From: Date: Wed, 13 Jul 94 10:47:32 -0400 Eastern ***************************************************************** PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE 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 RESOPND TO E-MAIL. ***************************************************************** EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE TUESDAY, JULY 12,1994 BARRY GOLDWATER, BARBARA ROBERTS AND TOP POLITICAL STRATEGISTS JOIN CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT RADICAL RIGHT IN KEY STATES Anti-Gay Meaures on Ballots in Idaho and Oregon Would Institutionalize Discrimination WASHINGTON -- Retired Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.), Gov. Barbara Roberts (D-Ore.) and a team of campaign organizers and leading political strategists have joined a campaign launched by the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF) to fight the Radical Right in states where anti-gay ballot initiatives are being used to institutionalize discrimination. The ballot measures would block or repeal state and local policies that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. "The Radical Right takeover of state and local Republican parties is just the tip of the iceberg," said Stacie Spector, director of the campaign, Americans Against Discrimination. "They seek to institutionalize discrimination and promote a narrow agenda of intolerance. Anti-gay ballot initiatives are being used by Radical Right groups to raise money and turn out the extreme right-wing vote. In a year when moderate incumbents are under attack, a heavy Radical Right turnout could shift the political landscape." Anti-gay discrimination is emerging as an issue in election campaigns across the country, and could influence the outcome of local, state and Congressional races. Idaho and Oregon, where anti-gay measures have recently qualified, face contested races for governor and the U.S. House of Representatives. "While their rhetoric focuses on gay people, the Radical Right's agenda is much broader," said Tim McFeeley, the Campaign Fund's executive director. "Radical Right groups seeks to roll back progress on civil rights, freedom of choice, freedom of speech and any other freedom that doesn't match their agenda of intolerance. The Radical Right's agenda is sponsored by a network of multi-million dollar political organizations working to elect extremist candidates and institutionalize discrimination. They have already won seats in local councils and school boards, and they are determined to carry their divisive agenda all the way to the White House." Americans Against Discrimination has assisted state and local efforts to defeat Radical Right signature-gathering campaigns in seven states that would have placed discriminatory measures on Election Day ballots. The campaign provides training, funding, research, communications and political support to local and state campaigns working against the ballot measures. It also works nationally to educate the general public about anti-gay discrimination and the need for legal protections. Retired Senator Barry Goldwater and Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts serve as honorary co-chairs of Americans Against Discrimination, providing strategic advice and political support. In joining the campaign, Goldwater said: "I support equality for all Americans and an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation. I also oppose the misuse of the initiative process by extremist groups to institutionalize discrimination." Stacie Spector, campaign director, ran a successful statewide campaign in 1992 to defeat an anti-choice ballot measure in Maryland, and in 1993 managed a U.S. Senate campaign in Missouri. She served as deputy campaign manager for Sen. Tom Harkin's (D-Iowa) 1990 re-election and has worked on campaigns in five other states. Timothy Cavanaugh, assistant director, was an attorney with Gordon & Rees of San Francisco, and worked for the American Civil Liberties Union, Shea & Gould of New York and the California Attorney General. He has done grassroots organizing and development work for the Campaign Fund for the past year. Douglas Hattaway, media affairs manager for the Campaign Fund, works with the campaign and the Department of Public Policy. A former Congressional press secretary, he has covered human rights as an international correspondent and served as a communications consultant to nonprofit organizations. Hans Johnson, research director, was a national organizer for People for the American Way, assisting national, state and local groups in fighting the Radical Right and promoting equal rights for gay and lesbian citizens. Jane Caplan, finance director, worked on the successful pro-choice campaign in Maryland before serving as deputy director of a statewide gun control organization. Terrance Heath, administrative assistant, recently graduated from the University of Georgia, where he was a columnist for the campus newspaper. Celinda Lake, a leading political strategist, conducts polling and focus groups. A partner in the research-based strategy firm of Mellman Lazarus Lake, she oversaw focus group research for the Clinton/Gore campaign, advises the Democratic National Committee, and works with Democratic campaigns across the country. Ann F. Lewis, a regular commentator on CNN and PBS, provides strategic advice. Currently president of Politics, Inc., she has been political director of the Democratic National Committee, national director of Americans for Democratic Action and chief of staff to then-Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland). Will Robinson, a partner in the media and political consulting firm MacWilliams Cosgrove Snider Smith Robinson, coordinates activities with the political and labor community. He was political director of Campaign '88 for the Democratic National Committee. Fred Hochberg, campaign finance chair, is a member of the Democratic National Committee. Former president and chief executive officer of the Lillian Vernon Corp., he is also a member of the Campaign Fund's board of directors. - 30 - 1101 14th Street, NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 phone:(202)628-4160 fax:(202) 347-5323