Since there has been so much interest in the NGLTF Press Release
regarding the meeting with Bush's Campaign Chairman.  Mr. Buckmire
thought that I wouldn't mind typing the whole thing in.  So,
here it is:


                 NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE

                    P R E S S    R E L E A S E

1517 U Street NW       Washington, DC 20009             202 / 332-6483

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         CONTACT:  Robert Bray or
                                          Urvashi Vaid, (202) 332-6483

       GAY AND AIDS ACTIVISTS MEET WITH BUSH CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN

          "GROUNDBREAKING" SESSION WITH ROBERT MOSBACHER
                FOCUSES ON ISSUES, PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 1992...Representatives of the National Gay 
and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) met today with Robert Mosbacher, head of 
George Bush's reelection campaign, to discuss gay and lesbian and AIDS 
issues during the 1992 presidential race.  The historic meeting -- 
believed to be unprecedented in recent memory -- was heralded as a 
"groundbreaking" moment between the gay activists and Republican 
political leaders.

     During the meeting, Mosbacher, General Chairman of the Bush For 
President Campaign, was briefed on anti-gay and lesbian discrimination, 
the Federal Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Bill, AIDS, hate crimes and 
military discrimination.  In addition, NGLTF raised concerns about the 
general conduct of the campaign, including outreach to the gay and 
lesbian community, and AIDS-baiting and gay-baiting by candidates.

     The meeting was requested and arranged by Urvashi Vaid, NGLTF 
executive director.  Vaid was joined by Jeffrey Levi, director of 
government affairs for the AIDS Action Council; Peri Jude Radecic, NGLTF 
deputy director of public policy; and Robert Bray, NGLTF public 
information director.  Also attending was Diane Turpeluk, deputy to Mr. 
Mosbacher.

     The activists commended Mosbacher and described the 25-minute 
meeting as open and frank.  Mosbacher was warm, attentive and appeared 
genuinely concerned with the issues.  He engaged the activists in 
dialogue, asked questions and instructed his deputy to make notes.

     Vaid presented Mosbacher and the Bush campaign with a briefing book 
on key gay and AIDS-related issues.  Also presented were ;the NGLTF 
Presidential Questionnaire and "1992 Presidential Campaign Briefing 
Paper: The National Gay and Lesbian Agenda."  In addition, AIDS Action 
Council's HIV questionnaire and campaign backgrounder [sic] were 
included.

     Mosbacher was surprised, if not stunned, upon learning that only 
five states have discrimination laws that protect gays and lesbians.  
"It was like a light bulb went off in their heads," said Vaid, "when the 
realized the basic injustice our people face."

                               - more -

     The Bush officials in particular seemed surprised when NGLTF's 
Radecic explained the Cracker Barrel discrimination case.  Cracker 
Barrel, a nationwide "family style" restaurant chain headquartered in 
Tennessee, has fired several lesbian and gay employees under its 
"heterosexual values" company policy.

     Radecic also addressed the pervasive problem of anti-gay and 
lesbian violence, and the rising tide of bias crime in general in the 
U.S.  The murder of a gay man, Paul Broussard, in Houston, Texas, last 
July was cited.  Houston is the location for the 1992 Republican 
Convention.  NGLTF also noted that President Bush left out gays and 
lesbians during the hate crimes portion of the recent State of the Union 
speech.

     During the AIDS briefing, Mosbacher asked, "Is there a feeling the 
President doesn't care -- I don't thing that's right.  I've known him 
for 30 years, and he does car."  But AIDS Action Council's Levi 
challenged President Bush's response to the epidemic and encouraged him 
to provide leadership for *all* people with the virus, not just "AIDS 
babies."

     "Mr. Mosbacher and staff were responsive," said Levi, "but the 
proof is in the pudding.  We hope our message is carried up to the 
President that we would like a kindler, gentler George Bush sooner 
rather than later."

     Vaid suggested that Bush himself tour the Dallas AIDS Resource 
Center.  The Center, in Bush's home state, is run by gay Republican and 
Texas activist John Thomas.

     NGLTF also suggested the Republican Campaign appoint an openly 
lesbian or gay liaison to the gay community.  The activists urged Bush 
to be inclusive of gays and lesbians and to talk about AIDS in an 
overall health care context.  Vaid then asked for a formal meeting 
between Bush and gay activists.

     Finally, the activists expressed their concern about campaign 
"conduct" and homophobia, citing statements made by Patrick Buchanan and 
past political incidents of gay-baiting and AIDS-baiting tactics to 
generate controversy and anti-gay votes.

     Vaid was assisted in arranging the meeting with Mosbacher by his 
openly lesbian daughter, Dee.  "Robert Mosbacher is to be commended for 
listening to us and responding with concern," said Vaid.  "This was a 
first step in opening a dialogue with the Bush campaign."

                                  ###

[Editor:  Photos were taken during the meeting.  Contact Robert Bray, 
(202) 332-6483, for more information.]

========================================
Bryan  J. Blumberg, The MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation
815 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, California  90041-1777
(213) 259-4914, B_BLUMBERG@MACSCH.COM