Gay And Lesbian Acceptance (GALA) Joins First-Ever "e-March" on Washington

December 1, 1997

Contact: Alan Cochran Email: Jacob2step@aol.com

Gay And Lesbian Acceptance (GALA) today announced its support of and participation in the first-ever electronic march on Washington that will send the message that America cares about AIDS "until it's over."

The "Until It's Over e-March" is sponsored by AIDS Action, a national HIV/AIDS policy organization based in Washington, and will be hosted on the organization's website at www.aidsaction.org. Web users visiting the site will be presented with a virtual version of the Washington Mall and can participate by signing an e-mail message to be delivered to America's leaders. A digital counter on the site displays the number of e-marchers. The goal is to enlist as many e-Marchers as possible to speak out in support of a continued national commitment to fight AIDS.

"We do battle with AIDS every day here in our community," said Alan Cochran, President of GALA, "but the war must be fought at the national level. Across America, local organizations such as GALA are facing a growing epidemic and increasingly limited resources. We know first-hand that AIDS is not over. Each person who participates in the 'Until It's Over e-March' helps ensure that our national leaders know it too."

By supporting this groundbreaking event, GALA and AIDS Action hope to allow more Americans to participate in a march on Washington than would be possible by more traditional means. The "virtual" nature of the e-March eliminates many headaches associated with a live national march - such as travelling long distance, finding hotel accommodations, and coping with inclement weather.

"With traditional media fueling misperception of an end to AIDS, the 'Until It's Over e-March' will send a message to our national leaders that it's not over," said Daniel Zingale, executive director of AIDS Action. "Fighting a misperception that AIDS is over means convincing our national leadership that the epidemic will remain an issue for the next century rather than being a relic of this one. The world's first e-March makes AIDS an issue for the information age."

The "Until It's Over e-March" kicks off today to commemorate World AIDS Day and will continue for a full year, until December 1, 1998.

GALA is an association of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, their families and friends of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) community. Our purpose is to affirm the dignity and worth of all persons without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. We support and encourage self-actualization in an atmosphere of love, understanding, and confidentiality. We are dedicated to the celebration of diversity. We are committed to exploring the issues of spirituality and justice through dialogue, education, and action.

AIDS Action is the nation's leading AIDS advocacy organization, representing all Americans affected by HIV/AIDS and over 2,000 community-based organizations that serve them.

For more information, contact:

AIDS Action
Kurt Schade, Network Correspondent
1875 Connecticut Ave., Suite 700
Washington, DC 20009
Phone:(202) 986-1300, ext. 3060
FAX: (202) 986-1345
e-mail: network@aidsaction.org