Sender: "HRCFCOMM" Date: Mon, 19 Sep 94 17:19:33 EDT ***************************************************************** URGENT ACTION FAN ACTION ALERT URGENT ACTION THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND The Nation's Largest Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Political Group ***************************************************************** 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. ***************************************************************** September 19, 1994 Urgent! CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TODAY! PROTECT LESBIAN AND GAY YOUTH! Joint Conference Meeting This week, a joint House-Senate conference committee will consider the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). As part of their consideration, this committee will take action on two vital amendments which attack lesbian and gay youth -- the Hancock amendment and the Helms amendment. Culmination of Six Month Fight In this session of Congress, Radical Right members of the House and the Senate, particularly Representative Mel Hancock (R-MO) and Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), cynically manipulated the ESEA to attack lesbian and gay youth by offering amendments to prohibit schools that receive federal dollars from having any program or activity that has "the purpose or effect of encouraging or supporting homosexuality as a positive lifestyle alternative." HRCF, our coalition partners, and our allies in Congress resisted their mean-spirited efforts and succeeded in passing second - degree or alternative amendments by Representative Jolene Unsoeld (D-WA) and Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) which mitigated the effect of the original amendments. The Unsoeld amendment to the Hancock amendment affirmed local control over school programs and restricted federal intrusion into local educational decisions. The Kennedy alternative prohibited the direct use of federal funds to "promote or encourage sexual activity" of any kind. Hancock/Helms Language Unacceptable The Hancock/Helms language would have a devastating effect on schools and youth in this country if passed into law. It would send the message that lesbian and gay youth are dispensable and it would force schools to choose between providing an environment of support and tolerance for all students and receiving essential federal dollars. We must protect our youth by removing this language! Urge Conferees to Strike Language The purpose of the conference committee is to resolve differences among the language passed by the House and the Senate. HRCF is urging the appointed conferees to remove the Hancock/Helms language from the ESEA by using the Unsoeld/Kennedy language. Please study the sample phone script and call your Representative and your Senators. This week the conference committee intends to finish its work, so please call today! For more information call the national Federal Advocacy Network (FAN) team of the Human Rights Campaign Fund at (202)628-4160. 1101 14th Street, NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 phone:(202)628-4160 fax:(202) 347-5323