Date: Tue, 07 Jan 97 18:22:46 EST From: "Phil Attey" Subject: HRC's Strategy and Agenda For 1997 ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________ STRATEGY AND AGENDA FOR 1997 The results of the 1996 elections, in which voters re-elected President Bill Clinton while keeping Republicans in control of Congress, found most voters rejecting extremes and favoring the "moderate middle." Post-election polls found strong support for ending job discrimination against gay and lesbian Americans, while the divisive debate over gay marriage preceding the elections had no measurable effect on the outcome. In fact, a post-election study of voters' attitudes on gay and lesbian issues, conducted for the Human Rights Campaign by presidential pollster Stanley Greenberg, found that a majority of voters supported many of the rights associated with marriage, and worried more about the agenda of religious political conservatives than about extending equal rights to gay and lesbian Americans. The Human Rights Campaign played an important role in the 1996 elections, participating in more than 180 campaigns for Congress and helping remove extremists from control of the influential California Assembly. Nationwide, 84 percent of the candidates supported by HRC won their races. Following closely on this success, the Human Rights Campaign has developed a strategy and agenda designed to build on the support of moderates in the 105th Congress and appeal to the majority of fair-minded Americans. ENDING WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION When informed that no federal law protects gay and lesbian Americans from discrimination in the workplace, more than six in 10 voters support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to prohibit such discrimination. During the 105th Congress, HRC aims to write a new chapter in civil rights history and pass ENDA into law. To accomplish this goal, HRC will: * work with moderates in Congress who will champion ENDA on Capitol Hill; * form a Business Task Force to build active support among major corporations and small businesses; * engage the nation's most influential civil rights, religious and labor organizations in lobbying Congress; and * inform the general public about the problem of anti-gay job discrimination through a national public education campaign. PUNISHING HATE CRIMES Violent crime ranks as a top concern for all Americans, but only in rare circumstances do federal law enforcement agencies investigate or prosecute hate crimes committed against gay and lesbian people. During the 105th Congress, HRC will seek to reform federal hate crimes law so that the Department of Justice and the FBI will be able to bring those who commit anti-gay hate crimes to justice. To reform hate crime laws, HRC will: * work with hate-crime victims and their families to educate policymakers and the public about this growing problem; * identify supporters in Congress who will lead the effort to amend federal hate crimes law; and * work closely with state and national organizations to collect information on hate crimes and to educate Congress, the Clinton administration and state and local law enforcement agencies. CONTINUING THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS In the 104th Congress, HRC was instrumental in thwarting attempts to weaken the nation's commitment in the battle against AIDS. In the 105th Congress, HRC will work to defeat all discriminatory policies aimed at men, women and children with HIV/AIDS; ensure that the federal government remains committed to finding a cure; and secure funding for AIDS research, prevention and care. In the area of HIV and AIDS, HRC will: * work to preserve the Office of AIDS Research as a priority within the National Institutes of Health; * play a leading role in the AIDS policy coalition, National Organizations Responding to AIDS; and * take the lead in developing successful political strategies through public opinion research about federal AIDS policy. INCREASING AWARENESS OF LESBIAN HEALTH ISSUES Research shows that lesbians may be at increased risk for certain diseases, such as breast and cervical cancer, but scientists, policymakers, health care providers and the public lack understanding of lesbian health issues. HRC seeks to enhance knowledge of these issues to better protect the health of women. To help increase understanding of lesbian health issues, HRC will: * ask the federal government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase outreach to lesbians in cancer screening and prevention programs; * request that the National Institutes of Health include questions concerning sexual orientation and lesbian health in its research; and * publish information on lesbian health issues to educate policymakers and the public, including the gay and lesbian community. PROTECTING OUR FAMILIES Research shows that most fair-minded Americans support gay and lesbian people in seeking equal rights for our families and relationships, such as the right to visit a loved one in the hospital. HRC will continue to educate and advocate for equal marriage rights for lesbians and gay men. In the absence of equal marriage rights, HRC will conduct research and educate the public on the need to support and protect all families. Some of the issues associated with protecting our families include: * securing the right to visit a sick or injured partner in the hospital; * protecting gay and lesbian parents from having their children taken away from them; * providing equal benefits for the partners of gay and lesbian workers, as provided by a growing number of successful businesses; * preventing the tragedy of gay youth suicide. EMPOWERING FAIR-MINDED AMERICANS Extensive research shows that the majority of Americans support fairness for gay and lesbian people, while the results of the 1996 election indicate that voters favor moderate approaches that bring people together, rather than drive them apart. The Human Rights Campaign works to educate and empower fair-minded Americans to make their voices heard in elections and policymaking at the national level. In 1997-98, HRC will: * work with both major political parties and like-minded interest groups to identify, train and elect fair-minded candidates to Congress; * provide opportunities for people to get involved in the democratic process through campaign skills training, voter registration, issue forums, fund raising and voter education; * influence the national debate on lesbian, gay and HIV/AIDS issues through public opinion research, speaker training and outreach to leaders in the government and news media; * contribute major financial and human resources to fair-minded candidates through direct contributions, donations of staff and services, and voter education campaigns; * create opportunities for people to meet and communicate with their elected representatives through the Internet, letter-writing campaigns, personal meetings at home and visits to Capitol Hill. -30-