From: communications@pflag.org Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 17:08:38 -0500 Subject: Taking on the Southern Baptist Boycott Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) To: PFLAG Leaders and Members From: Zoe Hudson, Katie O'Byrne, Jeff Holt Field, Program and Policy Department Date: June 25, 1997 Re: Taking on the Southern Baptist Boycott Tomorrow morning at 10 am, simultaneous press conferences will be held in three cities to announce PFLAG's challenge to stand up to the Southern Baptist boycott on the Walt Disney company. PFLAG's National President, Nancy McDonald will issue the challenge from Houston. Executive Director Sandra Gillis and South Atlantic Regional Director, Glenda Guess will be speaking in Nashville, home of the Southern Baptist offices. And the Orlando chapter will be joined by community and religious leaders -- including the President of the Florida Council of Churches -- to accept the challenge from the home of Walt Disney world! How can you take up the challenge? 1) Join PFLAG in Orlando for our national conference September 11-14 (early bird registration closes July 18th) to show your support for Disney. 2) Write a letter to the editor (sample attached). Please contact Katie O'Byrne at ko'byrne@pflag.org if you need additional information. We hope to see you in September! ************************************************************** ***PRESS ADVISORY*** PARENTS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS CONTACT: Karyn Siobhan-Robinson 202-638-4200 krobinson@pflag.org June 25, 1997 PFLAG TAKES ON SOUTHERN BAPTIST BOYCOTT WHO: PFLAG President Nancy McDonald, PFLAG Executive Director Sandra Gillis; PFLAG Affiliates in Houston, Nashville and Orlando; and Local religious and community leaders WHAT: Challenge to support the Walt Disney Company's equal employment practices WHERE: Simultaneous press conferences will be held in Houston, Nashville and Orlando WHEN: June 26, 1997 Contact PFLAG's national office for specific venues and times In response to the Southern Baptist Convention's boycott of the Walt Disney Company for their equal employment practices, PFLAG President Nancy McDonald will issue a challenge Thursday to PFLAG's 69,000 members, 400 Affiliates, and all fair-minded Americans. McDonald has stated: "The Southern Baptist Convention's boycott treats our families like second class citizens. PFLAG's national conference will be held this September in Orlando, home of Walt Disney World. The time has come for America to see true family values: families that have stayed together despite this kind of discrimination and hateful rhetoric. We plan to use the conference to affirm our support of the Walt Disney company and our family values." Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and secure civil rights. PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation, and acts to create a society that is healthy, and respectful of diversity. Founded in 1981, PFLAG is now organized in 400 communities nationwide, with more than 69,000 household members. ### ***************************************************************** Tips for writing a Letter to the Editor: * You can usually find information about sending a letter to the editor on the same page as the current letters in the newspaper. If you can not find the information, call the newspaper and ask. * Include your day time phone number and home address with zip code at the bottom of your letter. * Before you e-mail a letter, or fax through a computer, check with your local newspaper. Many newspapers require your signature at the bottom of letters. SAMPLE | SAMPLE | SAMPLE | SAMPLE | SAMPLE | SAMPLE | SAMPLE | SAMPLE To the Editor: Last week, the Southern Baptist Convention launched a boycott on the Walt Disney Company for its employment policies that are inclusive of gay and lesbian family members. I am taking up a different challenge. It's the challenge to love in the face of intolerance; the challenge to educate in the face of ignorance. As the (mother/father/sister/brother/friend, etc) of a lesbian (or gbt) person, the Southern Baptist boycott treats my family like second-class citizens. I will not participate in the boycott. Rather, I am going to Orlando to support Disney. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will hold our national conference from September 11-14 in Orlando, home of Walt Disney World. I challenge Southern Baptists and other fair-minded Americans to join us in Orlando to affirm support of the Walt Disney Company and to dialogue about homosexuality and the issues that face our families thoughtfully. Sincerely, Your name Your address Your daytime phone ===================================================================== From: communications@pflag.org Date: Thu, 26 Jun 1997 13:50:32 -0500 Subject: Religious Leaders Join PFLAG in Support of Disney Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 1997 Contact: Karyn-Siobhan Robinson 202-638-4200 krobinson@pflag.org PFLAG TAKES ON SOUTHERN BAPTIST BOYCOTT Religious Leaders Join PFLAG In Support of Disney PFLAG President Nancy McDonald issued a challenge today to PFLAG's 69,000 members, 400 Affiliates, and all fair-minded Americans in response to the Southern Baptist Convention's boycott of the Walt Disney Company. At a Houston press conference, McDonald stated: "The members of PFLAG are deeply saddened that the Southern Baptist Convention has voted to boycott the Walt Disney Company for its equal employment policies. The majority of Americans and people of faith support such policies. We challenge fair-minded American families to join us at our national conference in Orlando this September to affirm our support of the Walt Disney Company and real family values." Taking up the challenge, PFLAG Affiliates in Houston, Orlando and Nashville held simultaneous press conferences. PFLAG Executive Director Sandra Gillis convened the Nashville press conference on the heels of "Family Reunion 6" moderated by Vice-President Al Gore. PFLAG's Orlando Affiliate was joined by James Armstrong, President of the Florida Council of Churches. Retired Southern Baptist Minister and PFLAG Chattanooga Chapter President Matt Nevels affirmed the need for a public display of support for companies like Disney. He remarked: "I won't be supporting my denomination's boycott of Disney. To the contrary, I will be joining PFLAG in Orlando this September to demonstrate my support for the company. My wife and I are a part of PFLAG because we want other mothers and fathers to understand their child and experience their love without fear of ridicule and harassment. Negative rhetoric is un-Christian. Let us live life the way God meant it be lived -- with love and compassion, not hate." PFLAG's Annual Conference will be held Orlando, Florida September 11-14. Orlando is one of the premier vacation spots for American families -- primarily because of the family-friendly entertainment offered by Walt Disney. All PFLAG conference attendees will be encouraged to take full advantage of the entertainment options offered by the Walt Disney Company. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure civil rights. PFLAG provides an opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Serving more than 69,000 members, PFLAG affiliates are located in more than 400 communities across the United States, and in 11 other countries. ###