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Vatican's Red Pencil Mars
Gay-Friendly Catholic StatementDignity/USA, an organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Roman Catholics, said in a July 1 press release that changes in a pastoral letter on homosexuality serve to "dilute the message and spirit" of the highly-publicized 1997 document. The National Conference of Catholic Bishops and its Committee on Marriage and Family Life drafted the changes which were announced June 28 after approval from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. The letter, "Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children and Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers," was issued Oct. 1, 1997. Geared toward encouraging Catholic parents to be more supportive of Gay children, it won wide praise from many people of faith. Subsequently however, seven changes were made to the document. One example: A sentence originally calling sexual orientation a "fundamental" dimension of one's personality now instead terms it "deep-seated." Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien, who leads the marriage and family committee, said the modifications were "to ensure the completeness and to clarify the intent." But Dignity Executive Director Charles L. Cox said, "Each of the changes represents a capitulation to the conservative voices in the Church." [GLAAD]
Gay Australians
Try To Prevent "Change" AdsConcerned by the so-called "Truth in Love" ad campaign by a coalition of 15 U.S. Christian conservative groups, Australian Gay and Lesbian organizations acted quickly to try to prevent a similar promotion in their own country of ministries and therapies purporting to change sexual orientation. The group Gay and Lesbian Equality called on the Australian federal government to require investigation by the Ministry of Fair Trading of any group claiming to "cure" homosexuality.
"It's important that the government regulates mental health services, and if these people are making a promise to provide a service which is obviously not going to eventuate [bring results], then they should be banned," said GALE spokesperson John Derry. Derry says that several "ex-Gay" ministries are already in existence in Australia, but that they "have not produced any long-term survivors from their programs." Derry did recommend help from a licensed counselor for those confused or worried about their sexuality, but cautioned them that there are no "miracle cures." [Newsplanet]
Nine Cities Join Together
To Seek Equal Rights For AllAspen, Atlanta, Boulder, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, and Seattle have agreed to join San Francisco in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a law that repeals Cincinnati's ordinance protecting against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and which prohibits any future laws granting Lesbians and Gay men equal protections from discrimination in housing and employment.
According to the San Francisco weekly Bay Area Reporter, the nine cities have argued that Cincinnati's 1993 law "undermines the ability" of cities "to treat all their citizens impartially," and violates the Constitution's equal protection guarantees. In 1996, the high court struck down a similar anti-Gay Colorado law known as Amendment 2. For more information contact Mark Slavin (Communications Director, San Francisco City Attorney's Office) at 415.554.6397. [GLAAD]
Illinois Group Steamed
Over Fishy Red Lobster Opposition
To Equal RightsThe Illinois Federation for Human Rights (IFHR) is mounting a "public awareness and educational campaign" to counter an attempt by Red Lobster's corporate parent to have Cook County's human rights law-which includes protections based on sexual orientation-discarded as unconstitutional. Darden Restaurants filed the request after the county's Human Rights Commission ruled that Red Lobster had violated the ordinance when it fired a Gay man in 1993 because of his sexual orientation. IFHR Director Rick Garcia said, "It is bad enough that Red Lobster was found guilty of anti-Gay discrimination but to try to overturn the human rights ordinance is beneath contempt. That a national restaurant chain would try to overturn civil rights legislation is as unconscionable as it is disgusting." [GLAAD]
Gay & Lesbian Travel Expo
At New York's Metropolitan PavilionThe 6th International Gay & Lesbian World Travel Expo will be held this year at New York's Metropolitan Pavilion (110 W. 19th St. in Chelsea) on Sept. 24 from 3 to 8pm. Admission is $5 and includes an entry in the AIDS/HIV Nightline Raffle, featuring international vacation prizes.
"The response to our Expos has been excellent," said Tom Roth, president of Community Marketing, Inc. the Gay-owned, San Francisco-based company that organizes the event. "Gay and Lesbian travelers have a unique opportunity to meet tour operators, ask questions, and make educated choices about where to invest their vacation dollars. Travel suppliers have a chance to acquaint themselves with members of a rapidly growing market."
Again this year, local, national and international Gay travel suppliers have signed up to exhibit at the Expo. "There is also an increasing interest among industry giants," said Roth. American Airlines, National Car Rental and Carnival Cruise Lines and others are participating along with a hundred tour operators, airlines, hotels, cruises, and car rental companies.
One of this year's highlights will be a special "Canada Pavilion" featuring Air Canada, Tourism Quebec (launcher of the first comprehensive "Gay-Friendly" marketing campaign of any major tourism board), Tourism Montreal and the Canadian Tourism Commission.
Lufthansa and British Airways, who have greatly expanded their marketing plans to the Gay and Lesbian community, are just two of the international airlines that will be exhibiting their travel services.
The Expo program benefits the San Francisco-based AIDS/HIV Nightline. Nearly $35,000 was raised in 1997 through the AIDS/HIV Nightline World Travel Raffle. The Nightline is a well-respected emotional support resource, open for late-night concerns when other AIDS agencies across the U.S. are closed. Based on the support for the Nightline, the World Travel Raffle has expanded in 1998. The travel industry has shown generous support with grand prizes, including seven grand prize vacations for two.
Another Expo will be held in San Francisco at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero on Oct. 22 from 3 to 8pm. A limited amount of exhibit space remains at both the New York and San Francisco Expos and is available by calling Community Marketing, Inc. at 415.896.6440. Further information is available by Internet at www.mark8ing.com, or by E-mail at info@mar8ing.com.
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