ACTION ALERT PRESS RELEASE ACTION ALERT 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. ACTION ALERT: TELL SENATOR KASSEBAUM TO WITHDRAW HER DISCRIMINATORY AMENDMENT AND TO SUPPORT LEGAL ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS. CALL IMMEDIATELY TO SENATOR KASSEBAUM'S WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE (202)224-4774 OR HER WICHITA, KA OFFICE (316)263-0416. ALSO, CALL YOUR SENATORS AT (202)224-3121 URGING THEM NOT SUPPORT THE KASSEBAUM AMENDMENT. KASSEBAUM AMENDMENT WOULD INSTITUTIONALIZE DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE WASHINGTON, DC (May 26, 1994) Senator Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS) introduced an amendment today to the health care reform legislation under consideration in the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee which would institutionalize discrimination in health care against lesbian and gay Americans. Kassebaum's amendment would remove language outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation from the bill. "At a time when the people of Kansas expect Senator Kassebaum to work on health care for all Americans, she is caving into the Radical Right's special agenda to institutionalize anti-gay discrimination," said Daniel Zingale, Public Policy Director of the Human Rights Campaign Fund, the nation's largest lesbian and gay organization. "Senator Kassebaum's amendment will give aid and comfort to the Fred Phelps of the world, which is a surprising disappointment." Phelps is the anti-gay Kansas minister who regularly pickets the funerals of people with AIDS. Kassebaum's amendment would eliminate protection from discrimination on the basis of income, language, sexual orientation, health status and anticipated need for health services. "Non-discrimination is an essential component of real health care reform," Zingale said. "Senator Kassebaum's amendment strikes at the core of the effort to provide access to health care for all Americans." A recent study release by the American Association of Physicians for Human Rights documents widespread discrimination against lesbian and gay patients, health care providers and individuals who are perceived to be gay or lesbian. The study found that 67% of the responding health care providers reported knowing of lesbian and gay Americans who have received substandard care because of their sexual orientation. Zingale cited a recent poll by the firm of Mellman, Lazarus and Lake, Inc., which found 67% of the American people favor a health care bill that specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. "Senator Kassebaum is wrong if she thinks that Americans will approve of her effort to institutionalize discrimination," Zingale noted. - 30 - 1012 14th Street, NW Suite 607 Washington, DC 20005 phone:(202)628-4160 fax:(202) 347-5323