Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 07:19:01 -0400 (EDT) From: A Jay Eddy Subject: Human Rights Found.Backs "Evicted Texas Gay Republican Group Sues State GOP" News Release (fwd) FORWARD FOR YOUR INFORMATION - Please Circulate A Jay Eddy ajayeddy@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 22:57:08 -0400 News Release For Immediate Release May 30, 1996 For more information, contact: J.C. Michelak, Log Cabin Republicans of Texas (713) 729-5397 home (713) 618-5386 pager Michael Garbrino, Exec. Director Texas Human Rights Foundation (512) 479-8473 TEXAS GAY REPUBLICAN GROUP SUES STATE GOP .... Fully Supported by Texas Human Rights Foundation Austin - A gay Republican group today filed a lawsuit against the Republican Party of Texas over the party's decision to deny the group an exhibit booth at the state GOP convention. The lawsuit was filed and announced today by Dale Carpenter, state president of the Log Cabin Republicans. The Log Cabin Republicans are a nationwide organization of lesbian and gay Republicans. The suit charges that the state GOP breached a contract to accept a booth and that denial of the application violates right of free speech, due process, and privacy under the state constitution. The suit was filed in Travis County court and seeks an injunction to require party officials to permit the booth as well as a full-page ad in the convention program. "Party officials told us that our application was granted, cashed a check to cover the booth fee, and then changed their minds just a month before the convention," said Carpenter. "They should live up to their words and abide by their agreements." Log Cabin sought to have the booth to dispel anti-gay stereotypes among party members and to explain the group's goals. The Texas GOP platform contains numerous negative references to homosexuality. Party officials sought to justify their actions by claiming that sodomy is illegal in Texas. "That is a ridiculous argument, a diversion to cover the fact that party officials don't want to permit a full and fair debate on the issue of equality for gays and lesbians," Carpenter replied. "Obviously, no one is going to commit an illegal act in the booth." He also noted that the state's sodomy law has been held unconstitutional by a state appellate court. Carpenter expressed hope that party officials would reverse their "blatantly discriminatory decision." But he said, "No matter what they say or do, we are not going away." The lawsuit is being sponsored by the Texas Human Rights Foundation, whose mission is to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and HIV status through litigation, education and legal services.