Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 19:33:05 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: GLAADLines November 23, 1998 GLAADLINES Contact: Liz Tracey, Publications Manager (212) 807-1700 x18 tracey@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 23, 1998 News and Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community PROGRESS IN TEXAS, GEORGIA IN FIGHT AGAINST SODOMY LAWS: The Georgia State Supreme Court struck down the state's sodomy law, which criminalized some consensual sexual behavior between adults. In Anthony Powell v. The State, the court found 6-1 that the law violated the right to privacy under the Georgia State Constitution, stating that "We cannot think of any other activity that reasonable persons would rank as more private and more deserving of protection from governmental interference than consensual, private adult sexual activityŠ". Dilia Loe, GLAAD Atlanta Media Resource Center Manager, commented, "This is a long overdue recognition that the private consensual acts between adults are simply that - private. While the Georgia State Supreme Court has seen fit to realize this, we as a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community must know that our work will continue in the other states that still maintain these laws on their books." For more information, contact Dilia Loe at (404) 876-1368 or via e-mail at loe@glaad.org. In Houston, Texas, two men recently arrested under that state's "Homosexual Conduct" law pled no contest before a justice of the peace and were fined $125. The two men will be represented by Suzanne Goldberg at Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (LLDEF), who commented, "The state's 'Homosexual Conduct' law, even when not used in criminal proceedings, classifies gay people in Texas as unequal to their fellow citizens, stigmatizes them as criminals, and forbids them from engaging them in the same private acts with their partners that are allowed for non-gay Texans. The law puts people at risk of losing their jobs and their homes, simply for sexual intimacy with another consenting adult." The men were arrested on September 17 on sodomy charges when police entered one man's apartment in response to a false report of an armed intruder. For more information, contact Peg Byron (LLDEF Communications Director) at (212) 809-8585, or via pager at (888) 987-1984. MATTHEW SHEPARD HEARING BEGINS: Hearings for Aaron McKinney, one of two men charged in the murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard began in Laramie on November 19. Russell Henderson, the other suspect charged in the beating death of Shepard, waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Both men are charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated battery in the October 6 crime. During the hearings, prosecutor Carl Rerucha gave a timeline of the crime, including Henderson and McKinney's luring Shepard from a bar by telling him they were gay, driving away in McKinney's truck, McKinney pulling a handgun and telling Shepard "We're not gay, and you're jacked." They then beat him and tied him to a fence, taking $20 from him and forcing him to give up information so they could rob his apartment. For more information about the hearings, or upcoming trials, contact Cathy Renna (GLAAD Director of Community Relations) at (202) 986-1360 or via pager at (301) 215-1354. TIPS FOR A HAPPY FAMILY HOLIDAY, FROM PFLAG: Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG) are offering online visitors tips for the holiday season for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and their family members and friends. Many people come out to their families and friends while home for the holidays, and this can intensify already stressful times. Among the tips for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people: Don't wait for your family's attitude to change to have a special holiday; focus on common interests during the visit; remember to affirm yourself, and connect with another person (in person or via phone) who understands what you are going through, and can help you. For families and friends, advice includes: Don't be nervous about using the "correct" language; realize that this may be as awkward for your loved one as it is for you; try to include your family member's partner in you family traditions, and connect with someone who you can talk about your concerns and feelings. For more information, a full listing of the tips, and to contact a P-FLAG chapter in your area, you can visit the organization's website at http://www.pflag.org, or Janice Hughes (Communications Director, P-FLAG) at (202) 638-4200 x 225 or via e-mail at jhughes@pflag.org. 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 Wonbo Woo at (212) 807-1700 or at woo@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 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" The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in the media as a means of combatting homophobia and 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.