Anniversary of Program to Get Papers to Include Same-Sex Wedding Announcements

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Eddie Gutierrez
Associate Regional Media Director
(323) 634-2011
gutierrez [at] glaad.org


GLAAD'S ANNOUNCING EQUALITY PROJECT MARKS TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH
504 INCLUSIVE NEWSPAPERS

NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 18, 2004 -- Marking the second anniversary
of its Announcing Equality Project, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced today that the number of U.S.
newspapers that accept same-sex wedding or union announcements has
climbed to 504, a more than seven-fold increase in just two years.

A complete list of newspapers with inclusive announcements policies
is available at
http://www.glaad.org/action/campaigns_detail.php?id=3297 .

Initially launched as a one-year campaign to double the number of
papers that accept same-sex wedding announcements, GLAAD's Announcing
Equality Project achieved that goal in less than five weeks. The
project has since evolved into an ongoing effort by GLAAD's Regional
Media Team to expand awareness of gay and lesbian relationships by
encouraging greater visibility of same-sex unions in newspapers
across the country.

Building on the momentum generated by "The New York Times'" Aug. 18,
2002 decision -- following meetings with GLAAD -- to begin printing
same-sex union announcements in its Sunday Styles section, the
Announcing Equality Project has succeeded in growing the number of
newspapers that accept gay and lesbian union announcements from 69 to
504, or about one-third of the approximately 1,500 daily newspapers
in the United States. GLAAD also has reached out to local and
regional LGBT community groups and media outlets to encourage
same-sex couples to submit their wedding announcements to their local
newspapers.

Among the statistics marking the two-year anniversary of GLAAD's
Announcing Equality Project:

* All of the nation's top 25 media markets, 48 of the top 50, and 87
of the top 100 are home to at least one newspaper with an inclusive
announcements policy.
* An estimated one-half of all newspaper readers read a paper that
accepts same-sex union announcements.
* 49 of 50 states have at least one inclusive newspaper. Only the
state of Mississippi does not.
* 74% of the newspapers that accept same-sex union announcements are
in states with laws banning same-sex marriage.
* "The New York Times," with a circulation of approximately 1.7
million, is the largest newspaper in the nation that prints same-sex
union announcements. "The Daily Guide" in Waynesville, Mo. -- with a
circulation of 1,931 -- is the smallest.

"Same-sex weddings and commitment ceremonies are a growing reality in
communities across this country, and by opening their pages to our
announcements, newspapers are simply reflecting that reality," said
GLAAD Media Director Glennda Testone.

"The intense focus on marriage equality over the past two years
continues to move gay and lesbian lives into the national spotlight,"
Testone said. "Local newspapers' inclusion of our weddings and
commitments can make a tremendous difference in helping people
understand and connect with the gay and lesbian families that are an
integral part of their communities."

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to
promoting and ensuring fair, accurate, and inclusive representation
of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating
homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual
orientation.

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An online version of this media release is available at GLAAD.org:
http://www.glaad.org/media/release_detail.php?id=3704




--
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to
promoting and ensuring fair, accurate
and inclusive representation of
people and events in the media as a
means of eliminating homophobia and
discrimination based on gender identity
and sexual orientation.

To report defamation in the media, to
report breaking new of interest to the
LGBT community, or to join GLAAD and
receive the quarterly GLAAD Notes,
contact GLAAD at 800-GAY-MEDIA,
glaad [at] glaad.org or http://www.glaad.org.

"GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation" are registered
trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation, Inc. This publication
may be freely distributed and reprinted in
all forms of media under the condition
that any text used carries the full
attribution of "Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation (GLAAD)."