Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 18:05:41 -0400 From: glaad@glaad.org (GLAAD) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 1997 contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org GLAADLINES News, Tips and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community ELLEN IS ON FOR THE FALL: Coming on the heels of three high-ranking "coming out" episodes, ABC has announced that Ellen will be renewed for the 1997-98 season. As ABC's other most gay-inclusive program, Roseanne, ends its nine-year run on May 20, the renewal of this history-making show marks ABC's continued support of inclusive programming. "GLAAD is thrilled, though hardly surprised, that ABC has chosen to renew the hit program Ellen for next season," said Liz Tracey, GLAAD associate communications director. "As the show continues to evolve, GLAAD looks forward to working hand-in-hand with Touchstone and ABC to ensure accurate representations of lesbians and gay men." The show is slated to air Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m., just after Spin City, which also features a prominent gay character. For more information contact Bill Horn (GLAAD Publicity Associate) at (212) 807-1700. AIRLINES TRY TO GROUND DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP: The Air Transport Association, representing 22 domestic carriers that fly 95 percent of the country's air traffic, sued the City of San Francisco on May 13 in an attempt to block a local ordinance requiring them to offer health benefits to employees' domestic partners. According to the ATA, the suit is solely an issue of preventing local government from dictating policy to national companies. The law, which goes into effect June 1, requires all companies doing business with San Francisco to offer the same benefits to legally registered domestic partners as they do to spouses. "It's very sad that they feel so strongly about not providing equality that they can't work with the city, that they just have to sue the city," said San Francisco Supervisor Susan Leal. Supervisor Leslie Katz also added, "We as a city may set the terms with respect to those we contract with. If they don't want to contract with us, they don't have to." United Airlines, which previously agreed to develop a domestic partnership policy within the next two years in order to preserve a $13.4 million, 25-year lease, has backpedaled on the agreement, saying that the company supported the ATA lawsuit. For more information contact Supervisor Susan Leal at (415) 554-6644. GAY DAD FIGHTS FOR CUSTODY IN NORTH CAROLINA HIGH COURT: On May 14, the North Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments as to whether it is constitutional to deny a parent custody of his children solely on the basis of his being gay. After a Henderson County District Court (North Carolina) judge ruled two years ago that Fred Smith be denied custody of his two sons because he was gay, Smith appealed, and in October of 1996, an appellate court overturned the decision. The boys' mother, Carol Pulliman, pushed the ruling to the state's high court on the ground that Smith violates state sodomy law and "creates an environment unsuitable for children," even if sexual acts are done in private. Ellen Gerber, Smith's lawyer, has countered that Pulliman also admitted in open court to engaging in heterosexual oral sex, but emphasized that using the sex lives of parents as a barometer for custody does a disservice to the true intent of the process. "Parental fitness is about being a good parent, a warm parent, a supportive parent," she said. "It is not about private sexual activity behind closed doors." For more information contact Beatrice Dohrn (Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund) (212) 809-8585. BLACK PRIDE CELEBRATION KICKS OFF IN NATION'S CAPITOL: During a weekend full of festivities, organizing and networking, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender African-Americans will come to Washington, D.C. May 23-26 for Black Lesbian and Gay Pride 1997. Event highlights include an outdoor festival at Banneker Field on May 25, nearly twenty parties, a basketball tournament and cookout, a reception with the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum and a number of discussion groups, including ones for women, men, black elders, black gay media and HIV-positive African-Americans. Also, singing sensation Jennifer Holiday will entertain attendees. For more information contact Seville Williams (Event Coordinator) at (202) 667-8078. GLAAD NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Joan M. Garry, vice president of Showtime Networks, has been named Executive Director for GLAAD, and will assume leadership of the national media advocacy organization on June 15. Garry has been a fixture in the entertainment industry for the past 16 years. As Vice President of Business Operations, she managed Showtime's $300 million pay-per-view business. She also helped launch MTV and developed new channels, helped to create the annual MTV Video Music Awards and the network's innovative merchandising program. Garry lives in New Jersey with her partner of 16 years and their three children. Her children, she says, are "three extremely compelling reasons to join GLAAD. Like every parent, I worry about the kind of world in which our children will grow up and GLAAD offered me the opportunity to help make that world a better place for everyone." For more information contact Bill Horn (GLAAD Publicity Associate) at (212) 807-1700. 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.