Date: Mon, 10 Nov 97 17:38:25 EDT From: "communications" Subject: HRC Release: Clinton Makes History in Speech to HRC Event ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Saturday, Nov. 8, 1997 CLINTON BECOMES FIRST PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS GAY AND LESBIAN CIVIL RIGHTS EVENT Human Rights Campaign's First Annual National Dinner Makes History, Draws 1,500 Attendees WASHINGTON -- The Human Rights Campaign saluted President Clinton tonight for having the courage to bring his power to bear for an America where gay men and lesbians "will no longer be bashed or banished to the closet, or told to betray their own identity." "President Clinton, you have done so much to challenge all of that, and you can be certain that we will ask you to do more," said Elizabeth Birch, HRC's executive director. Birch's remarks came at the Human Rights Campaign's first National Dinner, where Clinton delivered the keynote speech. This was the first time a sitting president ever addressed a lesbian and gay civil rights event. "We anticipated your first term as president with utter hope and joy," Birch said in introducing Clinton to the sold-out crowd of 1,500. "We stood nearly alone against the worst epidemic in this century. ... Through the first decade of AIDS, your predecessors offered only a wall of stony silence as countless died around us." Acknowledging that the gay and lesbian community has suffered some disappointments under Clinton, Birch said, "I can honestly say: You have played a brave and powerful and indispensable role in the march toward justice for us, and all Americans." She singled out the president's endorsement of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill that would outlaw job discrimination based on sexual orientation. Also at the dinner, the organization presented its two National Civil Rights Awards to two outstanding leaders in the quest for equality. One went to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the legislative arm of this country's historic civil rights movement. LCCR Chairperson Dorothy Height accepted the award. The other HRC National Civil Rights Award went to actress Ellen DeGeneres for her historic and very public coming out last spring. DeGeneres was accompanied by her partner, actress Anne Heche, and her mother, Betty DeGeneres. Betty DeGeneres is HRC's 1997-98 National Coming Out Project spokesperson. The sold-out national dinner took place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington and was expected to raise some $300,000 for HRC's general fund. Other Washington dignitaries in attendance included: White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles; White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Political Affairs John Podesta; White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry; White House AIDS czar Sandra Thurman; White House Communications Director Ann Lewis; Maria Echaveste, director of the White House Office of Public Liaison; and Richard Socarides, the White House liaison to the gay and lesbian community and a special assistant to the president. Several members of Congress also attended, including: Reps. Connie Morella, R-Md.; William Coyne, D-Pa.; Diana DeGette, D-Colo.; Juanita Millender-McDonald, D-Calif.; and Bob Filner, D-Calif. Last year, President Clinton provided a videotaped message to the Human Rights Campaign's OutVote convention during the 1996 campaign. That event was designed to inspire volunteer involvement in political campaigns for state and federal office seekers who are supportive of equal rights for lesbian and gay people. The National Dinner took place two days before the first White House Conference on Hate Crimes, scheduled for Nov. 10. The conference will examine bias-motivated crime and seeks to find solutions to curb this escalating social problem which is one of HRC's highest priorities. 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 -