From Hrccomm@aol.com Wed Oct 16 09:26:52 1996 Received: from casti.com (vector.casti.com [199.181.80.100]) by qrd.rdrop.com (8.6.9/8.6.9) with ESMTP id JAA01176 for ; Wed, 16 Oct 1996 09:26:51 -0700 From: Hrccomm@aol.com Received: from emout10.mail.aol.com by casti.com (8.6.9/NX3.0M) id MAA29235; Wed, 16 Oct 1996 12:24:18 -0400 Received: by emout10.mail.aol.com (8.6.12/8.6.12) id MAA14551; Wed, 16 Oct 1996 12:02:34 -0400 Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 12:02:34 -0400 Message-ID: <961016120232_335239786@emout10.mail.aol.com> To: Philattey@aol.com Subject: Newt Gingrich Whips Up Fear Of HIV In Criticizing Administration's Asylum Policy ________________________________________________________ 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 Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1996 GINGRICH WHIPS UP FEAR OF HIV IN CRITICIZING ADMINISTRATION'S ASYLUM POLICY Sorry Effort To Condemn Administration's Compassion, HRC Says WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Newt Gingrich is trying to capitalize on anti-AIDS fear and prejudice by criticizing the administration for considering HIV status in some asylum cases. "Gingrich is creating a volatile political mixture by whipping together the ostracism faced by people with HIV and AIDS and the anti-immigration fever sweeping this country," said Winnie Stachelberg, HRC's deputy director for legislation. "This is a sorry effort to score political points off people with HIV and condemn President Clinton for showing compassion -- a trait Newt Gingrich clearly lacks." Earlier this month, an immigration judge in New York granted asylum to a 30-year-old computer engineer from Togo on the grounds that he is HIV-positive and feared he would be persecuted in his homeland. The case is believed to be the first such court ruling stemming from a change in immigration policy to allow the Immigration and Naturalization Service to consider HIV infection as a factor when considering asylum cases. Last weekend, Gingrich accused the administration of creating conditions where "you can come to America illegally, sneak into the country, announce that you're HIV-positive, be declared a political refugee and be eligible for $120,000 in benefits." Stachelberg said Gingrich was mischaracterizing the policy and twisting facts. "If you look carefully, the policy says where appropriate,' the INS can consider HIV in asylum cases," Stachelberg said. "As for the $120,000 in benefits, Gingrich just made that up." 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 -