Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 15:45:37 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines 09.29.97 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 1997 News, Tips and Breaking Stories about the Gay & Lesbian Community LESBIAN & GAY HISTORY MONTH KICKS OFF WITH VIRTUAL TOWN MEETING: On October 1 Lesbian & Gay History Month begins as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) host a global town meeting on gay.com with special guest Rodney Wilson, founder of Lesbian & Gay History Month. In 1994, Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, appalled by the exclusion of lesbian and gay history from textbooks, set out to make a change. Four years later, Lesbian & Gay History Month continues to gain momentum, with GLAAD as History Month's primary sponsor. "This virtual town meeting gives everyone the opportunity to discuss the importance of lesbian and gay history," said GLAAD Executive Director Joan M. Garry. "As an online forum, it especially provides people in rural areas a chance to participate in History Month." The event will be at 10 pm Eastern/7 pm Pacific and can be accessed via the World Wide Web through gay.com at http://www.gay.com/pages/glaad.html or GLAAD Online at http://www.glaad.org/glaad/history-month/chat.html. For more information contact Liz Tracey (GLAAD Associate Communications Director) at (212) 807-1700 or pgr. (800) 946-4646, pin#: 1423527 or via e-mail at tracey@glaad.org. APUZZO RUMORED TO BECOME TOP-RANKING GAY FEDERAL EMPLOYEE: According to a September 25 Washington Blade report, President Clinton is set to appoint former National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) Director Virginia Apuzzo to his senior White House staff, making her the highest-ranking openly gay person ever to serve in a federal post. Crediting "some of Washington's well-connected gay politicos," the Blade says Apuzzo will be appointed as assistant to the President for management and administration, one of 18 positions on Clinton's senior staff. Richard Socarides, Clinton's gay community liaison, noted that a number of gay people could be appointed to "very senior posts....in the very near future," but would not specifically confirm Apuzzo's appointment. For more information contact Richard Socarides (White House Liaison to the Gay & Lesbian Community) at (202) 456-1611. FAMILY DAY TO CELEBRATE LESBIAN & GAY PARENTS AND THEIR KIDS: On October 4, hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families and friends will celebrate the Third Annual Family Day in San Francisco. "As families, our coming together is crucial this year," said Cheryl Deaner, executive director of All Our Families Coalition (AOFC), the non-profit group sponsoring Family Day. "It's clear the radical right is targeting our families with anti-gay legislation and ballot initiatives. We need to know how to protect ourselves." In addition to entertainment by San Francisco Supervisor and comedian Tom Ammiano, comic Maureen Brownsey and DJ Renel from KMEL-FM, and age-appropriate kid's venues, guests include San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, California Assemblywoman Carole Migden and National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell. AOFC is dedicated to the civil and social rights of families with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members. For more information contact Cheryl Deaner (AOFC) at (415) 681-1960 GAY YOUTH CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON CARING AND SUPPORT: Just weeks after the recent suicide of Utah gay youth leader Jacob Orozco, service providers will come together October 3-5 at Pennsylvania State University for "Interventions with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youths: From Practice to Policy." Through lectures, discussions and workshops, nationally renown researchers, scholars, social workers, counselors, psychologists and educators will address how to best guide families and youth through complex cultural issues revolving around sexual orientation and identity. For more information contact Dr. Anthony R. D'Augelli (Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State) at (814) 863-0241. SOUTHERN COMFORT BRINGS TRANSPEOPLE TOGETHER: Hundreds of transgender people and friends will gather in Atlanta for the Seventh Annual Southern Comfort Conference October 1-5. "From basic presentations for newly out crossdressers concerned with beauty and appearance to nitty gritty legal, medical and political issues, to informative seminars on family relationships, sexuality and spirituality, our schedule reflects a deep commitment to serve the diverse needs of the transgender community and probe cutting-edge thought and action on gender issues," said conference organizers. For more information contact Donna Johnston (Southern Comfort Conference) at (404) 633-6470 or e-mail sccatl@aol.com. 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 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 a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.