The Region - News from March 8, 1987

A communications company that produces taped “976” telephone messages has filed a $1-million lawsuit against Playgirl magazine, its publisher and advertising company, charging them with discrimination against gays. The Los Angeles Superior Court action by Dial Communications Inc. charges that the magazine agreed in a written contract to place advertising for a telephone message in 12 issues beginning last January, then backed out of the agreement after learning the “service appealed to a gay clientele.” The magazine, the lawsuit alleges, did not “wish to service persons with that sexual orientation.” In addition to the compensation, the lawsuit asks that Playgirl be barred from refusing such advertising.