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FIRST NATIONAL GAY RELATIONSHIP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REPORT RELEASED:
At a rate equal to that of heterosexual relationships, between 25-33 percent of relationships between lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender partners include abuse, according to a report released today by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects (NCAVP). In addition, the study found that seven states explicitly exclude same-sex relationships from qualifying in domestic violence statutes, while no state explicitly includes them. Services for the population are virtually non-existent, responding police often do not know how to respond, and even if sensitive, domestic violence programs designed for heterosexual female victims and heterosexual male batterers do not tend to be utilized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people affected by battering. "We found a worst-case scenario [of] high levels of violence coupled with a profound dearth of services" said NCAVP spokesperson Tiffany Stephan. "This invisible battering hurts an uncounted number of Americans every year." For more information contact Tiffany Stephan (NCAVP) at (312) 649-6671.
NYC TRANSIT AUTHORITY ALLOWS AD DISCRIMINATION:
In the wake of protests against perceived censorship, the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) voted to ban advertisement from their system which they deemed either offensive or that would "hurt their business." Planned Parenthood, the Natural Resources Defense Council and other groups which have bought space from the MTA, which oversees New York City's buses, subway and trains, were concerned about the new rules. Recently, Movo Media, Inc. was told by the MTA, previous to the September 30 vote, that they would not accept their advertisements for "The Confidential Connection," a telephone dating service for gay men. After redoing the ad to comply with a request by the MTA, the company was still refused space. "The MTA requested putting clothes on the shirtless couple and we complied," said CEO Mark Terwilliger. "Far more provocative panels for perfume, movies and underwear are routinely displayed by outdoor agencies on behalf of their clients." Ads for The Confidential Connection already run in Los Angeles, and are slated to run in Chicago and Miami Beach. For more information, contact Karyn Zoldan (Movo Media, Inc.) at (213) 634-6622
NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARD PEDDLES IGNORANCE ABOUT SEXUALITY FOR TEENS:
A week ago, the Franklin County (North Carolina) School Board censored three chapters of its ninth-grade health textbook and is forcing teachers and counselors to deny young people vital information about sexual issues. Making Life Choices: Health Skills and Concepts has been given to Bunn High School teens without chapters 17, 20 and 21, which deal with AIDS, HIV, pairing, marriage and parenting; and sexual behavior and contraception. Bunn High School Principal Wayne Wilbourne called it "shades of 1936, Germany." According to a state abstinence-until-marriage policy adopted by the school board, if students have questions about birth control and/or prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Including condoms, they can only be told about the products' failure rates and told to speak to their parents for more information. If students ask about HIV and AIDS, they are to be told only that it is a virus transmitted primarily by contaminated needles and by a "homosexual act" illegal under state sodomy law. For more information contact Gay, Lesbian Straight Education Network National Field Director John Spear at (212) 727-0135, ext. 114.
GAY PRESS CONTINUES TO BE HOT AD MARKET:
According to a new study by gay marketing specialists Mulryan/Nash, lesbian and gay print media has the fastest growing print/advertising market in the U.S. In a study of the 138 gay-targeted print publications around the country, ad spending reached $100.2 million, a 35.9 percent increase over 1996. In comparison, ad revenues in mainstream newspapers grew just 12.9 percent over 1996 and ad revenues in the Hispanic press grew 11 percent. Among big-name first-time advertisers to the gay press in 1997 were Aetna Retirement Services, American Express Financial Services, IBM, HBO, and United and Continental Airlines. "For the past three consecutive years, gay-press ad revenues have grown faster than those in both the mainstream press and other niche markets," said Dave Mulryan, partner for Mulryan/Nash. For more information contact Dave Mulryan (Mulryan/Nash) at (212) 633-6139.
GLAAD AND HRC CELEBRATE NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY:
Along with countless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the country, GLAAD and Human Rights Campaign (HRC) are celebrating National Coming Out Day on October 12. In Los Angeles, a celebrity reception to mark National Coming Out Day and Lesbian & Gay History Month hosted by GLAAD and HRC will welcome Betty DeGeneres (Ellen's mom) as the new spokesperson for National Coming Out Day. Guests will include Amanda Bearse (Married With Children...), Dan Butler (Frasier), Candace Gingrich and GLAAD representatives Chastity Bono and Sean Sasser, as well at HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch and GLAAD Executive Director Joan M. Garry. For more information contact Liz Tracey (GLAAD Associate Communications Director) at (212) 807-1700, ext. 14 or pgr. (800) 946-4646 pin# 1423527.
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The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is the only national lesbian & gay multimedia watchdog organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate, and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. To subscribe contact Don Romesburg at (415) 861-2244 or at romesburg@glaad.org. "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.
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