NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE
NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Robin Kane (202) 332-6483 ext. 3311

HELMS CONTINUES ANTI-GAY CRUSADE
IN U.S. SENATE

 Washington, DC -- (August 2, 1994) --  Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) again used
the Senate floor as a stage for political gay-bashing yesterday by supporting
an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that would ban
federal funds to be used in schools that "carry out a program or activity
that has either the purpose or effect of encouraging or supporting
homosexuality as a positive lifestyle alternative." The amendment, introduced
by Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH) would cover the distribution of instructional
materials, counseling and referral of students to outside organizations. It
passed in a 63-36 vote. The Senate then passed in a 99-0 vote a related but
conflicting amendment, introduced by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), that would
ban the use of federal funds to promote sexual activity, whether heterosexual
or homosexual.

 "The Smith/Helms amendment, if signed into law, will have direct and
disastrous impact on gay, lesbian and bisexual youth," said NGLTF Executive
Director Peri Jude Radecic. "Studies indicate that gay youth are more likely
to attempt suicide because of the societal prejudice and hatred exemplified
by Senators Smith and Helms."

 "We need Senators to show courage and stand up to Helms," Radecic said.
"This amendment puts gay youth in jeopardy. It will have a devastating effect
on the lives of living, breathing human beings. Gay youth seeking counsel at
school will be turned away under this measure."

 Sen. Helms used a devious legislative strategy in advocating for the Smith
amendment. In Congress, a "second degree" amendment is used to alter an
existing amendment, thereby superseding the original. Although the Kennedy
amendment enjoyed wide support, Helms effectively blocked passage of the
Kennedy measure as a "second degree" amendment by taking up that slot with
his own.

 "Helms sly tactics show that he will stop at nothing to promote his anti-gay
agenda," Radecic said.

 The Smith/Helms amendment is one in a series of recent measures introduced
by Sen. Helms attacking the gay and lesbian community.

 Because the House of Representatives already passed a similar but not
identical amendment, the fate of all the amendments will be decided in
September in a Senate/House conference committee chaired by Sen. Kennedy and
Rep. Bill Ford (D-MI). In the House, Rep. Mel Hancock (R-MO) introduced a
similar measure that was diluted by Rep. Jolene Unsoeld (D-WA). The
Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) and the Rev. Lou Sheldon staged a press
conference in March with Rep. Hancock and lobbied heavily for the amendment.
In introducing his amendment, Sen. Smith used the same materials used during
the Hancock/TVC press conference.

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