Network and cable television outlets, print media, Internet providers and radio stations will run special programming and commentary specifically geared toward educating and raising awareness about those living with the disease, those working on research and advocacy fronts, and friends and families who have-on a multitude of levels-been touched by HIV/AIDS.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Day of Compassion has generated more calls to the toll-free National AIDS Hotline than any other AIDS related news item or event.

On Friday (10:00pm EST/ 7:00pm PAC), GLAAD, Datalounge and gay.com will host a global Virtual Town Meeting with special guest Sean Sasser. Sasser is a highly visible force in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Millions saw him on MTV's "The Real World", and he is currently a board member of the AIDS Policy Center for Children, Youth and Families, sits on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, and serves as the Media Development Manager for Stop AIDS Project. The event is accessible via http://www.datalounge.com (Datalounge) or http://www.gay.com (gay.com).

Throughout the day more than 344 networks and operators will be telecasting AIDS-related PSAs and programming.

PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE:

Television Shows: All My Children , As the World Turns, Cristina, Days of Our Lives, Entertainment Tonight, General Hospital, Good Morning America, Jenny Jones, Leeza, Maury Povich, Sally Jessy Raphael and The Young and the Restless. 

Cable Networks: America's Health Network, Comedy Central, CNN, E! Entertainment Television, FX, Game Show Network, HBO, Lifetime Television, MTV, Playboy Television, STARZ! and The Sundance Channel.

Internet: America Online, The Datalounge, Gay.Com, Pride! on Compuserve (Pride Media) Out on the Web, PlanetOut, onQ and GLORadio.

The Broadway community will be honoring those lost to HIV/AIDS by dimming the marquis lights at 8:00pm on June 19th and Saks Fifth Avenue will display portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in 30 of its stores nationwide, from June 17th - June 24th, to coincide with the Day of Compassion. 

The Day of Compassion began in 1993, when Los Angeles-based actor Neil Tadken viewed an AIDS-themed episode of One Life to Live. Inspired by that candid portrayal of the AIDS crisis, he contacted other daytime drama producers, many of whom agreed to air episodes devoted to people affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Day of Compassion Web site can be accessed via GLAAD Online, located at http://www.glaad.org . Those who wish to participate in "Show Compassion On Your Site" by displaying a button linking to the Day of Compassion site may download the button from that same site.

"Over the past five years, Day of Compassion has demonstrated the media's ability to call attention to compelling social issues such as HIV/AIDS," said Joan M. Garry, GLAAD Executive Director. "While it is important to highlight the remarkable progress being made in the medical arena, it is critical to remind the public that this is not a time to be complacent. Now-more than ever before-education and accessible information are essential elements in the prevention of this disease."

Day of Compassion is an annual project of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and is co-sponsored by Until There's a Cure Foundation, the Names Project Foundation and Cable Positive, the cable industry's AIDS action organization.

For more information on the Day of Compassion contact Kim Adams at (213) 658-6775 or via e-mail at adams@glaad.org. Media inquires should be directed to Bill Horn (GLAAD) at (213) 658-6775 or via e-mail at
horn@glaad.org.

E=Mail:  glaad@glaad.org

TO REPORT DEFAMATION IN THE MEDIA - Call GLAAD's Alertline at 1.800.GAY.MEDIA or go to the GLAAD Web Site at www.glaad.org and report through our Alertline Online.