PRESS RELEASE

“The Expansion of Privacy:
The Lawrence and Garner Sodomy Cases”
Wednesday July 23, 2003


Contact: Verna Avery-Brown
Washington Bureau Chief
(202) 588-0988 x 349

(July 22, 2003) - In light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down the legal ban on gay sex, Pacifica Radio Network is airing a 2-hour ‘live’ national special on the case of John Geddes Lawrence and Tyrone Garner v. Texas.

The program will pose the question: What Does It Mean…In the Real World and will seek to answer that through conversations with people ranging from legal analysts to activists to anarchists. We’ll explore the broader legal, social and political implications of this decision. Does this mean wedding bells are in the future for same sex couples ? How will this ruling affect ‘straight’ people? Does it also mean John Doe’s privacy is now protected if he wants to pay a prostitute ? Will this have a bearing on a woman’s right to the privacy of her body if she chooses to have an abortion ? Join us as we explore the new terrain resulting from this surprising Supreme Court ruling.

This broadcast will begin at Pacifica station KPFT in Houston, Texas where the original charges were brought against two consenting adult males in a same sex relationship and will include segments from all five Pacifica stations ( KPFA in Berkeley, KPFK in Los Angeles, WBAI in New York and WPFW in Washington). Pokey Anderson, co-founder of the Houston Gay and Lesbian political caucus and host of the award winning show “Breakthrough” on KPFT will host the special.

Scheduled guests will include Laurence Tribe, Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard, Ray Hill co-founder of Houston’s first gay/lesbian organization Promethean Society and host of the popular “Prison Show’ on KPFT; Attorney Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights; Syndicated columnist Deb Price who’s co-author of “Courting Justice:Gay Men and Lesbians v. the Supreme Court “; Martin Ornelas Quintero, Executive Director of LLEGO ( The National Latina/o Lesbian , Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization) and Mandy Carter of Southerners on New Ground.

Pacifica programmers, will draw upon their own personal experiences as gay and lesbian activists and social critics, as well as relying on the network’s vast tapes archives for historical documentation of the movement for gay and lesbian rights in this country. The public is invited to weigh in on the discussion during the live call-in segment of the second hour by calling (713) 526-5738.The 2-hour special will air at 4pm eastern time, 3pm central and 1pm pacific time.