Date: Thu, 23 Mar 1995 19:02:40 -0500
From: RAKNGLTF@aol.com

NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE
PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Robin Kane, (202) 332-6483, ext. 3311; rakngltf@aol.com
                 Robert Bray, (415) 552-6448

NGLTF RESPONSE TO MONTANA STATE SENATE REVERSAL OF "DEVIATE SEXUAL CONDUCT"
OFFENDER REGISTRATION

Washington, DC -- March 23, 1995 -- In a stunning reversal following a deluge
of criticism from around the country, the Montana State Senate today
reconsidered a bill passed yesterday that would have required offenders of
the state's "deviate sexual conduct" law to register for life with local law
enforcement officials.  The bill was approved yesterday in the Senate in a 41
to 8 vote.  Today, the Senate voted to repeal the "deviate sexual conduct"
provision in a unanimous voice vote.

 According to the now-deleted provision in House Bill 214, those convicted of
homosexual acts between consenting adults would be included with murderers,
rapists and other violent criminals in the pending law to register violent
criminals.  Sen. Terry Klampe (D-Florence) led a Democratic effort to remove
the "deviate sexual conduct" provision from the list of crimes requiring
state registration.  That measure failed yesterday on an 18 to 32 vote.
 Today, however, Sen. Klampe again offered his amendment, which passed
without debate on voice vote.

 Anti-gay rhetoric rang out during yesterday's Senate deliberations.  Sen. Al
Bishop (R-Billings) said that homosexual acts are "even worse than a violent
sexual act."  Sandy Hale, of the Montana gay and lesbian group Pride!, said
at a rally yesterday, "What an insult to women who have been raped, children
who have been molested, and any victim of a truly violent crime -- let alone,
lesbians, gay men and bisexuals who are in loving committed relationships."
 Sen. Bishop apologized today for his comment, saying, "We all know in the
heat of debate that things are said without careful thought as to precise
meaning or implication.  I never intended nor meant to infer that consensual
sexual acts between adults of the same sex are in the same category as
violent sexual acts.  I regret that I made the statement."

 Gov. Marc Racicot (R), who had not publicly stated his position on the bill
previously,  announced this afternoon that he would have vetoed the
legislation if it had reached his desk with the 'deviate sexual conduct'
provision included.  He said his office fielded about 100 calls before noon
from critics of the policy. 

 Later today, after the repeal of the "deviate sexual conduct" provision from
the registration law, some Democratic lawmakers moved to introduce a bill
that would fully repeal the 'deviate sexual conduct' law.  Because it is past
the regular deadline to offer new bills, Sen. Dorothy Eck (D-Bozman) first
offered a motion to suspend the rules to pave the way for the repeal
amendment.  That motion was defeated in a party line vote, with 19 Democrats
supporting the motion to suspend and 31 Republicans defeating the measure.

 "We're certainly pleased that the Montana Senate reconsidered its
ill-conceived registration law and struck the 'deviate sexual conduct'
provision," said Melinda Paras, executive director of the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force.  "The measure was unprecedented in its extreme
persecution of gay men and lesbians and rightly caused a national outcry."

  "Our phones were ringing off the hook today as gay men and lesbians around
the nation awoke to the horrifying news that a state legislative body was
moving swiftly to target them for monitoring and registration with the
police," Paras said. "It's a terrible example of how far legislatures will go
to satisfy the demands of the Radical Right."
  
 "As long as the discriminatory 'deviate sexual conduct' law is on the books,
the Montana legislature holds a weapon to attack gay, lesbian and bisexual
Montanans at any time," said NGLTF spokesperson Robin Kane. "This is a
frightening example of the insidious dangers of sodomy laws.  These laws,
even when not fully enforced, classify all gay men and lesbians as criminals
and are used as justification for policies that deny us our rights and
dignity."

 Currently 22 states have laws barring various sex acts between consenting
adults.  Six of those states, including Montana, bar only homosexual acts.
 Montana's law equates homosexuality with bestiality and is sweeping in its
definition, including any form of sexual contact between members of the same
sex -- theoretically applying to kissing.  The law contains one of the top
ten worst punishments in the country for conviction -- ten years in prison
and fines of up to $50,000.  

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