a homosexual" is unconstitutional. The ACLU argues the law not only denies equal protection but fails to serve any legitimate government interest. "No other group in Florida is completely shut out of adoption proceedings," said Michael Adams, ACLU staff attorney. "This lawsuit seeks to give lesbians and gay men the same right to be considered individually that everyone else enjoys." In a new round of Sharon Bottoms' highly publicized battle for custody of her son, on May 7 she will work with the ACLU to urge the Virginia Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court order that barred any contact between Bottoms' biological son, Tyler, and her life partner, April Wade. For more information contact Matt Coles (Director of the ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Project) at (212) 944-9800, ext. 414. NATIONAL GENDER LOBBY DAY IN CAPITOL: The Second National Gender Lobby Day is expected to draw more than a hundred transgender, bisexual, gay and lesbian advocates to Washington, D.C. May 5-6 to push Congress for greater protection from discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation. Sponsored by Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC) and endorsed by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), the event comes on the heels of a May 2 acquittal in a Chelsea, Massachusetts case where William Palmer was on trial for the murder of transgender woman Chanell Pickett. "It really speaks to the fact that being transsexual means being less of a person," said Nancy Negeroni, spokesperson for Transsexual Menace, who will speak at the Lobby Day. In addition, attendees of the lobby day will discuss a new report released by GenderPAC which found that 48 percent of respondents reported being victims of physical assault. For more information contact Riki Wilchins (GenderPAC) at (212) 645-1753. NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN AND HIV CONVENES IN L.A.: The National Conference on Women & HIV is currently underway at the Pasadena Convention Center in Los Angeles. During the conference, held May 4-7, more than 1,500 scientists, providers, women with HIV and policy makers will explore developments in scientific research, HIV prevention and clinical care. For more information contact Jason Levine (LA County Dept. of Health Services) at (800) 361-9996. 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.