From: Date: Thu, 23 Mar 1995 13:45:52 -0500 Subject: NGLTF ACTION ALERT! Montana Registry!!! ************************************************* National Gay and Lesbian Task Force ACTION ALERT ! ACTION ALERT ! ACTION ALERT ! (202) 332-6483 X3215 2320 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20009 ************************************************* MONTANA LEGISLATURE MOVING TO REQUIRE REGISTRY FOR GAY MEN & LESBIANS CONVICTED UNDER STATE'S "DEVIATE SEXUAL CONDUCT" LAW Urgent Action Needed Washington, DC -- March 23, 1995 -- The Montana State legislature is moving to pass a measure that would require offenders of the state's "deviate sexual conduct" law to register for life with local law enforcement officials. According to a provision in House Bill 214, those convicted of homosexual acts between consenting adults would be included with murderers, rapists and other violent criminals in Montana's pending law to register violent criminals. The bill was approved yesterday in the Senate by a 41 to 8 vote. 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 on an 18 to 32 vote. The Senate had earlier added "deviate sexual conduct" to the bill as an amendment after it originally passed the House. Democratic members of the House have an opportunity to reject Senate amendments and send the measure to a conference committee. According to Diane Sands of the Montana Women's Lobby, that action is unlikely to be successful because the House is more conservative than the Senate. Democrats are outnumbered in the Senate by 31 to 19 and in the House by 67 to 33. Anti-gay rhetoric rang out during Senate deliberations. Sen. Al Bishop (R-Billings) said, "This type of action is even worse than a violent sexual act." Following yesterday's Senate vote, the Montana gay and lesbian rights group, Pride!, held a rally at the Capitol, attended by several Democratic legislators. 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. Gov. Marc Racicot (R) has not said whether he would sign the measure. He has in the past publicly stated that he would support repeal of the "deviate sexual conduct" law. ACTION: Governor Racicot must not sign this bill into law! He needs to hear from activists, colleagues and media around the country that this blatant attack on the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community is outrageous and intolerable. x Call, fax, or write Gov. Racicot: (406) 444-3111 (voice), (406) 444-4151 (fax). Write: Governor Marc Racicot, Capitol Station, Helena, MT, 59624. x Ask elected officials, including your mayor, and state and federal legislators, to add their voices to those condemning the Montana state legislature and calling upon the governor to remove "deviate sexual conduct" from the measure. To call your senators and representative in Washington, call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. x Write letters to the editor of your local paper and to the editors of the Billings Gazette (406) 657-1208 (fax), the Great Falls Tribune (406) 791-1431 (fax), and the Helena Independent Record (406) 447-4052. All letters to the editor must include your name, address, and daytime phone number. x Activists in Montana are encouraged to attend a rally at the state capitol at noon on Saturday, March 25 .