Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 16:05:38 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines 03.09.98 GLAADLINES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 9, 1998 News and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org GLAAD URGES TIME TO SET HISTORY STRAIGHT: GLAAD, as both the nation's lesbian & gay multimedia advocacy organization and as primary sponsors of the annual Lesbian & Gay History Month in October, has expressed shock and disappointment over the exclusion of both the gay civil rights movement and AIDS from Time magazine's 75th Anniversary Issue. The March 9 issue of Time, which recounts the major events of the last 75 years, does not mention the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which symbolically kicked off the modern movement for lesbian and gay civil rights, nor in the 1980s or 1990s gives any recognition to the global AIDS pandemic. "GLAAD, and many Americans, are dismayed by Time's skewed perspective on history that excludes the lesbian and gay civil rights movement, which has had a profound effect on the political, legal and cultural landscape of America," said GLAAD Executive Director Joan M. Garry. "Even more startling is the magazine's silence on AIDS. This disease has transformed the world in countless ways during the last two decades. We urge Time to publicly account for these glaring omissions. We expect more from one of the most important news magazines in the century." For more information contact Cathy Renna (GLAAD Interim Communications Director) at (202) 986-1360 or pgr. (301) 215-1354. ASYLUM DEADLINE HAS LESBIAN AND GAY ACTIVISTS SCRAMBLING: On April 1, a new U.S. immigration law will go into affect that will require all asylum-based applicants to file within one year of arrival in the United States unless they can prove "exceptional circumstances" for their failure to file. For those seeking asylum from persecution based on sexual orientation, missing this deadline could mean dire consequences. According to the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who come to the U.S. to escape anti-gay persecution elsewhere fail to file because of a number of reasons, including reluctance to disclose their sexual orientation and the related threats in their homeland to government officials here. "We must do everything we can to get the word out now," said IGLHRC Asylum Project Coordinator Dusty Araujo. "I have nightmares thinking about the lesbian who will call us in five weeks with a horrible story of persecution. What will I tell her? 'Sorry, you missed the deadline, go back to the place that abused you?'" For more information contact Dusty Araujo (IGLHRC) at (415) 255-8680. HAWAII GROUP OPPOSING EQUAL MARRIAGE RIGHTS IN HOT LAVA OVER CONTRIBUTIONS: According to the March 9 edition of the Pacific Business News, the Hawaii State Campaign Spending Commission is investigating the anti-gay group Save Traditional Marriage (STM) for numerous potential violations of campaign contribution law. Most of the alleged wrongdoings stem from a November 20 fundraising event featuring a workshop and dinner with Stephen Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Successful People. The fees paid by attendees, ranging from $110-$1,000, all went directly to STM, making attendees public supporters of the group. Some, such as a representative from the Australian consulate, stated, "We didn't realize the money would be going to Save Traditional Marriage." According to Hawaii law, foreign contributions to political organizations are illegal. STM has already turned over the contribution and may be fined during a March 10 meeting of the Campaign Spending Commission. In addition, STM failed to report the in-kind donation of Covey's services even though his usual rate for a related event is $60,000. Finally, many representatives from local non-profit organizations attended, and STM accepted their workshop fees as contributions despite a law forbidding not-for-profit organizations from participating in political activities. For more information contact David Smith (Human Rights Campaign) at (202) 628-4160. LANDMARK SURVEY SHOWS GAY YOUTH COMING OUT EARLIER THAN EVER: According to a survey of over 2,000 young people completed by !OutProud!, the National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth, and Oasis Magazine, youth on average first realize their sexual orientation at age 12 and are telling friends and family for the first time by age 16. Typically, the survey found, they tell their best friend first and the response is overwhelmingly positive. However, 63% reported that one or more times they been "verbally insulted because they are, or were thought to be, queer." Also, a shocking 68% have seriously thought about committing suicide, and 40% of those who had depended on support found on the Internet for someone to talk to. In regards to the future, 78% see themselves eventually in a committed relationship and over 50% hope to have children and marry someone of the same gender. "Never before have we had such a window into the lives of queer and questioning youth," said !Out Proud! Executive Director Christopher Kryzan, adding the survey "will help us understand, for they first time, who they are, how they live, and of what they hope and dream." The survey can be found online at http://www.oasismag.com/survey/. For more information contact Christopher Kryzan (!OutProud!) at (415) 460-5452. 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 multimedia advocacy 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 registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.