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A M B U S H  M A G  2 0 0 0   -   V O L U M E  1 5   -   I S S U E  3

Lesbian & Gay Youth Find Safe Place in Cyberspace

In a January 28 Newsday article entitled "What A Difference A Modem Makes," writer Matthew McAllester explores the high-speed connections lesbian and gay teens are making online.

McAllester writes, "For gay teenagers like Jay, 17, it's a lifeline," noting that for many teenagers the Internet is a fascinating and exciting source of information and communication. Giving isolated lesbian and gay youth online opportunities to meet, chat and find "virtual homes" where they are loved and accepted turns the Internet into a limitless resource.

David Kilmnick, founder of the Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth group LIGLY, said that last year over 400 gay youth got in touch with LIGLY, "Over half of them via the Internet or America Online."

Another LIGLY employee visits male-to-male chat rooms looking for local teens who might benefit from the "companionship, community and counseling," and invites them to the LIGLY center instead. Reaching out to America's lesbian and gay youth via the Net is not without its risks, writes McAllester, "but don't believe much of the hype about how cyberspace is populated with pedophiles."

More common risks are teenage crisis cases with no local assistance and potentially ill-fated long-distance love affairs. Supportive and healthy virtual communities can be real life-savers for isolated lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning teens.

One lesbian teen found that she was helping women older than herself come to terms with their sexuality.

Using the Internet to develop support systems that fan out into community-based forums and meeting places for these youth help displace the long roads and intolerant views that separate gay teens and their peers. It also gives today's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth the opportunity to create their own revolution--a cyber-Stonewall.

ABC Reconsiders ELLEN Hiatus

Following a successful campaign initiated by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to keep ABC-TV's Ellen on the air, the network announced last week that the sitcom would not be placed on hiatus, as it had originally intended. Instead, Ellen will be moved to Tuesdays at 8:30 pm from Mar. 4 through Apr. 23, 1997, replacing Life's Work, which is expected to be canceled. The move will make room for Arsenio Hall's new show which will be showcased in Ellen's regular timeslot.

According the ABC, Ellen will return to its Wednesday night timeslot in time for May sweeps.

GLAAD's Entertainment Media Director Chastity Bono reports that the media watchdog organization is pleased that ABC has reconsidered its plan to give Ellen a two-month rest. However, Ms. Bono added, "GLAAD would like ABC to finally end the speculation about whether an Ellen coming out episode will air. The public has waited patiently but now our patience is waning."

"We are encouraged by the latest news from ABC that Ellen will remain on the airwaves and we hope it signals that ABC and Disney will continue to do the right thing," said William Waybourn, GLAAD's managing director.

"If ABC truly desires to paint an accurate picture of our diverse American landscape, it must not crop out gay and lesbian Americans. When Ellen Morgan finally steps out of the closet we will all win-viewers and the network will benefit from an accurate reflection of the lives of real Americans, including gay men and lesbians."

GLAAD maintains an "Ellen Watch" World Wide Webb site at http://www.glaad.org. GLAAD is the nation's lesbian and gay news bureau and the only national lesbian and gay multimedia watchdog organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.


email:

Subject: Gay America

I enjoyed viewing your website. I didn't notice anyplace to chat, that would be a great addition to have. thanks for putting us on the net.

--Leolovely


Subject: Tennessee Williams Scholars' Conference

The program of the Tennessee Williams Scholars' Conference can be found at this web site: http://www.mtsu.edu/-english/tennesseewilliams.html

The conference organizer, Robert Bray, is on the MTSU English faculty (as am I), and I have created this web page to advertise the conference. I thought you might find the page useful as you publicize the festival as a whole.

--Larry G. Mapp


Subject: Your website

I think that you're a bunch of lowlifes who are surely going straight to hell one day...

--Duane Cothren


Subject: Spratling Article X-URL: http://archive.ambushmag.com:80/lega7.htm

On Newlin's article re: William Spratling. It's common knowledge that Bill Spratling was homosexual, so Newlin is not telling us anything new. I found his article to be quite juvenile.

--Susan Morton


Subject: International Circulation

I couldn't help but wonder why CANADA does not appear in your International Circulation list. There's Australia, Greece, Italy, Spain, many locations throughout the United States but NO Canada. I cannot help but wonder why, with so very many "family" members living in such HUGE cities like Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver you would overlook this.

Perhaps it would be in your best interests to take another look here. I simply wanted to bring this to your attention. Your WONDERFUL website is TERRIFIC! Your hard work SHOWS! Kindest regards to my "pal" George Patterson!

Your's in Pride, Rick Vargyas and Larry Patterson Windsor, Ontario, Canada

PS: See you next Thursday when we arrive for Mardi Gras! Laissez les bon temps roulez!!!


Subject:

Hello I just wanted to let you know that this was the first, and NOT THE LAST time I am visiting your www site. Great work ! As a student at SLU, and a newly OUT man, I can say that I love your site. Email me if you have the chance. I am from New Orleans, yet I had NO idea there was so much available to me .... THANKS!

--Michael Duvic

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