Date: Fri, 3 Feb 1995 13:39:37 -0500 From: Babngltf@aol.com *************************************************NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE ACTIVIST ALERT February 1994 2320 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 332-6483 FAX (202) 332-0207 TTY (202) 332-6219 EMAIL ngltf@aol.com ************************************************* ed. note: The Activist Alert, now in its third year of production, is a monthly publication of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Activists and members of the press are welcome to reproduce this publication in full or in part. "UNFIT" IN NEBRASKA A statewide ban on foster parenting for gay and lesbian individuals has been implemented in Nebraska, infuriating local activist groups and sparking outcries of discrimination and prejudice. Mary Dean Harvey, Director of the Nebraska Department of Social Services, issued the new anti-gay policy, saying it was in the best interest of the state to place children "in the most family-like setting," and not with gay and lesbian parents. Harvey's policy ignores the exhaustive research that has found no significant developmental differences between children of lesbian and gay parents and those of heterosexual parents. The new policy tears families apart, destroys the trust, love and care parents give their foster children and puts the youth of Nebraska in peril. Nebraskans of conscience must oppose the policy and make Nebraska safe for ALL families. Activists across the country must join in a call to repeal the policy. ACTION: Register your opinion by writing, faxing, phoning or emailing Mary Dean Harvey, Dir., Nebraska Dept. of Social Services, P.O. Box 95026, Lincoln, NE 68509-5026, (402)471-9449 fax, (402)471-3121 phone, dss0003@vmhost.cdp.state.ne.us email. Copy Governor Ben Nelson at P.O. Box 94848, Lincoln, NE 68509-4848, (402)471-6031 fax, (402)471-2244 phone, gov0001@vmhost.cdp.state.ne.us email. Write letters to the editors of local papers expressing your outrage especially if you are a gay or lesbian foster parent. Write: Omaha World-Herald , Public Pulse, World Herald Square, Omaha, NE 68102 or fax (402) 345-4547 & Lincoln Star-Journal, PO Box 81689, Lincoln, NE, 68501-81689 or fax (402)473-7291. Include a daytime number with your letter to the editor. LONE STAR HATE An article in the February issue of Vanity Fair and a January 25 ABC Prime Time Live news piece both examined the trail of murder through Texas that has led to the deaths of eight gay men in 16 months. Vanity Fair, ABC News and "Prime Time Live" need to hear from their appreciative audience to offset the LONE STAR HATE continued barrage of mail and phone calls from the Far Right condemning their work. Meanwhile in Washington, DC, in the same week that ABC examined the relationship between anti-gay rhetoric and murder in his home state, House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) referred to openly gay Barney Frank (D-MA) as Barney "Fag." While he later apologized for what he called an "unintentional mangling" of Frank's name, it is clear that Armey needs an education from activists on the damage caused by hate speech. ACTION: Commend ABC News, Roone Arledge, President, 47 W. 66th St, New York, NY, 10023, (212)456-4000, (212)456-4968 fax: Prime Time Live, 147 Columbus Ave., 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10023, 212-456-1600, 212-456-1246 fax: Vanity Fair, 350 Madison Ave., NY, NY, 10017, VFAIR@aol.com, email. Educate Rep. Armey, write, call or fax: H327A-Capitol Bldg, Washington, DC 20515, (202)225-4000, (202)225-7614 fax. CONSERVATIVES POUNCE ON NEW SURGEON GENERAL Dr. Henry Foster will face the critical eyes of the U.S. Senate when he begins his confirmation hearings as the new Surgeon General. If confirmed, Foster would take over the office recently vacated by Joycelyn Elders, who was fired after comments she made on masturbation. NGLTF criticized the Administration for her firing in early December. Foster has been criticized as too much like Joycelyn Elders by conservative groups including the Family Research Council. NGLTF is encouraged by Foster's stated commitment to AIDS prevention and his history as a Planned Parenthood advisory board member. ACTION: Keep watch for more information on Henry Foster as it becomes available and register your opinion with your US Senators. Write or call the US Senate, Washington, DC, 20510 or call (202) 224-3121. TAMPA FACES ATTACK The Florida chapter of the American Family Association (AFA) has placed a measure on the March 7 local ballot that would repeal human rights protections for gay men and lesbians. Citizens for a Fair Tampa (CFT) is battling the local referendum but is seriously outfunded by their opponents, one of the wealthiest right-wing groups in the US. CFT needs the support of the entire community to stop the momentum of the AFA in Florida before the Radical Right organization can spread its message of hatred and discrimination throughout the South. ACTION: Support Citizens for a Fair Tampa through donations of time, funding or computer equipment. For more information write, call or e-mail: P.O. Box 1288, Tampa, FL, 33601, (813) 227-6457, or NoRef1Tmpa@aol.com. SAVE MULTICULTURAL ED. New York City Public Schools may soon remove religion, gender, sexual orientation, age and disability from its comprehensive multi-cultural education program. The NYC School Board will review two resolutions to gut the program on February 15. Local activists interested in testifying at the meeting must call the Board of Education by February 14. Schools have a responsibility to create safe learning environments for all students, including gay and lesbian youth. A move by New York City, one of the country's most progressive school districts, away from multi-cultural education would be a serious blow to safe schools curriculum. ACTION: To testify against the resolution , call (718)935-3294 by February 14. Or write to the two key swing voters on the Board: Ninfa Segerra-Velez and Louis Desario at the Board of Education, 110 Livington St., Brooklyn, N Y 11202 or call (718)935-2000. ******************************************************** If you have an item you think should be included in ACTIVIST ALERT, please mail or fax it to , Activist Alert, NGLTF Policy Institute, 2320 17th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009; fax (202) 332-0207; e-mail ngltf@aol.com. All entries should be national in scope or should allow for activists from around the country to respond. ************************************************* Help build the national movement for gay and lesbian freedom with your tax-deductable contribution to the NGLTF Policy Institute! Join the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the oldest national gay and lesbian civil rights advocacy organization. Your membership will help support NGLTF lobbying, organizing and education.