NGLTF Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                Contact: Ivy Young
                                              Peri Jude Radecic 
                                              (202) 332-6483
                                             
Ron.DeVrou@f70.n109.z1.fidonet.org

TELEGRAM HOTLINE INITIATED TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC PARTNERS

Washington, D.C., May 14, 1992...The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF)
has launched a telegram campaign to urge members of Congress to support the
recently-passed D.C. domestic partnership ordinance.  The law, which the
District of Columbia City Council overwhelmingly passed last month, is subject
to review by Congress because of the limited home rule granted to the District
of Columbia.

	The D.C. Health Benefits Expansion Act of 1992 extends health benefits coverage
to the domestic partners of city employees; creates a city-wide registry for
domestic partners; and extends hospital and health facility visitation rights to
domestic partners.  Some gay and lesbian couples would qualify for benefits
under the law's definition of "domestic partner."  More than twenty cities
nationwide have enacted legislation that provides some recognition of domestic
partners and ten of those cities have health care coverage provisions similar to
the D.C. law.

	Conservative lawmakers have in the past used the Congressional review period to
attack gay-related local legislation.  Several members of Congress have already
expressed their intention to oppose the domestic partnership law.  

	NGLTF has established a Western Union telegram campaign so that citizens from
around the country may urge their members of the House and Senate to support the
D.C. legislation as passed by the duly-elected officials of the city.  To
register support, individuals are urged to call 1-800-641-1818, hotline number
9247.  Western Union will send one of several prepared telegram to the callers'
two Senators and Representative.  The cost of the telegram message is $8.00 and
will be billed to the caller's telelphone bill or major credit card.

	"It's imperative that lesbian and gay activists everywhere act now and tell
their members of Congress to leave D.C. legislative affairs to the District's
elected officials," said Ivy Young, NGLTF Families Project director.  "People of
good conscience must send Capitol Hill the message that they support the Health
Benefits Expansion Act and the District of Columbia's right to self-governance
and self-determination."

1734 Fourteenth Street, NW-Washington, DC 20009-4309-(202) 332-6483
Ron.DeVrou@f70.n109.z1.fidonet.org
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