From: BXBNGLTF@aol.com Date: Fri, 19 May 1995 14:23:49 -0400 Subject: NGLTF ACTION ALERT: Stop the New "Contract" ************************************************** National Gay and Lesbian Task Force ACTION ALERT ! ACTION ALERT ! ACTION ALERT ! (202) 332-6483 2320 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20009 ************************************************** STOP THE CONTRACT WITH THE AMERICAN FAMILY Washington, DC -- May 19, 1995 -- The Christian Coalition's executive director, Ralph Reed, unveiled his group's "Contract With the American Family" in a Capitol Hill ceremony Wednesday. Calling the "Contract" a "blueprint" for repairing the American family and "social fabric" of the country, Reed said he hopes Congress will adopt policies reflecting his 10 point agenda. The "Contract" calls for prayer in school and the curtailing of a woman's access to abortion services among other items billed as "family-friendly". Reed pledged $2 million dollars to push his politics of divisiveness. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Sen. Phil Gramm were among the congressional leadership on hand to support the "Contract". Recognizing the Christian Coalition's $1 million support of the Republican party's "Contract With the American Family," Gingrich pledged his support to each of the new "Contract's" ten points. "We are committed to keeping our faith with the people who helped with the 'Contract With America,' " Gingrich said. In fact, the new "Contract" is nothing but a repackaging of the Christian Coalition's conservative, anti-choice, and anti-gay political agenda. The "centerpiece" of America's newest "Contract" is a proposed constitutional amendment which would allow prayer in school. Other points covered include dismantling of the Department of Education, vouchers for private school attendance, protecting "parental rights," "support of private charities," "restoring respect for human life," "family friendly tax policy," "punish criminals not victims," censorship on the Internet and cable television, and defunding of federal cultural agencies. The Christian Coalition continues to use a campaign of misinformation and anti-gay rhetoric in its messages and direct fundraising appeals. While the new "Contract" fails to give specifics and is careful to avoid explicitly anti-gay language, a number of points are traditional and likely stomping grounds for anti-gay rhetoric and misinformation. Included among them are the abolishment of agencies such as the Department of Education, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, and Corporation for Public Broadcasting and a loosely defined push to increase "parental rights" Activists are preparing for attacks on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth and on freedom of expression. Demand a Congress Respectful of ALL Families! The "Contract With the American Family" is a campaign to exploit fear and homophobia that must not be advanced on Capitol Hill. Action: x Call or write your US Representatives and Senators, to let them know that you elected them to listen to your voice not the voice of a $2 million campaign led by the Radical Right. Call the US Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 or Write: The Honorable ____________, US House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable ____________, US Senate, Washington, DC 20510 x Voice your opposition to the Religious Right's agenda in your local community. Be an advocate for all families, including gay and lesbian families. Write a letter to your local paper exposing the "Contract With the American Family" for what it is: a political pay-off and a repackaging of the right wing social agenda. Be a voice for redefining the "American Family" to truly include all American families. x Read it for yourself. For the full text of the "Contract With American Family" call 1-800-325-4746. Also available on the Internet at http://www.cc.org