LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
GLAADlines |
Breaking Stories about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community |
1 IN 10 STUDENTS ADMIT TO ANTI-GAY ATTACKS Almost one in five male community college students studied said theyve physically assaulted or threatened someone they thought was a lesbian or gay man, forensic psychologist Karen Franklin told the American Psychological Association (APA) Sunday. Among both male and female students, one in 10 admitted to assaulting or threatening someone they thought was a lesbian or gay man. Franklin interviewed almost 500 San Francisco-area students. Her study, endorsed in a new APA paper on hate crimes, calls for "a national policy of pro-active intervention against school-based harassment and violence." The national Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) reported in September 1997 that among 130 school districts it had studied, 36% more than one in threedenied students any protection against discrimination or harassment on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or identity. Updated GLSEN statistics on school protections are to be released Sept. 10 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL JEWISH CONFERENCE The Eastern Regional Conference of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Jews will meet in Washington, D.C., Aug. 21-23. The conference, sponsored by the World Congress of Gay and Lesbian Jewish Organizations and by Washington, D.C.s lesbian and gay synagogue, Congregation Bet Mishpachah, is designed to help participants integrate their sexual orientation and Jewish identity. Openly gay Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., will be keynote speaker. SPECIAL COUNSEL ASSISTS LESBIAN EMPLOYEE The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) says it has stepped in to investigate whether a Midwestern Labor Department manager is being discriminated against based on her sexual orientation. OSC did not disclose the managers name but did say that she asked to work out of her home temporarily so she could help care for her partner of 18 years, who has breast cancer. The employee says that heterosexuals would be granted such a request. Instead, two weeks before her partner was to undergo another operation, the employee was told she was being transferred permanently to an office 400 miles away. The Labor Department has agreed to postpone the transfer for 60 days while OSC investigates. The announcement came as House conservatives tried but failed to reverse President Clintons executive order to protect federal workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Among arguments for overturning the ban: It isnt needed. Television Shows: Begin to Reflect Gay Community The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced today that the 1998 fall television lineup will include a unique array of regular and recurring lesbian, gay and bisexual characters of color. Joining them will be national televisions first gay male lead character on the new sitcom Will & Grace. In years past, gay characters of color, and particularly lesbians of color, have been virtually non-existent on television. However, this year, nearly one quarter of the 19 lesbian and gay characters are people of color. Showtime Networks recently introduced Jackie (Rain Pryor), an African-American lesbian of color on its irreverent new comedy Rude Awakenings. Also, on the cable channels new show Lincs, Rosalee (Tisha Campbell) is currently questioning her sexual orientation. In addition, primetime will welcome back two African-American gay male characters: Chicago Hopes Dr. Dennis Hancock (Vondie Curtis-Hall), and Carter Heywood (Michael Boatman) on Spin City, a GLAAD Media Award-winner. Joan M. Garry, GLAAD Executive Director, said this figure represents a decrease from last years record setting number of lesbian and gay characters. Nonetheless, she is heartened by the quality of the upcoming season: "The 1998 TV lineup is significant in that it demonstrates an increase in the number of characters which genuinely reflect the uniqueness and diversity of our community in a way we have not yet seen." Garry continued, "No longer are lesbian and gay characters strictly peripheral on network television, and GLAAD hopes to see these portrayals continue to grow, reflecting the realities of diversity, family and faith." Lesbian, gay and bisexual characters will be returning to such shows as Friends, Mad About You, Nash Bridges and NYPD Blue. In all, the season will include five new regular and recurring characters. After Ellen DeGeneres groundbreaking year, NBC will make a little history of its own with Will & Grace. The new Monday night comedy will feature televisions first gay male lead character, Will Truman (Eric McCormack). The sitcom also brings Wills sassy friend Jack (Sean P. Hayes) to the small screen. William Horn, GLAAD Assistant Entertainment Media Director, said of NBCs Will & Grace, "We are delighted with such a smart sitcom which tells the story, in an extremely funny, witty, and at times poignant way, of two best friends, one of whom happens to be gay. Will & Grace possess the qualities of a hit TV show: a great cast, an accomplished director and incredible chemistry between a talented cast." GLAAD is the nations lesbian & gay multimedia advocacy organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate, and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 8, No. 12, August 28, 1998. |