PLEASE DISTRIBUTE!!!

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     Ŀ                                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
                                                             
     Ŀ  ڿ  ¿ Ŀ  Ŀ Ŀ       September 20, 1995  
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                                 United States Senate
                                 COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND
                                 HUMAN RESOURCES
                                 WASHINGTON, DC 20510-6300

                                 September 5, 1995


Ms. Bessie Hadley
Executive Director
Children's Animated Television, Inc.
1492 Highland Ave., Suite 3
Needham, MA 02192

Dear Ms. Hadley:

Thank you for sending me information about the Children's Animated
Television project on Gay, Lesbian and Bi-sexual youth. I apologize
for not contacting you sooner, but the Senate schedule has kept my
staff and me extremely busy over the last few months.

Programs addressing self-esteem, positive role-models and the
challenges faced by gay and lesbian youth are certainly needed
and I applaud your efforts. I hope that the project you are
undertaking will help alleviate or reduce some of these challenges
like attempted suicide, increased drug use and violence.

We cannot afford to waste the talents of any one in our society.
Everyone should be free to grow and develop in order to meet their
full potential. The Children's Animated Television project on gay
and lesbian youth will be successful if only one person who would
otherwise feel scared and alone sees hope and promise in his or her
future.

Thank you again for contacting me. I look forward to hearing about the
project. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Edward M. Kennedy

                                  

Want more information on this project and how you can help???

Please contact:

Children's Animated Television, Inc. (CAT)
1492 Highland Ave., Suite 3
Needham, MA 02192
voice 617-449-9699
fax   617-449-2238
Internet: didom@usa1.com
Web: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/

You can also catch the latest CAT news in "The CAT Chronicle"
Subscribe by E-mail: didom@usa1.com
Web: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/newslett/newslett.html/

For your convenience, here is the June press release
Senator Kennedy is referring to:

                                  

                                        * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
                                        *  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  *
                                        *       June 5, 1995      *
                                        *                         *
                                        *  CONTACT: Bessie Hadley *
                                        *       617-449-9699      *
                                        * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  A Brighter Future for ALL Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual (GLB) Teens
  -------------------------------------------------------------

  Children's Animated Television (known as CAT), a progressive
  non-profit organization is seeking volunteers and national
  support for a ground breaking video production. The focus of
  this significant project will be GLB teens, their self-esteem
  and positive role models, as well as the challenges they face:

     *  Higher and unacceptable incidence of suicide than the
        general populous
     *  Prevalent alcohol and substance abuse
     *  Increased risk of HIV and sexually transmitted
        diseases (STD's)
     *  Unsupportive and/or hostile family, school and
        social environments
     *  Violence and hate crimes
     *  Inadequate or no education because they fear
        attending school
     *  Being thrown out of their homes or feeling compelled
        to run away
     *  Involvement in prostitution for survival, if homeless

  CAT produces educational video programs for children & teens.
  Previous videos have included important contemporary issues
  such as diversity and a general information and prevention
  video on HIV/AIDS for pre-teens. To stay on the cutting-edge
  of today's social issues, CAT is developing a new video on
  sexual diversity and teen suicide prevention. The goal is
  to help GLB teens learn to understand sexual diversity
  and provide hope for a long, productive and healthy life.

  Confident GLB teen and adult role models will be interviewed
  to demonstrate how self esteem and a positive attitude is
  possible. CAT needs national support for sponsors, donations
  and for GLB people to come forward and volunteer for
  on-camera interviews.

  "The statistics on GLB teens who have tried to kill themselves
  is quite alarming", according to Bessie Hadley, Executive
  Director of CAT. "The numbers suggest 7-23% of all GLB teens
  in the U.S. have attempted suicide. Many of these were multiple
  attempts. Compare this to the 2-3% in heterosexual teens. Can
  you imagine being so afraid of your sexual identity that you
  feel your only choice is not to live at all?"

  There are multiple features that make this video project unique:

     *  Promoting self esteem in GLB teens
     *  Introducing positive GLB role models of all ages, races,
        religions and walks of life
     *  Demonstrating the correlation between low self esteem
        _and_ GLB suicide, substance abuse, the resurgence of
        HIV and STD'S
     *  Stimulating discussion for groups in schools, social
        clubs, community centers, religious organizations
        and families
     *  Providing hope and a brighter future for troubled
        GLB teens
 
  Claude DiDomenica, the President and video producer for CAT
  tells why this project is critical to him: "We are in the
  beginning stages of this exciting new video project. We MUST
  address the alarming suicide rate in GLB teens. We would like
  to show positive teen and adult role models in an attempt to
  beef up their self esteem. I, for one, am ashamed to live on a
  planet that treats its fellow beings as many of us do." He also
  emphasizes, "As a side benefit, we wish to have an impact on
  the resurgence of HIV infection. We believe low self esteem
  contributes towards unsafe sex practices. I, for one, will no
  longer remain silent. These concerns have compelled me to
  produce this video. My primary motive is to help save these
  precious young lives."

  CAT will include a diverse group of GLB teens and adults in
  the video. GLB men and women of color, Asian Americans,
  Native Americans etc. are encouraged to contact CAT for
  on-camera interviews and appear in the video. Also, GLB
  people from all professions, trades, religious or
  non-religious groups as well as experts in the field of
  GLB psychology are welcome.

  "How can you help? We all are distressed about today's
  youth", continues Ms. Hadley. "We need YOUR help to become
  sponsors, to donate time and money and to volunteer to help
  promote and develop this timely video. Support and
  encouragement from other teens and adults will send a positive
  message that we want to help GLB teens to have long lives and
  contribute to our society..."

  Contact Person:
  Bessie Hadley, Executive Director
  Children's Animated Television, Inc.
  1492 Highland Ave, Suite 3
  Needham, MA 02192
  Voice:            617-449-9699    FAX:  617-449-2238
  Dr Furball's BBS: 617-455-8415  node 1  617-433-0026 node 2
  Internet:         hadley@usa1.com

  CAT is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization and all donations
  are tax-deductible. CAT will be publishing a free newsletter
  to keep concerned people informed of this project. Please
  contact CAT to be put on the mailing list. Please specify
  either E-Mail, printed version or FAX.

  Copyright 1995 Children's Animated Television
                 All Rights Reserved

  This may be freely distributed, as long as it remains
  unaltered.
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