Olympics Out of Cobb Coalition April 14, 1994 Contacts: Jon Weaver Carl Lange 404-876-1398 glaadatl@aol.com Olympic Officials Agree to Concessions with Gays/Lesbians Atlanta, Georgia, April 14 -- The Olympics Out of Cobb Coalition (OOCC) announced today concessions made by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) to gays and lesbians. The concessions were made in response to the increasing public outcry concerning ACOG's decision to hold an Olympic volleyball competition in Cobb County, despite the county's anti-gay resolution. In a Tuesday meeting with OOCC representatives, ACOG agreed to: (1) include non-discrimination based on sexual orientation in all contracts with Cobb County; (2) a gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered ad hoc advisory committee; (3) include sexual orientation sensitivity training for all Olympic security forces. "While we appreciate these gestures, we are steadfast in our demand that no Olympic events be held in Cobb County as long as it's anti-gay resolution exists," stated OOCC representative Jon Ivan Weaver. "This a human rights issue. We call upon Billy Payne to explain his stand on human rights." OOCC, in conjunction with national organizations is planning a massive demonstration in Atlanta in '96 to be directed at ACOG. Currently plans are being made and announcements will be made in June during the Unity/Stonewall 25 events in New York, which are expected to draw well over a million gays and lesbians. In addition, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced today it is considering a national boycott of Coca Cola, principal Olympic corporate sponsor, because of its silence on this human rights issue. Coca Cola representatives have agreed to respond by Friday. Public endorsements to remove Olympics from Cobb include U.S. Representatives John Lewis, Cynthia McKinney, Barney Frank, Pat Schroeder, Gerry Studds, State Senator Ron Slotin, State Representative Jim Martin, Human Rights Campaign Fund, Rainbow Coalition, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission, American Association of Physicians for Human Rights, and the International Lesbian and Gay Association. ####