Date: Mon, 12 Oct 98 15:52:49 -0400 From: NGLTF Subject: Press Conference in Laramie on Tuesday MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mike Massie, Wyoming State Representative (D-Laramie) phone: (307) 766-5096 Cathy Renna, GLAAD Director of Community Relations cell: (202) 957-8317 pager: (917) 240-3710 LOCAL AND NATIONAL GROUPS CALL FOR HATE CRIME LEGISLATION FOLLOWING BRUTAL WYOMING MURDER PRESS CONFERENCE TO PRECEDE PRELIMINARY HEARING OF SUSPECTS LARAMIE, WY, MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1998-On Tuesday, October 13, Wyoming State Representative Wende Barker (D-Laramie); spokespersons from statewide and national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations including the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF); and a close friend of Matthew Shepard, who died early this morning after having been viciously attacked, stabbed, burned and left for dead last week in an anti-gay attack, will speak out on the desperate need for hate crimes legislation on the state and federal levels. The press conference will be held just prior to the preliminary hearing of the alleged attackers at the Albany County Courthouse. "Because of homophobic attitudes, every attempted bias crime bill so far to be proposed in the state legislature has been blocked," said State Representative Mike Massie (D-Laramie). "The viciousness of the attack on Matt clearly shows how critical this kind of legislation is. The attack was fueled by the kind of ignorance and intolerance that we as Americans must condemn in the strongest terms possible." Matt's close friend Hauva Manookin added, "As devastated as we are by this tragedy, we know this embodies Matt's commitment to justice and human rights. I hope that hate crimes legislation will be passed so that some sense can come from this tragedy." WHO: Wyoming State Representative Wende Barker, Walt Boulden of United Gays and Lesbians of Wyoming, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Field Organizer Dan Hawes, GLAAD Director of Community Relations Cathy Renna and University of Wyoming Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Association Treasurer Hauva Manookin WHAT: Press conference of statewide and national organizations on the desperate need for state and national hate crime legislation WHEN: Tuesday, October 13, 1998 at 12:30 p.m. WHERE: Albany County Courthouse, Grand Ave. between 5th and 6th Sts. (Laramie) Courthouse Rotunda, 2nd Floor For more information about hate crimes legislation, please visit the website of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), located online at: http://www.ngltf.org, or contact Tracey Conaty, NGLTF Communications Director at (202) 332-6483 x3303, pager 1-800-757-6476. -30- _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . You may also unsubscribe by visiting http://www.ngltf.org.