Subject: SUPREME RESPONSE NETWORK READY
From: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 11:52:22 -0400

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PRESS RELEASE
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
2320 17th St. NW; Washington, DC 20009
Contact: Tracey Conaty (202) 332-6483 ext. 3303 [email-masked]
or Karen Bullock-Jordan ext. ext. 3206 [email-masked]
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ACTIVISTS GEAR UP FOR SUPREME COURT'S AMENDMENT 2 DECISION

COMMUNITIES READY TO "CELEBRATE OR DEMONSTRATE"

 Washington, D.C., April 19, 1996... Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender
activists across the country are gearing up in anticipation of the upcoming
Supreme Court ruling on the controversial Colorado Amendment 2 case.
 Activists in cities and towns across the country will be "coming out" the
day after the decision to educate and celebrate or demonstrate as part of the
Supreme Response National Day of Action.  

 Supreme Response: A National Day of Action is being organized by the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in conjunction with Equality Colorado,
Ground Zero, and other Colorado-based gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
(g/l/b/t) organizations.  Already, activists and organizations in over 30
locales, from San Diego, Californiato Paducah, Kentucky to Richmond,
Virginia, are mobilizing their communities to turn out for what may be one of
the most important court decisions in the history of the  g/l/b/t movement.  

  "The gay community is on the edge of its collective seat and ready to act,"
said Karen Bullock-Jordan, NGLTF field organizer and Supreme Response
coordinator.  "People understand that this decision could have monumental
ramifications for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people
everywhere--not just in Colorado--as well as all people working for social
justice.  The court's decision could determine whether the civil rights of a
minority can be held hostage to the prejudice of a majority," added
Bullock-Jordan.  

 It remains unknown when the court will release its decision, though the days
are dwindling. Court watchers say only 11 potential announcement days remain
during the current session for the Supreme Court.   The days include April
22, 23, 24, and 29; May 13, 20 and 28; and June 3, 10, 17, and 24.

In the meantime, NGLTF continues to work with local activists preparing
Supreme Response events and urges g/l/b/t people throughout the country to
organize a Supreme Response in their community if there is not  one already
planned. 

 Attached is a partial list of local organizations that will be participating
in A Supreme Response Day of Action.  More organizations are confirming their
participation every day.  If your community is not listed--and is planning an
action--please contact NGLTF to become part of the Supreme Response Network.
NGLTF will be contacting the Supreme Response Action Network and informing
them of the decision and providing them analysis of it as soon as the
decision is released.  NGLTF will also be distributing information on local
Supreme Response events and local contact names and numbers to media across
the country.  

 People interested in mobilizing their community for a "Supreme Response"
should contact NGLTF for a free "Supreme Response Action Kit" by calling or
emailing Field Organizer Karen-Bullock-Jordan at (202) 332-6483 ext. 3206  or
 [email-masked].

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is a progressive organization that
has supported grassroots organizing and pioneered in national advocacy since
1973.  Since its inception, NGLTF has been at the forefront of virtually
every major initiative for lesbian and gay rights.  In all its efforts, NGLTF
helps to strengthen the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement at
the state level while connecting these activities to a national vision for
change.
SUPREME RESPONSE:  
A NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

SUPREME RESPONSE ACTION NETWORK



ALABAMA
Gay & Lesbian Alliance of Alabama

ARKANSAS
Arkansas Women's Project
and
Arkansas Gay & Lesbian Task Force

ARIZONA
Phoenix
Arizonans for Fairness

Tucson
Tucson Lesbian & Gay Alliance

CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles
American Civil Liberties Union--CA
Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center

San Anselmo     
Spectrum

San Diego
LGBT Voices '96

San Francisco
National Center for Lesbian Rights

COLORADO
All actions in Colorado will happen the day the Court releases its decision.
For more information contact Equality Colorado (303) 839--5540  or Ground
Zero 
(719) 635-6086

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

IOWA
Sioux City
Community Alliance

ILLINOIS
Chicago
Illinois Federation for Human Rights

INDIANA
Evansville
Tri-State Alliance

Indianapolis
LGBT Fairness
Justice Inc

KENTUCKY
The Kentucky Fairness Alliance 
Henderson
Louisville
Lexington
Paducah
Richmond

MICHIGAN
Detroit area
Affirmations  Lesbian and Gay Community Center
and Triangle Foundation

MINNESOTA
Minneapolis
Gay & Lesbian Community Action Council
  
MISSOURI
St. Louis
PREP Education Fund, Inc.
Kansas City
Human Rights Project

MONTANA
Helena
PRIDE! Inc
NEW YORK
New York City
Gay Male SM Activists

OHIO
Cincinnati
Stonewall Cincinnati
       
OREGON
Portland
Basic Rights Oregon

PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia
Grassroots Queers
Philadelphia Lesbian & Gay Task Force       

TEXAS
Austin 
Austin Latino/a Lesbian  & Gay Organization
and
Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby of Texas 
TEXAS 
Dallas
Dallas Gay/Lesbian Alliance

San Antonio
San Antonio Lesbian and Gay Media Project
and
Esperanza Peace & Justice Center    

VIRGINIA
Norfolk
Richmond
Virginians for Justice
 
WASHINGTON
Seattle
Hands Off Washington

WISCONSIN
Madison
University Ten Percent Society


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