Date: Tue, 31 Mar 98 18:41:09 -0400 From: NGLTF Subject: NGLTF Mourns Death of Bella Abzug ************************************************* NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE OPINION-EDITORIAL Contact: Tracey Conaty, Communications Director tconaty@ngltf.org 202/332-6483 x3303 pager 800-757-6476 2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 http://www.ngltf.org ************************************************* TASK FORCE MOURNS THE DEATH OF FEMINIST AND CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER BELLA ABZUG; SPONSORED THE FIRST GAY AND LESBIAN CIVIL RIGHTS BILL IN CONGRESS WASHINGTON, DC---March 31, 1998--- The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force today mourns the passing and heralds the work of stalwart feminist Bella Abzug who died at the age of 77. Abzug worked tirelessly on many issues of social justice, not least of which was equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. In 1975 she introduced the first gay and lesbian civil rights bill in the U. S. Congress. "Bella Abzug understood that oppressions are connected and that they share the roots of ignorance and intolerance. And she not only understood, she acted," stated Task Force executive director Kerry Lobel. "As right-wing forces in our country work to extinguish democracy by attacking people of color, immigrants, women, the poor, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, and other marginalized communities, more than ever, Bella Abzug is an example and inspiration for us all." Among her many achievements, in 1970 Abzug was the first Jewish woman elected to Congress. She was active in the civil rights movement as early as the 1940's. She stood up to the infamous McCarthy red hunts, actively opposed the Vietnam war, worked to ban nuclear weapons, and fiercely advocated for the rights of women. Lobel, citing Abzug's fearless leadership and defense of democracy, issued a call to Congress members and all public policy makers to heed her example: "The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force calls on those in Congress and other public policy makers to live up to the example set by Bella Abzug of unyielding courage, compassion, and commitment to democracy." -30- _____________________________________________________________________ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have any questions regarding this post, please direct them to one of the contacts at the top of this message If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to .