Snyde & Sneak

Gossip

Part 1

By Tracy Baim

The co-chairs of Gay Day at Disney are calling for a quarter of a million lesbians, gay men, gay and lesbian parents, their children, and friends, to come to the 1998 Gay and Lesbian Day at Walt Disney World to support the Walt Disney Company for not capitulating to the pressure of the Southern Baptist Boycott. The next gay days are June 4-8, 1998. Doug Swallow is founder and co-chair of Gay Day at Disney, which started in 1991 with just 1,500 people. Lesbian comic Robin Tyler is the event's other co-chair of Gay Day at Disney. "The increase from 80,000 to a quarter of a million will show that this community will put their financial strength and support behind those corporations who support us."

The Christie's auction of Princess Diana's wardrobe raised $3.25 million for AIDS and cancer charities.

"Record attendance at the Walt Disney World theme park and strong cable television and home video sales boosted Walt Disney Co.'s third quarter earnings 18 percent," reports the Long Beach Press-Telegram. "Disney ... reported income of $473 million, or 69 cents per share, despite a boycott by Southern Baptists. It earned $406 million ... a year ago."

GLAAD reports that McDonald's Corporation has affirmed marketing partner Walt Disney Company in the face of the Southern Baptist Convention attempted boycott. "The Walt Disney Co. is an outstanding organization with an excellent, well-deserved reputation for promoting family entertainment," McDonald's spokesman Charles Ebeling said. And remember, Wendy's said they will NEVER again advertise on Ellen because of that show's lesbian content.

But now McDonald's is facing criticism for its response to a lesbigay family group in Western Massachusetts. In June, Valuable Families received a letter of invitation, and subsequently arranged for, a community fundraising event ('Food, Folks, and Fundraising') at the Northampton, Mass., McDonald's restaurant. Some days following, the manager of this restaurant requested a meeting with Jeannie Dewey, board of directors chair of Valuable Families. In this meeting it was stated that McDonald's would not 'allow' Valuable Families to participate in an event at the restaurant, because, it was explained, this organization is 'controversial.' Dewey was informed that this decision was made at McDonald's corporate headquarters. Dewey responded: "We are valuable families. My children deserve the same support from McDonald's as any other child in this country. By first inviting, and then rejecting our children's participation in an event of this kind, McDonald's has made it clear that our families are not equally welcome in their restaurant." Write: Michael Quinlan, CEO, McDonald's, One Krock Drive, Oak Brook, IL 60521; (630) 623-3000, fax (630) 623-7409.

Looks like Discover cardholders (and businesses accepting the card) may want to cut some cards. The Chicago-based company is cutting off any merchants who sell "adult" services or products - even if "sex" is only a small part of their product line. Even the Badpuppy gay online service can no longer use the card. "We have no legal right to limit, interfere or act as Big Brother" said a Visa spokeswoman. That was echoed by someone from American Express. So those special cash-back Discover cards may look better all cut up and sent back to the company.

Wells Fargo Bank and Union Bank, California's second- and third-largest banks, will offer health and dental benefits to gay and heterosexual partners of employees starting in January, reports the Los Angeles Times. They needed to comply with San Francisco's domestic-partnership law for biz doing biz in S.F.

Two studies released by People For the American Way and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force reveal that while much progress has been made during the 1990s towards government protection against anti-gay discrimination, hostility against lesbians and gay men has also increased, in large part due to orchestrated campaigns by radical religious organizations, reports GLAAD. On July 8, PFAW released "Hostile Climate," a state-by-state report of anti-gay activity. It concludes a significant proportion of discrimination "results from planned activity by far-right groups claiming to act in the name of religion." "All Politics Is Local: An Analysis of Local Gay Rights Legislation," a study by University of Florida professors released through the NGLTF Policy Institute, states anti-discrimination laws have advanced dramatically in the 1990s and those local laws make a profound impact in the lives of lesbians and gay men.

Johnson & Johnson, which has faced problems with the FDA in introducing its Confide home HIV test, has sold just 90,000 test kits and is now pulling out of the market. Chicago-based Home Access Health has sold 150,000 tests and is staying in the market.

Randy Tate, the new executive director of the Christian Coalition, shares the "same old anti-gay agenda" as his predecessor, Ralph Reed, according to columnist Debbie Woodell of the Philadelphia Daily News. Although Tate has attempted to shy away from open bigotry (other than voting against every piece of House legislation favoring equal rights protections for people with HIV/AIDS, lesbians and gay men), Woodell pointed to allegations of gay-baiting around accusations of child molestation of a political opponent.

Former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss was ordered to pay $340,000 for slandering two officers who participated in her arrest and the father of one officer, an Olympic gold medallist. They contended that Fleiss went on L.A. radio station KROQ's "Love Line" in 1996 and made false and damaging statements, including accusations that the trio are homosexuals and sexual deviants, reports AP.

Writer Larry Kramer, 62 recently "seized on a way he could get the last word in against his antagonists: He would bequeath Yale University, his alma mater, several million dollars to endow a permanent, tenured professorship in gay studies and possibly to build a gay and lesbian student center," reports the July 9 New York Times. "Yale will have none of it. It has declined Kramer's offer - at least on his terms - and in a letter from the provost, Alison Richard, expressed the hope that he would consider other ways of directing his generosity." Kramer declined an alternative plan.

Lesbian poet Adrienne Rich has become the first artist to decline the National Medal for the Arts. Rich, upset that "democracy in this country has been in decline," was nominated by the Clinton Administration and would have received the award in September. The NEA administers the award and NEA head Jane Alexander said she respected Rich's decision to turn it down. Rich said art "means nothing if it simply decorates the dinner table of power which holds it hostage."

Dyke comics Karen Williams and Lea DeLaria will perform Sept. 15 at a benefit for the New Phoenix Assistance Center, at All Joke's Aside, 1000 S. Wabash, (312) 922-0577.

Now that bisexual singer Ani DiFranco is sleeping with a man, she's getting all sorts of media - including the cover of the new Spin and a feature in People Aug. 4. She's also touring with Bob Dylan - they perform Aug. 28 at the New World. ... Meanwhile, lesbian singer Toshi Reagon (a favorite on the women's fest circuit, and daughter of Sweet Honey's Bernice Johnson Reagon) has a great new CD out, and she's profiled in GQ's July issue.

During the recent U2 concerts at Soldier Field, singer Bono dedicated his song "One" to the gay community.

An all-star celebrity cast will assemble for a 30th anniversary reading of Mart Crowley's The Boys in the Band. The production, Aug. 18-19 in Los Angeles, stars top-rank actors Chad Allen (Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman - he was outed in tabloids last year), Mitchell Anderson (openly gay, from Party Of Five), Michael Jeter (now openly gay, Evening Shade), Tim Maculan (Cybil), and Michael Ralph (A Different World); film actor Steve Tyler; openly gay theater veteran Michael Kearns; openly gay Emmy-winner Bruce Vilanch; and Olympic gold-medalist Greg Louganis. Proceeds benefit the Victory Fund; (213) 466-1767.

The Daily Iowan reports that the University of Iowa Men's Athletic department issued an apology following a "vulgar" performance by Saturday Night Live comedian Norm MacDonald. MacDonald performed at Hancher Auditorium to raise money for the UI Men's Athletic Department, the Iowan said. About 80 percent of the 1,300-person audience left during MacDonald's performance, which included homophobic "jokes."

The coverage of murdered gay fashion designer Gianni Versace, 50, either sensationalized the "gay angle" or ignored it totally by leaving out the name of his surviving partner, Antonio D'Amico (they were together 11 years). In contrast, when Chicago real estate developer Lee Miglin was killed, there were constant photos run of Miglin and his wife Marilyn. Even Variety, on the same page as they reported the hetero survivors in obits, totally ignored Versace's lover. ... The media and police keep using phrases such as "gay killer," "homosexual lover," and "male prostitute," further sensationalizing an already sensational story about alleged spree killer Andrew Cunanan. Would they call someone a "straight killer," "female prostitute" or "heterosexual lover"? Even NBC's Tom Brokaw called Cunanan a "homicidal homosexual." The July 28 Time magazine has a very detailed story on the case, including an essay about Versace by Madonna. Donations in Versace's name to: The Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Sting Rainforest Foundation.

The July 21 New Yorker had a story on the "Campaign For Equal Rights At Chrysler." It chronicles Ron Woods' years-long battle to force the company to protect gay and lesbian employees from harassment - and to offer equal rights and opportunities.

The July Vanity Fair has a lengthy article by openly lesbian Interview editor Ingrid Sischy on gay artist Keith Haring.

The lesbigay sports online service reports that Australian female track & field Olympian Lisa Marie Vizinari came out in the Sunday Mail, the Queensland paper.

The June 14 Chicago Defender featured an article entitled, "My Gay Problem, Your Black Problem," by Earl Ofari Hutchinson that provides an excellent reflection upon the particular ways African-American men confront gay identity. The Defender has also recently profiled Chicago Black Lesbians and Gays and looked closer at the allegations that AIDSWalk funds do not go to community-of-color-run agencies.

Time magazine had a fascinating article July 7 about a California custody dispute between a woman and her husband - who used to be a woman. The mom is reportedly saying the marriage should never have been legal because her husband was not born a man. But she went into the marriage knowing about her boyfriend's birth gender, and is only now causing problems because she wants custody of their daughter.

Both Mary Schmich's Chicago Tribune column June 29, and last week's Reader cover story, were on columnist Jon-Henri Damski and his struggle with cancer in possibly the last months of his life. Outlines' July issue started a three-part series on Damski's life, and his columns can be seen weekly in Nightlines.

Remember, Outlines is going weekly Sept. 3.

Sheila James Kuehl, JD '78, has become the first openly lesbian or gay person in Harvard's 361-year history to be elected to its Board of Overseers. Kuehl, a state representative in California, won by the smallest of margins.

Harvard University has decided to allow gay and lesbian couples to hold marriage ceremonies at its main chapel, Memorial Church, reports UPI. "The Ivy League school is believed to be the first major university in the nation to endorse gay unions by allowing marriages on its Cambridge, Mass., campus," UPI said.

Meanwhile, Princeton University has placed limits on same-sex commitment ceremonies in its chapel, after one such event there in April between two gay men caused an uproar among some alumni, reports Academe Today.

Connecticut's governor has signed a bill to establish sexual orientation bias protections for public schools, reports NewsPlanet.

The mother of a 12-year-old boy plans to sue her son's Pacifica, Calif., school district for not protecting her son from classmate's gay slurs, reports Associated Press. The boy said students have insulted him since he was in kindergarten, calling him 'gay-gay,' 'girl' and 'faggot' dozens of times a week, AP said. "The seventh-grader, who said he is not gay but knows he is more feminine than other boys ... asked the Laguna Salada Union School Board this past spring to put a stop to the unending epithets," AP said.

The Summer 1997 issue of California Schools published an in-depth look at the harassment of students based on the sexual orientation, providing tips on what school boards and administrators can do about it. Contact: Kevin Swartzendruber, Editor, California Schools, California School Boards Association, 3100 Beacon Boulevard, West Sacramento, CA 95691.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington has filed a lawsuit against Kent School District on behalf of a gay youth who suffered repeated harassment in school because of his perceived sexual orientation. The suit charges that Kent school officials refused to enforce District anti-harassment policies.

In May, a California school teacher briefly discussed the coming-out episode of Ellen with her 5th grade class. Two months later, a parent is seeking revocation of the teacher's license - for life, reports MediaAlert. On July 9, Mike Trelow filed a formal complaint with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, alleging that Victoria Forrester - a teacher at an elementary school in Alameda - had violated the state's Education Code with regard to "sex education." State guidelines require teachers to provide parents with advance notice, in writing, of any discussions involving sexuality.

The Pentagon recently released a list of colleges in the U.S. that stand to lose their federal aid, in the form of federal contracts and grants, if they continue to outlaw military recruiting. Many law schools have banned military recruiting because it violates their campus policies against discrimination. The colleges have until March 29 of next year to make changes.