Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 11:13:37 -0400 From: David B. O'Donnell To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Subject: (USA) JOB BIAS LAWSUIT SETTLED [ Send all responses to Egcm@F9.N291.Z1.FIDONET.ORG only. Any responses to the list or list-owners will be returned to you. ] Lesbian Reporter Settles Job Bias Lawsuit Against Religious Right Broadcaster Washington, DC (EGCM) Five years after she was fired from United Press International for being a lesbian, former Supreme Court reporter Julie Briensa announced a $255,000 settlement of the federal lawsuit she brought against the news agency and a religions right broadcaster who led a vicious on-air campaign to have her dismissed. "What we have achieved today is simple justice," said Briensa, who was at UPI for 4-1/2 years when she was terminated. Five years ago, a crumbling wire service caved into the prejudice of a radical right broadcaster. Today, my journalistic integrity has been vindicated." In 1990, while researching a free-lance article for the Washington Blade, a gay newspaper in D.C., Brienza contacted Victor Eliason, an evangelical minister who owns several television and radio stations headquartered in Milwaukee. When Eliason learned that Briensa worked for UPI, he complained to the wire service and demanded her dismissal on the grounds than a lesbian could not be an objective reporter. When UPI refused to fire Briensa, Eliason then orchestrated an on-air campaign against her, giving out the phone numbers of UPI officials on his national radio show and prompting listeners to jam the news agency's switchboard with demands for Brietiza's dismissal. Eliason also enlisted the help of other prominent radical right activists to pressure UPI. UPI, then in serious financial distress, panicked and fired Briensa. In December 1990, with representation from Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Briensa brought a federal lawsuit against UPI and Eliason charging discrimination and conspiracy. Under the settlement, Eliason is to pay Briensa $255,OOO in damages, as well as acknowledge publicly that he accepts the principle of equal employment opportunities for gay men and lesbians in the media." The lawsuit with UPI is pending. Eliason's acknowledgment is an important first step in the ongoing struggle to achieve true equal rights for gays," said Lambda cooperating attorney Lynne Beruabei from the D.C. law firm of Beruabei & Katz. It is an important symbol to have Victor Eliason, a man who devoted his life to conducting hate campaigns, admit that lesbian and gay journalists have a right to participate on equal footing with all others." "Sexual orientation should not be a litmus test for reporters," said Suzanne B. Goldberg, staff attorney at Lambda and co-counsel in the case. "Today's settlement should remind the radical right that targeting lesbian and gay jourualists for sabotage involves a hefty price tag." For additional information, contact: Lynne Beruabei, Beruabei & Katz; 202-745-1942. The entire contents of The Electronic Gay Community Magazine are Copyright 1995 by The Land of Awes Computer Information System (telephone 316-269-0913 Voice, 316-269-4208 fax/modem) but may be reproduced by any means without permission from the publishers provided that this copyright notice remains with each article. Request the GCM.ARC or GCM.ZIP file for a copy of the magazine. To request the GCM.ZIP file via the Internet, do the following: Address a message to: FTPMAIL@TBB.COM Compose a one line message of: GET GCM.ZIP Send the message. You will get a reply message with the file attached to it.