From: NGLTF@aol.com
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 17:05:41 -0500
Subject: STATEMENT ON CLINTON SIGNING OF DOD AIDS BILL

*************************************************
PRESS RELEASE
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
2320 17th Street NW, Washington DC 20009
Contact: Kerry Lobel 202.332.6483 x3307
     pager 1-800-SKY-PAGE pin#9200158
              Robert Bray 415.552.6448
*************************************************

STATEMENT ON CLINTON SIGNING OF DOD AIDS BILL

Washington, DC, Feb. 9, 1996...The White House has said President Clinton
will sign into law tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 10, the $265 billion 1996 defense
authorization bill that includes a provision requiring the discharge of
military personnel with HIV or AIDS.  The press has reported today the
President believes the law is "unconstitutional" and "completely abhorrent
and offensive."  Following is the statement of the National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force (NGLTF), the nation's oldest gay and lesbian civil rights
organization.  The statement is attributable to Melinda Paras, NGLTF
executive director.

***

 We are disappointed that President Clinton has not used his veto power to
strike down this horrible law.  The law is one of the most blatantly
discriminatory attacks on Americans with AIDS since the onset of the epidemic
more than a decade ago.  And while we commend the President for making clear
his belief the language is unconstitutional, the more principled action would
have been to not allow this provision to become law in the first place.  

 Americans of conscience are dismayed the law found itself on the President's
desk to begin with.  We resent that the Radical Right and its action in
support of this bill has threatened to shut down the defense of this country
so it can impose its own fear-mongering agenda.  To some degree this law
represents how far we must yet go in terms of having real and responsible
national leadership in fighting AIDS.  Most Americans do not agree with the
extreme attacks on persons with AIDS and HIV perpetrated by right wing
leaders in the U.S. Congress.  Signing this bill sends the wrong message of
prejudice to this country and feeds the irrational beliefs and actions of
extremist Congressional leaders.

 We remain determined the policy will be blocked through litigation or other
means, and to that degree are encouraged by the President's instructions to
his staff to undermine the law.  The bill is catastrophically bad policy and
will discriminate against the proud and courageous service members with HIV
who have defended their country admirably.

###