From: communications@pflag.org
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 1997 16:35:02 -0500
Subject: PFLAG Begins Countdown to Conference

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

For Immediate Release
August 5, 1997

Contact: Beth McKew,  bmckew@pflag.org
                Ryan LaLonde, rlalonde@pflag.org
                202/638-4200


PFLAG Begins Countdown to Conference
President Clinton invited to deliver keynote address

Hundreds of members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
(PFLAG) will converge in Orlando, FL, home of Walt Disney World, to attend
PFLAG's 16th annual conference from September 11 - 14. The conference will
serve as a profound response to the Southern Baptist boycott of Disney's
gay-friendly employee policies.

PFLAG President Nancy McDonald personally invited President Bill Clinton to
the conference during a private meeting at the White House two weeks ago,
and Attorney General Janet Reno has also been invited to the conference.
Cher, who attended PFLAG Conference in Washington, DC, is serving as Chair
of the Conference Host Committee.

McDonald encourages all fair-minded Americans to attend conference and
support Disney's employee policies, which are inclusive of lesbians and
gays. "If you have never been to a PFLAG conference, this is the year to
attend," McDonald said. "Conference is our PFLAG reunion. We work very hard
in our communities all year--we deserve to celebrate our success and
prepare for the challenges ahead."

The conference includes:
*       A youth talk show with celebrity guests including Dan Renzi, from
MTV's The Real World, and Laura Galindo, sister of champion figure skater
Rudy Galindo.
*       A silent auction featuring exciting donations including a seven day
getaway for six in a Canary Islands condo and a portrait by renowned artist
Pat Gordon valued at $10,000.
*       Three all-day leadership training institutes on cultural
competence, organizing in schools and organizing within communities of
faith.
*       A special screening of the films All God's Children, and It's
Elementary, followed by a discussion with the films' producers and other
community leaders about the impact of homophobia on youth and people of
color.
*       Family to Family national helpline, a one-of-a-kind,
volunteer-staffed telephone helpline, offering support and guidance for
people who have recently learned that their child, family member or friend
is, or might be, gay.
-more-
*       A Block Party sponsored by PFLAG's Orlando Chapter and Orlando's
Gay and Lesbian Community Center.
*       More than fifty workshops, computer training sponsored by Digital
Queers and the presentation of PFLAG's prestigious FlagBearer and Starr
Awards.

For more information or to register for conference, please contact the
Balcom Group at (202) 234-3880 or balcomgrp@aol.com, or register on PFLAG's
web site: http://www.pflag.org.

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.

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