Date:         Thu, 22 Sep 1994 18:16:25 EDT
Reply-To: HRCFCOMM@aol.com

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PRESS RELEASE            PRESS RELEASE            PRESS RELEASE

               THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND

The Nation's Largest Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Political Group
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To contact the HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND, please call us at
(202)628-4160, fax us at (202) 347-5323 or write to us at PO Box
1396  Washington, DC  20013.  WE CANNOT RESPOND TO E-MAIL.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1994

HOUSE-SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REJECTS DISCRIMINATORY ANTI-GAY
  PROVISIONS IN EDUCATION BILL, RESTORES CONTROL TO LOCAL SCHOOLS

     WASHINGTON -- A joint conference committee today reaffirmed
House-Senate opposition to provisions in the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act that would have targeted gay and lesbian
youth for discrimination and deprived local school districts of
control over their curricula and programs.

     "The anti-gay provisions targeted gay and lesbian youth for
discrimination and robbed local schools of control over
education.  Today's vote keeps the federal government off the
backs of the nation's public schools," said Daniel Zingale,
Public Policy Director for the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF),
the nation's largest lesbian and gay political organization,
which has been working against the discriminatory amendment for
months.  "Moderation has prevailed over extremism.  The
discriminatory amendments proposed by Helms and Hancock would
have foisted an intolerant and divisive agenda on the nation's
public schools and put young people at greater risk for suicide
and AIDS.

     "Many communities are developing educational programs to
provide accurate information on the spread of HIV/AIDS and to
reduce the rate of youth suicide.  The amendments proposed by
Helms and Hancock would have penalized these communities -- and
all communities that do not promote their extreme right-wing
agenda.  We hope the House and Senate will stand by the principle
of local control and non-discrimination and support final passage
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act."

     The anti-gay provisions, sponsored in the Senate by Sen.
Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and in the House by Rep. Mel Hancock
(R-Mo.), would have given the federal government control over
curriculum, teaching materials and counseling in local schools,
affecting suicide prevention counseling and HIV/AIDS prevention.
The conference committee instead adopted amendments, approved by
the Senate and House respectively, offered by Sen. Ted Kennedy
(D-Mass.) and Rep. Jolene Unsoeld (D-Wash.), that restored
control to local schools and avoided targeting gay and lesbian
youth for discrimination.

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