Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 17:01:17 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines 08.18.97 GLAADLINES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 18, 1997 News, Tips and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FUNNY PAGES BOYCOTT NO LAUGHING MATTER!: Today, GLAAD called on all fair-minded Americans to buy extra copies of local newspapers that run the gay inclusive August 20-23 storyline of the comic strip "For Better or For Worse," then send those copies to the Christian Family Network and the American Family Association. Both organizations, with aggressively anti-gay agendas, have called for their members to refuse delivery of their newspapers to show their opposition to the comic strip. The popular strip runs in 1,700 newspapers nationwide. "These radical religious groups are asking their members to boycott newspapers sight unseen," said Joan M. Garry, Executive Director of GLAAD. "It's ironic, since Lynn Johnston's strip is one of the most family-friendly comics running today. We feel that everyone should read 'For Better or For Worse' and make up their own minds about the storyline. By sending these organizations the newspapers, we hope they will take the opportunity to do just that." For more information, contact Liz Tracey, Associate Communications Director at GLAAD (212) 807-1700, pager (800) 946-4646 PIN# 1423527. FOUNDER OF RADICAL RELIGIOUS GROUP APOLOGIZES: On August 15 Gil Alexander-Moegerele, co-founder of the radical religious group Focus on the Family, publicly apologized to gay men and lesbians for the vicious lies of the group and leader, James Dobson. "I apologize to lesbian and gay Americans who are demeaned and dehumanized on a regular basis by the false, irresponsible and inflammatory rhetoric of James Dobson's anti-gay radio and print materials." He also called Dobson's political maneuvering "un-American" and "un-Christian" and called upon Dobson to "return to the kinder gentler Focus on the Family we founded, to support American in those noble human endeavors of building strong marriages and raising strong families." According to National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Director Kerry Lobel, "Dobson's entrepreneurial spirit and personal political agenda has turned racism, sexism and homophobia into a profitable business," In addition, Alexander-Moegerele apologized for Focus on the Family's attacks on women, people of color and non-Christians. For more information contact Mark Johnson (NGLTF Media Director) at (202) 332-6483, ext. 3314 or pgr. (800) 757-6476. GLAAD APPLAUDS NEW GAY CHARACTERS AS ABC RE-AIRS GROUNDBREAKING ELLEN: As audiences await the 1997 fall television lineup featuring a record-setting 30 lesbian, gay and bisexual characters, the historic coming out episode of Ellen will be rebroadcast on September 3. "We hope that in this day of increasingly inclusive programming, all of America will have the chance to watch Ellen Morgan come out again, and that ABC affiliates nationwide will broadcast this watershed program throughout the year," said GLAAD Executive Director Joan M. Garry. When the episode originally aired on April 30, only one affiliate, ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama, refused to run it. In response, GLAAD worked with the local community to create a satellite-linked "Welcome Out Ellen Party" that brought 2,500 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and families and friends together for the event. For more information contact Liz Tracey (GLAAD Ass. Communications Director) at (212) 807-1700 or pgr. (800) 946-4646 pin# 1423527. FOLLOWING TREND, PHILLY PAPERS RULED TO GRANT DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP: Last week a labor arbitrator ruled that Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. (PNI) must grant same-sex domestic partners health benefits to employees' partners, citing "minuscule" costs. As PNI, which owns both the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, considers appeal and the Newspaper Guild celebrates victory, Sherry Boschert, a spokesperson for the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) notes the ruling is part of a much larger trend. "Twice as many media companies have domestic partnership benefits now as compared to three years ago. This victory for fairness also shows the importance of unions in fighting this issue," she said. The ruling follows closely on the heels of the announcement that a much larger communications-based company, US West, will offer domestic partnership benefits for its 69,000 employees in 14 states. "Good employees should have a good healthcare package, and we have both at US West," said Toni Ozeroff, US West's vice president of law and human resources. For more information contact Mike Frederickson (NLGJA Executive Director) at (202) 588-9888. GAY DOCTORS HOLD HISTORIC SYMPOSIUM: August 21-23, the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) will hold its 15th Annual Symposium, in what is expected to be the largest gathering of lesbian and gay physicians ever. "Building Healthy Families," being held in San Francisco, address dynamic legal and health trends currently impacting gay and lesbian families as well as workshops on HIV prevention, treatment and research, transgender issues, breast cancer and domestic violence. For more information contact Sue Rochman (GLMA Communications Director) at (415) 255-4547. To report events that merit media coverage, or news stories breaking in you area, please contact us. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) promotes fair, accurate and inclusive media 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. 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