Welcome to GLAAD/Atlanta News, a column produced by the Gay & Lesbian
Alliance Against Defamation.  This biweekly column provides you with
information on how to combat negative stereotypes about gays and lesbians and
encourage more fair and accurate representation.

Each story is followed by names, addresses, and/or telephone numbers.  By
writing letters and making phone calls, you, the arm-chair activist,
significantly influence the people who define the public idea of "gay" and
"lesbian."  Countless times your individual letters have affected
journalists, producers, business executives, and politicians, both locally
and nationally.

So pick up those pens and phones and join us in our fight against ignorance,
fear and hate!

Success by Three!
GLAAD has been involved with three on-going campaigns which have all achieved
victory within the same week!  They were getting the Olympics out of Cobb,
removing Rush Limbaugh as a spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Commission
and countering the bigoted talk show host/ex-mayor  of San Diego, Roger
Hedgecock.  It is now time to write those thank you letters!

The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) should be thanked for
doing the right thing by pulling the Olympics from Cobb County.  Encourage
them to continue to recognize the diversity of all participants including
gays and lesbians.  Write Shirley Franklin, ACOG, P.O. Box 1996, Atlanta GA
30301-1996; phone 404-224-1908; fax 404-224-5176.  You may also write
Jon-Ivan Weaver and Pat Hussain, co-chairs of Olympics Out of Cobb at P.O.
Box 77341 Atlanta, GA 30357-1341; phone 404-798-7822.  Currently the
organization has about a $5,000 debt and your thank-you might also include a
check of gratitude.

The Florida Citrus Commission has decided not to renew its contract with the
homophobic talk show host, Rush Limbaugh.  Write the Florida Citrus
Commission to let them know that you will being purchasing Florida citrus
products now that they are no longer using a bigot to promote their products.
 Incredibly, however, Citrus commissioners said the decision had nothing to
do with protests from the lesbian/gay community.  Comments should go to the
Florida Citrus Commission, P. O. Box 148, Lakeland, FL 330802-0148, tel.
813-499-2500, fax 813-499-2374.

KSDO Radio in San Diego has asked GLAAD to host Roger Hedgecock's talk show
host in response to a campaign countering his bigotry.  Hedgecock's
homophobia has included statements such as "Willie Sutton used to say that he
robbed banks because that's where the money was;  it's easy to see why gays
want so much to be in the military and be the Boy Scout leaders," ""My
definition of homosexuality is a person who has dropped all moral barriers
... to stick their penis into the back end of the butt end of another male
... And what is the next step?  If you're going to go for kids, and other
guys and dogs?" 

While GLAAD has been successful in obtaining a day on the air and in
convincing advertisers to drop Hedgecock he will be back on the air again
after GLAAD's show.  Write: KSDO Radio, Susan Hoffman, general manager, 5050
Murphy Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92123; phone 619-278-1130.  For more
information about GLAAD/San Diego, call (619) 688-0094.

We welcome and thank you for your contributions to this column.  Permission
is granted to distribute and/or reproduce this column in part or in its
entirety provided attribution is made to GLAAD/Atlanta when appropriate.  For
more information about GLAAD/Atlanta write PO Box 55111, Atlanta, GA 30308;
phone 404-876-1398; fax 404-876-4051; internet: glaadatl@aol.com.  This
column is a product of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation/Atlanta,
Incorporated. 

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