Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 15:34:23 -0700
From: glaad@glaad.org (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)
Subject: GLAADAlert 05.10.96

GLAADALERT

May 10, 1996
The GLAADAlert is the activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation

GLAAD encourages its members and individuals in the lesbian and gay
community to write letters-to-the-editor protesting new legislation in
Washington that would bar same-gender marriages.

The "Defense of Marriage Act, H.R. 3396,  introduced in the U.S. House of
Representatives on May 8, 1996, would make same-gender marriages illegal by
defining marriage in federal law as a "legal union between one man and one
woman."   This legislation opposes efforts being made by gay and lesbian
plaintiffs in Hawaii to secure equal marriage rights in that state.

Please write your letters early.  Hearings on the legislation are scheduled
to begin on Wednesday, May 15, 1996 before the House Judiciary Subcommittee
on the Constitution.

A sample letter follows:

Dear Editor:

 I am outraged by legislation recently introduced in Washington (H.R. 3396)
that would define legal marriage in this country as between a man and a
woman.  Here we go again with separate and unequal treatment.

Beyond the ideological opposition, legislatively, this bill  is superfluous
and ill-advised for several reasons.  First of all, most state laws have
already defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Secondly, at
least eight states have adopted legislation that makes same-gender marriage
illegal in those states and turns a blind eye to same-gender marriages that
are performed in other states. Thirdly,  a decision in Hawaii on the
legality of same-gender marriage is not expected for another year or two so
there is no need for this legislation now.

The members of Congress who have introduced this bill, spurred on by Lou
Sheldon and the Traditional Values Coalition, are only whipping up national
hysteria and homophobia.  They are capitalizing on the unfounded fears that
making gay and lesbian wedlock legal will somehow cheapen other marriages.


Republican legislators in support of this bill appear to be contradicting
their own political agenda which seeks states' rights vis-=E0-vis federal
laws and regulations.  Gays and lesbians  should be entitled to the same
rights, privileges and benefits as heterosexuals.

Sincerely,


If you have further questions contact Mark F. Johnson, GLAAD News Media
Director at 212-807-1700 or at johnson@glaad.org.


The GLAADAlert is the activation tool of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation.

GLAAD is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive
representation of individuals and events in the media as a means of
combating homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual
orientation or identity.

Contact GLAAD by e-mail at glaad@glaad.org or by phone at 213.658.6775 (Los
Angeles), 212.807.1700 (New York), 413.586.8928 (Northampton), 503.224.5285
(Portland, Oregon) or 202.986.1360 (Washington, DC).

Visit GLAAD's Web Site at http://www.glaad.org

"GLAADAlert," "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are
trademarks of
the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~=
~~
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
glaad@glaad.org
VISIT THE GLAAD WEB SITE AT http://www.glaad.org!

GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of
challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~=
~~
"GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are trademarks of
the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.