From: Hrccomm@aol.com Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 11:38:05 -0400 Subject: HRC Demands President Clinton Oppose Same-Sex Marriage Legislation ________________________________________________________ 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 Friday, May 17, 1996 LARGEST GAY POLITICAL ORGANIZATION DEMANDS THAT CLINTON OPPOSE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEGISLATION Calls Measure a Desperate Ploy to Drive Wedge Between Clinton, Gay Community YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED!!! SEND MESSAGES TODAY VIA HRC'S ONLINE ACTION CENTER http://www.hrcusa.org WASHINGTON -- If President Clinton signs or endorses the federal anti-gay marriage bill, it will be an unconscionable capitulation to religious political extremists who have brought this issue before Congress in an attempt to save Bob Dole's flagging presidential campaign, Elizabeth Birch, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign said today. "This bill, which we're calling the Bob Dole Needs a Scapegoat Act,' was designed to back the president into a corner and drive a wedge between Bill Clinton and the gay community," Birch said. "There is a difference between opposing same-sex marriage and agreeing to support this bill, which is clearly one of the most cynical, spiteful measures to come before the 104th Congress." The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian and gay political organization, had hoped the president would see this bill for what it is -- a transparent attempt to score political points on the backs of gay and lesbian Americans. "The statement by White House press secretary Mike McCurry earlier this week that same-sex marriage would weaken the family was silly and completely inconsistent with the president's previous positions regarding equal rights for gay men and lesbians," Birch added. "A day after he made the remark, McCurry backed away from it somewhat, saying that the president believes the same-sex marriage bill is merely a tool to provoke hostility toward gay Americans." The bill, inappropriately named the "Defense of Marriage Act," attempts to bring the definition of marriage into the federal arena for the first time in U.S. history. While the bill purports to address the imminent legalization of same-sex marriage by the state of Hawaii, the fact is that the Hawaii case will not be resolved for at least two years. The Human Rights Campaign will fight this atrocious legislation with the full force of its 175,000 members, Birch said, adding, "We fully expect our supporters in the House and Senate to stand firmly against this abhorrent gay-bashing regardless of their personal positions on same-sex marriage." The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It 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 -