'For four years, our partnership with Showtime has allowed thousands of members of our community to gather together in the name of great entertainment and equality,' said Human Rights Campaign Vice President of Development Cathy Nelson.

WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign and Showtime Networks Inc. are teaming up again to host more than three dozen nationwide premiere events for the fourth season of THE L WORD. The show premieres on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 10:00 PM (EST). THE L WORD is a groundbreaking series showcasing a group of women in Los Angeles, their lives, careers and relationships.

The Human Rights Campaign and Showtime Networks have partnered together for all four seasons of the show by hosting events with complimentary admission in cities across the country. At these events, suggested donations are collected which go towards the work of the Human Rights Campaign to promote equality and fairness for all Americans. This year, 38 communities will be hosting events the week of the premiere. For a complete list of cities and dates, please visit: www.hrc.org/lword.

"For four years, our partnership with Showtime has allowed thousands of members of our community to gather together in the name of great entertainment and equality," said Human Rights Campaign Vice President of Development Cathy Nelson. "Last year alone, we had nearly 17,000 HRC supporters and L WORD fans come out to celebrate the premiere of another season of this truly groundbreaking series. These gatherings allow a primarily female audience to celebrate living their lives openly and honestly. We are proud to again be co-hosting these events with Showtime, who has shown through the support of this show a commitment to telling our story."

"The L Word endeavors to tell the stories of the lives of these characters in a way that reflects the diversity of the LGBT community," said Ilene Chaiken, creator and executive producer of THE L WORD. "Like the Human Rights Campaign, we are committed to celebrating the breadth and scope of our community and speaking out about equality and fairness for all people. Through our partnership with HRC, we continue to reach out to the LGBT community across the country in celebration our lives."

The following talent from THE L WORD will be making special appearances at a few premieres across the country. Currently, the list and premieres include: Washington, DC - Pam Grier Atlanta - Ilene Chaiken and Daniela Sea New York City - Ilene Chaiken and Marlee Matlin Los Angeles - Cybill Shepherd, Kate Moennig and Rose Rollins.

This year, Showtime has announced a special "free membership offer" for customers who sign up for a subscription of Showtime. In exchange for their subscription, Showtime will pay for a one-year membership for new members to the Human Rights Campaign. To learn more about how to take advantage of this offer, please visit: www.hrc.org/showtime.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

About Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNELﾻ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOOﾻ, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HDﾻ, SHOWTIME ON DEMANDﾻ and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMANDﾻ. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV.