From: HRCFCOMM@aol.com Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 16:40:51 -0500 Subject: PARENTS OF GAYS HEAD TO CAPITOL TO LOBBY FOR BILL TO PROTECT AMERICANS ... ________________________________________________________ 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, March 13, 1996 PARENTS OF GAYS HEAD TO CAPITOL TO LOBBY FOR BILL TO PROTECT AMERICANS FROM JOB DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION Parents Will Press for Passage of Employment Non-Discrimination Act FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT http://www.hrcusa.org Washington -- Almost 200 parents and friends of gay men and lesbians from all over the country will travel to the U.S. Capitol on March 19 to lobby for a bill to prevent discrimination in hiring, firing and promotion based on sexual orientation, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The parents -- members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG) -- planned to come by bus caravan from at least 27 states, according to Michael Roybal, HRC's chief legislative counsel. The parents will lobby members of Congress that morning on behalf of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would protect Americans from job discrimination based on sexual orientation. ENDA would prohibit discrimination, quotas and preferential treatment on the job. It would not apply to religious organizations, small businesses or the military. "Getting our message from families to members of Congress is critical to ENDA's chances," Roybal said. "Our polling has shown that most people are not aware that people can be fired from their jobs just for being gay or lesbian, and that most Americans think that is unfair." A May 1995 poll found that 74 percent of Americans favor preventing job discrimination against gay people, but that 80 percent are not aware that gay people are not covered by current civil rights laws. The parents will also take part in a news conference with officials from the Human Rights Campaign. That evening, they will hold a candlelight vigil on behalf of ENDA on the steps of the Capitol. ENDA currently has 131 co-sponsors in the House and 30 in the Senate. ENDA has been endorsed by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the nation's largest civil rights coalition, representing more than 185 religious, civil rights and labor organizations. Numerous corporations have also endorsed the bill, including Quaker Oats, Apple Computer, Harley Davidson, RJR Nabisco and Xerox. Last October, President Clinton endorsed ENDA, making him the first president in history to speak out in favor of a gay and lesbian civil rights bill. ENDA's lead co-sponsors in the 104th Congress are Sens. James Jeffords, R-Vt., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. 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 - ________________________________________________________