FUR IS FLYING BETWEEN PETA AND GAY REPUBLICANS

FUR IS FLYING BETWEEN PETA AND GAY REPUBLICANS

QUEENS, N.Y. (Wireless Flash) -- The fur is flying between the animal rights group PETA and The Stonewall Republicans, a group of gay conservatives. The beef has to do with PETA's use of the term "fur hag" to describe a woman who wears fur -- but the gay Republican group thinks "fur hag" sounds too similar to the anti-gay phrase "fag hag," which is used to describe women who like to hang out with gay men. Now the group is demanding that PETA refrain from any further use of the offensive phrase to promote its anti-fur messages. Meanwhile, PETA's president, Ingrid Newkirk, claims she never meant to offend gays with the term, "fur hag," and says she's surprised by the anti-gay accusations because the group has the support of many gay celebrities including Ellen Degeneres and Boy George. Either way, she says PETA will continue to use the term "fur hag" because she believes the term has a very different meaning than "fag hag."

CONTACT: Thomas Stevens (Stonewall Republicans), ****; Queens, NY; (718) 357-7075; Ingrid Newkirk; Arrange thru Brett Whipple; Norfolk, VA; (757) 622-7382 x632