Date: Thu, 2 Mar 1995 14:25:38 -0500 From: Babngltf@aol.com ************************************************* NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE ACTIVIST ALERT March 1995 2320 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 332-6483 FAX (202) 332-0207 TTY (202) 332-6219 EMAIL ngltf@aol.com ************************************************* CONGRESSIONAL CUTS The new Congress may soon slash funding to key social programs including significant recissions in AIDS services, prevention, research and housing for fiscal year 1995 if cuts approved by the House Appropriations Subcomittee are upheld. This means that programs and services depending on federal dollars for this year could be forced to turn away tens of thousands of people with AIDS. The House Appropriations Subcommittee also voted to eliminate or reduce social programs including school lunches and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (part of the Violence Against Women Act). These cuts now move to the full House Appropriations Committee for approval. The Committee could vote on this issue on THURSDAY, March 2 with a vote in the full House as early as the following week. Next, the cuts must be approved by Senate appropriation committees and the full Senate before moving to the White House for presidential signature. ACTION Call your Representative at (202) 225-3121 and urge them to spare lifesaving AIDS and social service programs. Call your Senators as Senate votes on this issue near. Tell Congress that these cuts will mean more sick people, more homeless people, and more people without adequate care. MARRIAGE IS COMING All signs indicate that the State of Hawaii may grant gay and lesbian couples the right to legally marry in the near future. The decision of the Hawaii courts will likely give same-sex couples the identical rights and benefits of married heterosexual couples. The question before us now: is the gay and lesbian community organized enough to keep this fundamental right once granted? Legislators in South Dakota and Utah have already lashed out at our right to legal marriage in their states. On March 1, South Dakota narrowly failed in its attempt to prevent recognition of same-sex marriage while Utah passed its anti-gay legislation. Another pre-emptive attack could strike at any time. NGLTF, working in conjunction with national and local organizations, is distributing a Marriage Resolution. This organizing tool is an excellent catalyst to spur discussion on the issues same-sex marriage raises and is an opportunity for your organization, whether g/l/b/t focused or not, to publicly endorse our community's right to legally marry. ACTION 1) Request the Marriage Resolution organizing tool and talking points - Call NGLTF at (202) 332-6483. 2) Convene a meeting of local organizers to discuss and endorse the Resolution and to create a plan for education and action. 3) If you are a member of a same-sex couple hurt by the denial of marriage rights or if you are a clergy member who supports our right to marry, please contact NGLTF (ext. 3215). OLYMPIC DISCRIMINATION If Fulton County Georgia Commission Chairman Mitch Skandalakis has his way, no Olympic athletes who test positive for HIV will be allowed to compete in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. To their credit, International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials have said that they will not require HIV testing or disclosure for Olympic athletes. The IOC's medical commission has concluded that there is an extremely low risk of transmitting the virus during athletic competition. Nevertheless, it may still be possible for local government officials to enforce such a proposal. ACTION Call or fax Chairman Skandalakis and tell him to cease his effort to discriminate against a population of talented athletes at (404) 730-8238 voice or (404) 730-4754 fax. In addition, call or fax the US representative of the IOC, Anita DeFrantz, (213) 730-9600 voice or 213-730-9637 fax. Let her know that you appreciate the principled stand of the IOC in supporting the rights and privacy of Olympic athletes. WHO BUILT AMERICA ANYWAY? Apple Computer executives announced in January that they would no longer distribute the award-winning CD-ROM, "Who Built America?" as part of its computer program bundle to K-12 schools. Apple officials said they had received complaints about portions of the historical record containing information on homosexuality, birth control, and abortion from 1876 to 1914. (Included in the information receiving complaints is research by noted historian and new Director of the NGLTF Policy Institute John D'Emilio.) After initial publicity, however, Apple has agreed to review its decision. ACTION Letters to Apple CEO Michael Sprindler asking that he resist the temptation to edit the past are needed to restore distribution of "Who Built America?". Email: spindler@applelink.apple.com or write Apple Computer, Inc., 20525 Mariani Ave, Cupertino, CA, 95014 COLORADO COACH CRISIS A Colorado public high school may fire two female gym teachers, rumored to be lesbians, after complaints by female students who say they felt uncomfortable in the school's locker room. The school board began an investigation into the allegations, which included no accusations of wrong doing, but refused to act without further information. Radical Right activists have flooded the Longmont School Board with letters calling for the removal of the teachers. Letters and faxes are urgently needed to reinforce the school board's decision to handle the situation just as they would any other issue of student welfare, regardless of the sexual orientation of those involved. ACTION Fax (303)682-7343 or write Roger Driver, Superintendent, SVVSD, 395 S., Pratt Parkway, Longmont, CO 80501 and Michael Shaw, President, 1435 Weld County Road 16 1/2, Longmont, CO 80504 RALLY FOR WOMEN'S LIVES On Sunday, April 9, the National Organization for Women (NOW) will host a rally to mobilize the progressive majority for an end to violence against women, anti-abortion violence, the war on poor women, and the Contract On America. Several other activities, including a Young Feminist Summit, are scheduled in DC over the weekend. ACTION The rally will begin at noon on the lawn of the National Mall in Washington, DC. To attend the rally with the NGLTF delegation, look for the NGLTF banner at the fountain separating the east and west wings of the National Gallery of Art at 11:00am, or look for our banner to the left as you face the stage. For more information on the rally or accommodations call NOW at (202) 331-0066 or email NOW@NOW.ORG. YOUTH LEADERSHIP The NGLTF Policy Institute is looking for youth activists to participate in a survey to design the 1995 Youth Leadership Training Institute which will take place in August of this year. ACTION If you or a young person you know would be willing to contribute your ideas, please call NGLTF at (202) 332-6483, extension 3228. +++ Help build the national movement for gay and lesbian freedom with your 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. NGLTF membership is $35 for individuals, $60 per household, $125 for organizations, $20 limited income. The first $35 of your gift will be allocated to NGLTF's lobbying programs, and is not tax-deductible. 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.