Forwarding a press release from Maureen Watts, Publicity, Celestial Arts
Publishing / PO BOx 7123 / Berkeley, CA 94707 / (510) 845-8414

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF RECEIVE A _POSITIVELY GAY_
GIFT

Celestial Arts/Ten Speed Press announced today that it has sent a
copy of the new edition of _Positively Gay_, edited by Dr. Betty Berzon,
to every member of the United States Congress in an effort to provide
them with accurate information as to who the gay and lesbian citizens of
this country are.

Anticipating Congressional hearings on lifting the ban on gays in the
military, Dr. Berzon has urged members to come to these discussions
prepared to represent the lives of their gay and lesbian constituents
knowledgeably.  The new edition of _Positively Gay_, a 1993 finalist for
the American Library Association gay and lesbian non-fiction book award,
offers information on such varied aspects of gay life as building
successful partnerships, reconciling religious dilemmas, achieving job
security, being a gay or lesbian parent, aging gracefully, being gay and
of a minority, living with AIDS, and the brave new world of gay and
lesbian youth.

In his foreword to _Positively Gay_, Congressman Barney Frank writes,
"A large part of our problem before 1980 was our very invisibility."
Betty Berzon states, "We are no longer invisible.  We are at the
center of a public debate and in the consciousness of every American
with a television set, like it or not.  Gay people today are a part of
the business of America and nowhere is that business to be more
crucially conducted than in the hearings that Congress will hold on the
military ban.  We must prevail against the fearmongers and the moral
terrorists who would exploit unreasoned prejudice to build a case
against us."

In cooperation with Celestial Arts/Ten Speed Press' educational
effort, Tim McFeeley, executive Director of the Human Rights Campaign
Fund, has written a letter of appreciation to accompany those copies of
_Positively Gay_ sent to the members of Congress who have actively
supported the cause of equal rights for lesbians and gay Americans.
Copies of _Positively Gay_ were also sent to General Colin Powell,
Army Chief of Staff General Gordon Sullivan, Air Force Chief of Staff
General Merril McTeak, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Frank Kelso,
Commandant of the Marine Corps General Carl Munday, and Secretary of
Defense Les Aspin.