Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 18:32:46 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines May 4, 1998 GLAADLINES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 1998 contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org News and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community INDIGO GIRLS MAKE LEMONADE FROM LEMONS-YOUTH CONCERT IS ON: After the principal of Irmo High School in Columbia, South Carolina canceled an Indigo Girls concert at the high school because of the Grammy-award winning performers' sexual orientation, the duo has announced an alternate concert in the city on May 7. Of 3,000 tickets available for the show, 2,000 are available free to high school students and their parents and teachers. The others will be sold for $15 each to defray costs. During a show last week, Emily Saliers told The State, "It hurts my feelings, but I understand prejudice and where hate comes from. I know that it's not just directed towards gay people, but...towards lots of groups of people. We're just trying to play music. Our message is positive." According to GLAAD Communications Director Jennifer Einhorn, "Once more, GLAAD applauds Amy and Emily for demonstrating that prejudice-regardless of its form-can be countered with integrity and determination. The Indigo Girls took control of a situation which otherwise would have promoted a climate of fear and intolerance. Music fans of all ages, as well as the music industry at large, should be proud." For more information, contact Jennifer Einhorn (GLAAD) at (212) 807-1700 ext. 14 or via e-mail at einhorn@glaad.org. IN YPSILANTI, FIGHT TO SAVE EQUAL RIGHTS MEASURE COMES DOWN TO VOTERS: After an aggressive repeal effort by radical religious groups Ypsilanti Township (Michigan) voters will decide May 5 whether or not to preserve a non-discrimination ordinance which protects people from being thrown out of their homes or jobs just because of their sexual orientation. The anti-gay group Citizens Opposing Special Treatment recruited controversial NFL player Reggie White, anti-gay activist Alveda Celeste King and Angie and Debbie Winans, who condemned gay people with their song "It's Not Natural," bringing them to an April 30 rally in favor of repeal as an attempt to create a wedge issue between African Americans and lesbians and gay men. Outside the rally, nearly two dozen local African-American protesters identified as African Americans for No Discrimination, stood in silent opposition to the repeal. According to Beth Bashert, co-chairwoman of the Ypsilanti Campaign for Equality (YCE), in the Ann Arbor News, "I'm offended about those outsiders coming in and using their celebrity status to influence a local issue....We want people to remember that this is not about personal beliefs-this is about civil rights." For more information, contact Beth Bashert (YCE) at (734) 547-9833 or pgr. (313) 501-9367. NEW GAY TV NETWORK IS FIRST PUBLICLY TRADED OPENLY GAY COMPANY: In what is being considered a first of its kind, Gay Entertainment Television (GET) has begun a public offering of shares of the company's stock. In becoming a NASDAQ-registered stock, GET, though broker dealers headed by the Agean Group, hopes to raise $7-9 million. Proceeds will fund the September launch of the first nationwide network, which plans to initially reach 32 million households in the nation's top 20 markets. For more information, contact Marvin Schwam (GET Chair) at (212) 255-8824. GAY SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE BIRDS: The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) has announced a new scholarship program for lesbians and gay men seeking to become professional pilots. "Piloting is one of the last strongholds of homophobia," said NGPA Executive Director Ron Swanda to the Bay Area Reporter. "The best way to change that sad fact is to bring more gays and lesbians into this career field. Many NGPA members have found great satisfaction in their choice of piloting as a career, and they want to encourage other gays and lesbians to do the same." The two $1,500 scholarships will be awarded by September 1, 1998. The deadline for the program is July 31. For more information contact Ron Swanda (NGPA) at (703) 660-3852. LESBIAN FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 20TH BIRTHDAY WITH GALA EVENT: On May 9, Astraea, the National Lesbian Action Foundation, celebrates two decades of giving with "Astraea's Ascent: A Gala Celebration" in Washington, DC. The multicultural, multiracial, multiclass foundation supports organizations directly addressing issues related to lesbians, giving to grassroots efforts around the country. The event will feature VIP guests author Dorothy Allison and the Honorable Sabrina Sojourner, U.S. Representative (D.C.), "I can't believe it's been twenty years already," said Executive Director Katherine Acey. "In many ways, we're just beginning. We just began an endowment fund to ensure that Astraea's great legacy of creating an inclusive and diverse philanthropic community is always alive." For more information contact Darice Clark (Astraea Media Contact) at (301) 581-2149. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.