1. GLAAD Melissa Schultz & Rebecca Wiener Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

2. Our goal is: -To bring your attention to homo- and bisexuals in the media -To bring your attention to gay hate crimes in an attempt to prevent future ignorance

3. GLAAD's Mission Statement “ 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.” http://www.glaad.org/about/mission.php

4. “ When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one. ” ~Epitaph of Leonard P. Matlovich, 1988 We’re living in a world of ignorance. We’re living in a world of unfair judgement.

5. Gays & Lesbians in Hollywood http://www.famousandgay.com

6. Gays, Lesbians, & Transgenders on Television http://www.glaad.org/eye/ontv/index2007.php

7. Matthew Shepard -Matthew was 22 years old when he was murdered. -He met Aaron McKinney and Russel Henderson at a bar one night in October and the conversation led to his admittance of being gay. -They convinced him to follow them into a hidden place in a town called Laramie, Wyoming.

8. Matthew was killed because he was gay -The two men tied him to a fence, stole his wallet, and pistol whipped him until he was unconscious. -They left him to die in the freezing Wyoming winter. -He was found 18 hours later when a man thought people had hung a scarecrow on his fence. -He died in a hospital six days later because of serious injuries.

9. The Laramie Project -Based on interviews of various townspeople -The play is often met with picket lines -Reverend Fred Phelps preaches in a town near Laramie and is strongly outspoken against homosexuality. -After Shepard’s death, he hung up signs at his church saying “GOD HATES F**S” and “Shepard is in hell and will be there for eternity”

10. The Laramie Project in Upper Dublin “ Shepard’s been in hell for five years. Do you want your kid to join him?” -Picketers outside of UDHS -Picketers arrived outside of our school when we performed The Laramie Project. - Death threats were yelled at the audience members, Mrs. Thompson (the director), and cast members. -We got emails from the Reverend saying that our district will go to hell for putting on what he called “a tacky piece of f** melodrama” And this is in Upper Dublin. Ignorance is here. Help us fight it.

14. ~Gwen’s murder received a lot of media attention, which pleased the transgender community. ~Her story was turned into a Lifetime movie in 2006 entitled “A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story.” ~Gwen’s murder is a and should NOT be tolerated! ~YOU can make a difference. Take a stand against hate crimes. HATE CRIME THE REACTION FIGHT for JUSTICE!

15. So how does this relate? These are acts of ignorance and GLAAD is trying to make them stop. Matthew and Gwen would both still be alive if society would step out of closed ways and look at all people as equals.

16. How you can help Think about it. A kid is gay, what does it matter? Treat her/him as an equal. “ Gay” is not a synonym for “stupid.” Homework isn’t gay. How would you feel if someone used “straight” as a synonym for “stupid?”

17. Join GLAAD in their effort to Help. Promote all people. Save. Remove ignorance. Protect. Treat everyone equally. Educate. Create a better world.

18. Erase Hate.