From: Philattey@aol.com Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1996 13:36:11 -0400 Subject: HRC Presses Senate to Pass ENDA, Defeat DOMA ________________________________________________________ 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, Sept. 9, 1996 HRC PRESSES SENATORS TO SUPPORT BILL TO OUTLAW ANTI-GAY JOB DISCRIMINATION Historic Vote Set for Tuesday EMAIL YOUR SENATORS TODAY THROUGH HRC ONLINE http://www.hrcusa.org AND CALL YOUR SENATORS Senate Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 WASHINGTON -- The Human Rights Campaign continued to work intently today to shore up enough Senate votes to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act on Tuesday. "We are well within striking distance and I remain confident that we have a solid chance to win this crucial vote," said Daniel Zingale, HRC's political director. "However, it remains an uphill battle." As of Sept. 7, a total of 43 senators had committed to vote for ENDA, including Republicans James Jeffords of Vermont, John Chafee of Rhode Island, Alfonse D'Amato of New York and Mark Hatfield of Oregon. HRC was working to convince 14 other senators who had not yet declared their intentions, according to Zingale. Vice President Al Gore is expected to preside over the Senate on Tuesday, in case he is needed to break a tie, an unnamed Senate staffer told The Boston Globe. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., announced that ENDA would come up for a vote as a free-standing bill Tuesday. This is the same day that the Senate plans to vote on the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, a bill originally sponsored by Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole that would deny federal recognition of same-sex marriages in the event that a state should ever legalize such marriages. ENDA was to be offered as an amendment to the anti-gay bill as part of an agreement reached before Congress recessed in August. "To protect DOMA from an increasingly viable ENDA amendment, Senator Lott, scheduled DOMA for a vote Tuesday with no amendments in order," Zingale said. "Then, to dodge accusations that he was afraid of losing an ENDA vote, he agreed to a vote on that bill, on the same day with no amendments. "We were a victim of our own success," he added. "While killing the Defense of Marriage Act would have been an outstanding result in our view, the introduction of ENDA as an amendment was simply an attempt to gain something positive out of an utterly dismal political situation." HRC continues to urge all senators to vote against the marriage bill, but expects only about a dozen to do so. "In the end, we believe America will recognize that denying legal recognition of our relationships is discriminatory and unconstitutional," said Elizabeth Birch, HRC's executive director. "We will do everything in our power to work to defeat DOMA legislatively, and in our country's courts of law and public opinion." HRC is encouraging citizens to call their U.S. senators on Monday and Tuesday, and ask them to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S.932), and to oppose the Defense of Marriage Act (S.1740). Senators can be called through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Earlier this month the Human Rights Campaign aired television commercials in San Diego at the Republican National Convention asserting that "Bob Dole and Congress have better things to do than attack gay relationships." The organization ran another commercial last week in the Washington area, entitled "Fairness," showcasing four very different public figures -- New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, Coretta Scott King, former U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater and Kathleen Gingrich, mother of House Speaker Newt Gingrich. All agree that gay people deserve basic job protection and support the bill. "A gay person can legally be fired simply for being gay in 41 states," David M. Smith, HRC communications director, said at a news conference Tuesday to release the ad. "The four national figures featured in our ad are among the 85 percent of Americans who agree that job discrimination against gay men and lesbians is wrong." ENDA prohibits quotas, and does not apply to religious organizations, small businesses or the military. Tuesday's Senate vote on the measure will mark the first time that Congress has voted on a civil rights bill that would include lesbian and gay Americans. 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 -