Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 12:06:03 -0500 From: PFLAG Communications Subject: Alert: PFLAG President to Speak at Vigil, White House Schools Forum PFLAG NEWS ALERT Contact: Janice Hughes, 202-638-4200 x225 NEW PFLAG President to Speak at Capitol Vigil, and Attend White House "Safe Schools" Forum New PFLAG President Paul Beeman is scheduled to speak Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the Washington DC Vigil for Matthew Shepard. The vigil will begin at 7pm on the west steps of the US Capitol and will feature many guests and speakers, including PFLAG mom Betty DeGeneres & her daugher Ellen. A minister and father of a gay son and lesbian daughter, Beeman urged all Americans to recognize that "hate crimes hurt all families." "Like Matthew's parents, we say the time is now to stop the violence against all of our loved ones -- no matter what their race, religion or sexual orientation. We cannot let this happen again to anyone's child or loved one," says Beeman. PFLAG and other national organizations will be participating in the vigil to remember Matthew Shepard and renew the call for the passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act by Congress, which President Clinton first called for over a year ago.... In addition, this week Beeman will attend the White House Conference on School Safety with other advocates for "safe schools". Attending the one-day forum on Thurs., Oct. 14, will be educators, mayors and law enforcement officials from across the country. As a parent- and community-based organization, PFLAG fills a special niche in the work to make schools safer for families and their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered loves ones. PFLAG believes providing accurate information saves lives, and prevents tragic attacks on youth. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubsribe from PFLAG's Action Alerts, please email info@pflag.org, subject line "unsubscribe". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PFLAG -1101 14th St, NW, Suite 1030 Washington, DC 20005 - ph: 202-638-4200, fx: 202-638-0243 - http://www.pflag.org