From: Hrccomm@aol.com Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 17:21:33 -0500 Subject: Poll on Parents Concerned About HIV ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, December 4, 1995 POLL SHOWS PARENTS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT AIDS/HIV THAN WHAT STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY GO TO HRC'S WEBSITE TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO http://www.hrcusa.org Washington -- On the eve of controversial hearings instigated by a noted anti-gay extremist, Lou Sheldon, the Human Rights Campaign released the results of a bipartisan poll showing that -- by more than two to one -- parents worry more about their children receiving enough information about AIDS and HIV in school than about homosexuality being presented as acceptable. The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Economic and Educational Opportunities Committee is convening hearings this week entitled "Parents, Schools, and Values." The hearings were the fulfillment of a promise to lobbyist Lou Sheldon, head of the Traditional Values Coalition, a religious political extremist group, by House Speaker Newt Gingrich. "Congress should take note that parents are much more concerned that their children receive the facts about AIDS and HIV than they are about Lou Sheldon's paranoia about homosexuality," said Daniel Zingale, the Human Rights Campaign's political director. "Most parents believe that schools should help protect their children from HIV and AIDS, regardless of the scare tactics used by some extremist groups to distort the purpose of AIDS education programs." According to the survey, a strong majority of parents (59 percent) said they worry more about "not providing children with enough information to protect themselves from AIDS" than they do about "exposing children to information about homosexuality." Majorities of Republicans (53 percent), independents (66 percent) and Democrats (65 percent) agreed, as did majorities in every region of the country (Northeast, 66 percent; North Central, 62 percent; South, 57 percent; West, 63 percent). The national survey of 773 registered voters was conducted between Nov. 30 and Dec. 3 by Democratic Lake Research and the Republican firm of Bailey, Deardourff & Associates. The margin of error for the sample is +/- 3.1 percent. While subcommittee spokespeople continue to deny Sheldon's involvement in the hearing, Sheldon continues to claim credit for the forum and maintains their purpose is to examine the "promotion of homosexuality" in schools, according to literature produced by Sheldon's lobbying organization. Former Reagan/Bush official and Sheldon ally William Bennett is scheduled to testify before the committee tomorrow. School officials, parents, and education experts are expected to testify Wednesday, Dec. 6. Bennett appeared in "Gay Rights, Special Rights," an anti-gay propaganda video produced by the Traditional Values Coalition that has been used to vilify gay and lesbian Americans and promote discrimination. The Human Rights Campaign, the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country, effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support, and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community. - 30 - ________________________________________________________