National Gay and Lesbian Task Force ACTIVIST ALERT April 1994 *PARADISE AT THE HAWAII HILTON? Hilton Hotel officials in Hawaii met in early March with gay, lesbian and bisexual activists fo llowing Hilton Regional Senior Vice-President Dieter Huckstein's leadership in coordinating anti-gay testimony at state legislative hearings on same-sex marriage. Huckstein, who is also chair of the Hawaii Visitors Bureau, organized efforts to present letters in opposition to same sex marriage at th e hearings. The company has not yet taken any official action to repudiate Huckstein's actions or to assure its gay employees and customers that it does not condone discrimination. The Alliance for Equal Rights has pressed Hilton to issue a corporate apology for Huckstein's behavior, sensitivity trainings for new and present staff, and domestic partner benefits for gay, lesbian and bisexual employees. Demand action from Mr. Baron Hilton, Chairman & CEO, The Hilton Hotel Corp., World Headquarters, 9336 Civic Center Dr., P.O. Box 5567, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 and send a carbon copy to Alliance for Equal Rights, P.O. Box 240423 Honolulu, HI 96826. *GAO STUDY The Government Accounting Office (GAO) is studying the problems gays, lesbians and bisexuals have had getting security clearances with the U.S. government. GAO is collecting information about such cases and will present its findings to Congress. If you or anyone you know would like to help document the kinds of harassment and inappropriate questions that have been part of security clearance investigations, please contact Elizabeth Mead at GAO, 441 G St., N.W., Room 5100, Washington, DC 20548; (202) 512-3945. *EXPAND THE CRS MANDATE At the request of NGLTF, Attorney General Janet Reno took the bold step of directing the Community Relations Service (CRS) to mediate the anti-lesbian dispute involving Camp Sister Spirit in Ovett, Mississippi. Her directive allows CRS to go beyond its mandate, but does not change the mandate, which is to mediate community tensions based on race, color and national origin. Urge Congress to expand the CRS mandate to include sexual orientation. Write to Rep. Don Edwards, Chair, Judiciary Subcomm. on Civil and Constitutional Rights, OHOB 806, Washington, DC 20515; Sen. Joseph Biden, Chair, Judiciary Committee, SD-224, Washington, DC 20510. Send carbon copies to NGLTF; Rep. Barney Frank, 2404 RHOB, Washington, DC 20515; Sen. Dianne Feinstein, SH-331, Washington, DC 20510. *EXPOSING DISCRIMINATION NGLTF, working in conjunction with the Human Rights Campaign Fund and other groups, is looking for individuals who have experienced discrimination in employment based on their sexual orientation. The cases should clearly illustrate the negative impact of anti-gay discrimination in the workplace and provide compelling arguments for Federal protection from discrimination. We are especially looking for cases involving women and people of color, cases not in a major metropolitan city, and cases that involve working class or labor oriented jobs. Individuals would need to be comfortable with and perform well under substantial national media exposure. If you have experienced such discrimination, please contact David Smith, NGLTF Director of Public Information, (202) 332-6483, ext. 3309. E-Mail: DMSNGLTF@aol.com ---------- If you have an item you think should be included in ACTIVIST ALERT, please mail or fax it to Robin Kane, Activist Alert editor, NGLTF Policy Institute, 1734 14th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009-4309; fax (202) 332-0207. Or E-Mail to: RAKNGLTF@aol.com. All entries should be national in scope or should allow for activists from around the country to respond. *"TALES" UNDER FIRE The American Family Association has recently launched a campaign against the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and its airing of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City." Citing an alleged "ongoing campaign by PBS to promote the homosexual lifestyle and agenda," the AFA has called on its members to shut down PBS. The AFA is specifically targeting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the primary Federal funding source for PBS, which is scheduled for funding reauthorization hearings in late spring. Contact your members of Congress and voice support for PBS and its decision to air "Tales of the City." Write to senators at U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510; representatives at US. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515; President Bill Clinton, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20500. *MOVEMENT-BUILDING INSTITUTES The NGLTF Fight the Right Project will produce two "Movement-Building Institutes" in April and May for organizers and activists who want to build a stronger movement and more compassionate communities while combatting the growing influence of the radical right-wing through anti-gay initiatives and other measures. In Kansas City, Missouri, the event will be held April 29-May 1, co-sponsored by the Human Rights Project, at the Kansas City Marriott. In Denver, the institute will be held May 13-15, co-sponsored by Equality Colorado, at the Ramada Inn. For details, contact Sue Hyde, NGLTF Fight the Right Project, (617) 492-6393. E-Mail: SJHNGLTF@aol.com *CREATING CHANGE SCHOLARSHIPS The 7th annual NGLTF Creating Change skills-building conference will be held Nov. 11-13, 1994 at the Southland Center Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Pre-conference institutes will be held prior to the body of the conference, on Nov. 9 and 10. Limited scholarship funds will be available. For a brochure (available in late April) or for scholarship information, send a #10 SASE to Creating Change conference, NGLTF, 1734 14th St., NW., Washington, DC 20009. For details about the Dallas host committee, contact Deb Elders at the Dallas Gay & Lesbian Alliance, 214-528-4233. Or on E-Mail: IJYNGLTF@aol.com *COLLEGE DECLARES ANTI-GAY POLICY The Universidad Internacional de las Americas (UIA) in Costa Rica has an open policy of expelling gay and lesbian students. A local AIDS organization pressed the Ministry of Education to force the UIA to alter its policy. While the Ministry has acknowledged the policy is unconstitutional (because it blocks a student's access to education and it is contrary to the equal protection clause), the Ministry has said it cannot require a policy change unless actual plaintiffs step forward in a lawsuit. Advocates argue that few or no students will be willing to face the public censure and discrimination that coming out will entail. Urge the Ministry of Education to ensure that all universities in Costa Rica operate in accordance with the national constitution, regardless of the ability to locate plaintiffs willing to challenge discrimination. Write to Lic. Rafael Garzona, Secretario, CONESUP, Ministerio de Educacion Publica, 1000 San Jose, Costa Rica. Also, demand that the UIA alter its policy to assure access to all students. Write to Lic. Miguel Angel Gutierrez Alvarez, Rector de la UIA, Apdo. Postal 1447-1002, Paseo de los Estudiantes, San Jose, Costa Rica. Send carbon copies of letters to International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, 520 Castro St., San Francisco, CA 94114. *ARM YOURSELF WITH INFORMATION NGLTF has recently released several new publications that may assist activists in their work. The Health Policy Project has releas ed "The Clinton Health Security Act Analysis" (20 pg; $5); the Anti-Violence Project has released "Anti-Gay/Lesbian Violence, Victimization & Defamation in 1993" (54 pg; $7); and the Fight the Right Project has issued "A Survey of Voters' Attitudes About Gay-Related Questions" (21 pg; $3) and "Resource List of Groups Fighting Anti-Gay Initiatives" (5 pg; Free). For copies, write to NGLTF Publications Dept., 1734 14th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009; or call (202) 332-6483 ext. 3327. E-Mail: NGLTF@aol.com --------- If you have an item you think should be included in ACTIVIST ALERT, please mail or fax it to Robin Kane, Activist Alert editor, NGLTF Policy Institute, 1734 14th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009-4309; fax (202) 332-0207. Or E-Mail to: RAKNGLTF@aol.com. All entries should be national in scope or should allow for activists from around the country to respond.