IJMC - Hello To The World

I'm sending this one out for many reasons. The main reason is that I 
believe in it. Even if you don't, I hope you'll add your name to the list 
and pass it along anyway. The line is something like, "Even though I may 
not agree with what you say or do, I will defend to the death your right 
to do it." Read on with an open mind and do what you will. More humor 
will arrive in your mailbox tomorrow, regardless of what you do with this 
right now.                                                          -dave






American Airlines is a major sponsor to and supporter of groups like 
GLADD, the Human Rights Campaign, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, the
AIDS Action Foundation, DIFFA, AmFAR, and scores of community-based
groups representing gays and lesbians.  It is also the first airline to
adopt a written non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation in
its employment practices.

In an unusual joint letter released to the media on Friday, March 14th
from the Family Research Council, Concerned Women of America, American
Family Association and Coral Ridge Ministries, American Airlines was
openly criticized about their policy.  Radical right leader Beverly
LaHaye also went on Christian "talk radio" on Friday to blast American
Airlines because "American's sponsorship of homosexual 'pride' events
constitutes an open endorsement of promiscuous homosexuality."
She and the other groups have written Bob Crandall at American to
complain that the airline has  "gone beyond mere tolerance" of gays and
lesbians.  The full article appeares in Friday's Fort Worth
Star-Telegram, and possibly picked up by other newspapers around the
country.

It has come to the attention of the gay and lesbian community that
American Airline's switchboard and e-mails are being bombarded now by
homophobic and hateful callers who have been urged by LaHaye and others
to DEMAND the company terminate its gay-friendly policies.

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Please add your name to this petition and forward it to as many people
as you can.

***if you are the 25th, 50th, 75th, 100th, etc. person to sign this
petition then also please forward this to American Airlines at:
Webmaster@amrcorp.com ***

To American Airlines:  We, the undersigned, support your gay/lesbian
rights policies and commend you for your efforts in ending
discrimination.

Thank you for your dedication to such issues and please continue to
remain active in the struggle to end discrimination.

1. Marybeth Kurtz, Philadelphia, PA
2. Jen Faust, Goucher College, Balto. MD
3. Sarah Pinsker, Goucher College, Balto. MD
4. Rebecca Olin, Amherst College, Amherst MA
5. David Beckman, Amherst College, Amherst, MA
6. Amanda Austin, Smith College, Northampton, MA
7. Joan Prusky, Detroit, MI and Northampton, MA
8. Elizabeth Kennedy, NYC and Smith College, Northampton, MA
9. Lindsey Stowe-Berns, NYC and Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
10. Jill Rothstein, NYC and Oberlin College
11. Julie Cross, Miami and Oberlin College
12. Chris Morris, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
13. Katherine Shorb, Tokyo and Oberlin College
14. Maria Mergel, Tokyo and Oberlin College
15. Ayako Honda, Tokyo and Simmons College
16. Aric Stewart, Carleton College, Northfield, MN
17. Nadezhda Murray, Carleton College, Northfield, MN
18. Geoff Ruth, Northfield, MN
19. Laura Gibson, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
20. Shelly Pirroni, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
21. Peter Liu, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
22. Rebecca Rosenblum, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
23. Kathryn Pollak, University of Texas, Houston=20
24. Donna White, University of Texas, Houston
25. Lara Staub, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston
26. Melissa Phipps, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston
27. Nicole Ordway, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston
28. Bruce Greenawalt, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
29. Matt Carlson, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
30. Heather Daniel, Chicago, Illinois
31. Tony Breed, Chicago, Illinois
32. Eric Tschetter, Chicago, Illinois
33. J. J. Fenza, Chicago, Illinois
34. Kristine Sundberg, Chicago, Illinois
35. Christina Kowalchuk, Boston, MA
36. Andrew Custer, University of Rochester, NY
37. Randall Hayes, Rochester, NY
38. Charles Powell, Lexington, KY
39. Monika I. Cassel, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI.
40. Jennifer Tilton, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
41. James Kreines, University of Chicago, Ann Arbor MI
42. Cynthia Palmer, Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN
43. Nicole Madsen, Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN
44. Sara Pool, North Park College, Chicago, IL.
45. Marta Johnson, North Park College, Chicago, IL
46. Lara C. Warg, North Park College, Chicago, IL
47. Jason A. Cox, Indianapolis, IN
48. Patricia Rini, San Francisco, CA
49. Helga Grayson, San Francisco, CA
50. April Hunter, San Francisco, CA
51. David Alves, Oakland, CA
52. Nelsy Dominguez, Santa Fe, NM
53. Caryn Scotto, Santa Fe, NM
54. Edith Corra, Albuquerque, NM
55. Christine Stout-Holmes, Albuquerque, NM
56. Kim Straus, Santa Fe, NM
57. Lon Murphy, Santa Fe, NM
58. Wayne Muesse, Milpitas, CA
59. Arvada Darnell, Menlo Park, CA.
60. Merri M. Monks, Chicago, IL
61. Douglas Hammett and Gary Lair (in a loving, comitted, and monogamous
    relationship for 14 years), Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
62. Dearca Devo, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
63. Heather Beadle, Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii
64. Donna Lieding, Glendora, CA
65. George & Marion Hollingworth, Arcadia, CA
66. Mike Altiere, Cortland, OH
67. Samuel Altiere, Haiku, Maui, Hawaii
68. Chris Lieding, Haiku, Maui, Hawaii
69. John Montfort, Wailuku, Hawaii
70. Gary Petersen, Wailuku, Hawaii
71. David Pelletier, Palm Springs, CA
72. Mark Chataway, London, UK (mark@interscience.co.uk)
73. Dr. Seth Berkley, New York, NY, USA
74. Laura Hickey, New York, NY
75. Cameron Elliott, Seattle, WA
76. Jean-Paul Montagnet, Seattle, WA
77. Jonathan Mason, Atlanta, GA
78. Patrick O'Shea, Atlanta, GA
79. David P. Thompson, Atlanta, GA