Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 18:25:57 -0700 From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Subject: NATIONAL GROUPS RESPOND TO SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION'S DISNEY BOYCOTT - ANTI-GAY, FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISTS TARGET DIVERSITY MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Liz Tracey (212) 807-1700 email: tracey@glaag.org Alan Klein (212) 807-1700 email: klein@glaad.org pager: (800) 601-5483 NATIONAL GROUPS RESPOND TO SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION'S DISNEY BOYCOTT ANTI-GAY, FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISTS TARGET DIVERSITY NEW YORK CITY, JUNE 18, 1997-The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has compiled statements from some of the nation's leading civil rights and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups on today's Southern Baptist Convention vote to boycott the Walt Disney Co. and their subsidiaries, including ABC television and radio. The boycott targets Disney primarily for their support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. "All fair-minded Americans should commend Disney's continued respect for lesbian and gay Americans. Disney should also be commended for granting its employees equal pay for equal work, for letting its programming catch up with reality, and for keeping its doors open to every American. The ACLU stands behind Disney and their 'people-friendly' approach to business." … Matt Coles, Director of the Lesbian & Gay Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) (212) 549-2561 (Denny Lee) … Founded in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union works in more lesbian and gay related litigation and legislation than any other organization in the country. "My daughter's third grade teacher has the right idea when she tells kids there's only one rule: 'treat others as you would have them treat you.' It serves as the most basic statement of what it really means to be a Christian. Disney should be recognized and applauded for its stance on domestic partnership, and for treating their employees with dignity and respect. The American public should not only continue to enjoy Disney's wealth of creativity and expressions of diversity, as they have for decades, but should turn its back on bigotry as prejudice masquerading as 'pro-family concern.'" … Joan M. Garry, Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) (212) 807-1700 (Liz Tracey, Associate Communications Director) … GLAAD is the nation's lesbian and gay news bureau and the only national lesbian and gay multimedia watchdog organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate, and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. "In finally launching their long threatened boycott against Disney, the Southern Baptists' leadership says they object to Disney's giving domestic partner health benefits to gay and lesbian employees; allowing gays and lesbians to organize group attendance at Disney theme parks, and entertainment produced by Disney subsidiaries that includes gay and lesbian characters. Blinded by their apparent hatred of gays and lesbians, this organization has chosen to ignore basic facts: that Disney is a business in an industry in which virtually every major company now extends domestic partner benefits to gay and lesbian employees, that it would be illegal for Disney to block use of public theme park facilities by any segment of the community, and that entertainment product such as 'Ellen' featuring gay and lesbian characters generates huge ratings with an audience of many millions of Americans. Since this organization's attack on Disney is based on nothing but prejudice, it is a mockery of true religious and family values." … Richard Jennings, Executive Director, Hollywood Supports (213) 468-1270 … Hollywood Supports is the clearinghouse for the entertainment industry on AIDS and sexual orientation workplace issues. "This attack on Disney shows how obsessed the radical right is with punishing lesbians and gay families. Here, you have a company with a show like 'Ellen'--a realistic portrayal of a lesbian --and a policy that voluntarily grants family health insurance to gay employees, a benefit that non-gay workers already get. What could be wrong with that? What's wrong is that the radical right has a policy that, if you treat lesbians and gay men decently, it will retaliate. Apparently, the radical right's campaigns against marriage for gay couples are not enough. Now, far-right extremists are proving our point-without full legal protections, lesbians and gay men are vulnerable to losing even basic, employer-provided health coverage. We're not supposed to get married, and now I guess we're not supposed to even have health insurance." … Beatrice Dohrn, Legal Director, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (212) 809-8585 (Peg Byron, Director of Public Education) … Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men and people with HIV/AIDS. "The Southern Baptist Convention is at odds not just with gay people, but with the majority of people of faith who--despite their differences--are united in opposing discrimination against gay and lesbian Americans. Unlike the Southern Baptist Convention, most people of faith recognize that they can disagree over whether or not homosexuality is right and still agree that discrimination against gay people is wrong. What the Southern Baptist Convention delegates have said with their vote for this boycott is that they don't want even one openly gay person on TV, they don't want us to be treated fairly in the workplace, and--after advocating that gay people be discriminate against throughout society--they don't even want us going to Disneyland. Thankfully, I think most Americans would disagree." … David M. Smith, Senior Strategist, Human Rights Campaign (202) 216-1547 The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. "Disney is modeling good citizenship and good citizenry through its policies. Walt Disney and his characters taught us that it's a small world after all, where every person is welcome. I had hoped they (Southern Baptist Convention members) would vote for America's children to have a safe-haven free from politics, fear and ignorance. They can keep their children from Disneyland and Disney World, but they can't keep Disney characters from the hearts and minds of children. Characters like Dumbo, Pinocchio and Tigger have taught us that there is a welcoming family for every child and the Disney company's policies have demonstrated that this is the case." … Kerry Lobel, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (202) 332-6483 ext 3314 (Mark F. Johnson, Media Director) … NGLTF is the nation's oldest national gay and lesbian civil rights organization. "The members of PFLAG are deeply saddened that the Southern Baptists Convention has voted to boycott the Walt Disney Company for its open and inclusive employment practices and policies. It is our fervent hope that faith communities support and value diversity and difference and not advocate for open discrimination and hostility towards our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered family members and friends. The Southern Baptist Convention's vote divides American families instead of bringing them together." … Nancy McDonald, President of PFLAG, (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) (202) 638-4200 (Karyn Robinson, Communications Associate) … PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, their families and friends. "This boycott is another Mickey Mouse attempt by religious conservatives to push their anti-family agenda. As black gay and lesbian people, a strong family foundation has been central to our survival. The Southern Baptist Convention's boycott is actively working to destroy the very foundation that is our refuge. " … Keith Boykin, Executive Director, National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum, (202) 483-6786 … The National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum is the only national organization dedicated to empowering black lesbians and gays by developing their leadership skills, increasing their visibility, and building bridges between their various communities. -30- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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