From: RAKNGLTF@aol.com Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 20:28:14 -0400 Subject: NGLTF's Sept. Activist Alert ************************************************* NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE ACTIVIST ALERT SEPTEMBER 1995 2320 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 332-6483 FAX (202) 332-0207 TTY (202) 332-6219 EMAIL ngltf@ngltf.org ************************************************* No-Promo-Homo Hearings The House Economic and Employment Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations--which has no actual jurisdiction over the public schools--is scheduled to have a hearing Tuesday, September 12 on public school programs that deal with issues of sexual orientation. These programs are often referred to as "promotion of homosexuality" by Radical Right fanatics, such as Lou Sheldon, head of the Traditional Values Coalition, who is the prinicpal figure behind the hearing. The Radical Right is determined to hurt lesbian, bi, gay, and transgender students by forcing them to learn in an increasingly hostile environment, and hurt straight students by denying them access to the truths of lesbian, bi, gay, and transgender lives. ACTION: Call Subcommittee Chair Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI), 202.225.4401 and ranking Democrat Rep. Thomas Sawyer (D-OH) 202.225.5231. If any of your representatives sit on the Subcommittee, contact them and identify yourself as a constituent. Let them know that you are concerned for the safety and education of all youth, and that the programs targeted by the Radical Right are necessary to save all of America's youth. Demand that these hearings be unbiased and not used as a pulpit for Lou Sheldon's dangerous hate propaganda. Subcommittee Members Cass Ballenger (R-NC) 202.225.2576 Bill Barrett (R-NE) 202.225.6435 Michael Castle (R-DE) 202.225.4165 Randy (Duke) Cunningham (R-CA) 202.225.5452 Harris W. Fawell (R-IL) 202.225.3515 William Goodling (R-PA) 202.225.5836 Gene Green (D-TX) 202.225.1688 Howard (Buck) McKeon (R-FL) 202.225.1956 Matthew Martinez (D-CA) 202.225.5464 Jack Reed (D-RI) 202.225.2735 Mel Reynolds (D-IL) 202.225.0773 Tim Roemer (D-IN) 202.225.3915 Robert Scott (D-VA) 202.225.8351 Dave Weldon (R-FL) 202.225.3671 ************************************************* National Lobby Days After the successful lobbying trip earlier this year by transgender activists and allies, the first ever National Gender Lobbying Days will soon be a reality. On Monday & Tuesday October 2-3, hit the Hill to lobby for inclusion of transgendered people in critical issues such as child custody rights, national health care, etc. According to In Your Face, these Lobby Days are open to anyone "concerned about the regimes of gender-based oppression....or just plain pissed off about discrimination against the transgressively gendered". ACTION: Get involved in this historic event and make a difference. For more information contact Riki Anne Wilchins 212.645.1753, e-mail RIKI@PIPELINE.COM; Karen Kerrin 802.223.4756; or Phyllis Frye 713.723.8368 ************************************************* County Coroner Defies Logic The Spokane County Coroner in Washington State, Dr. Dexter Amend, blamed the sexual abuse and murder of a nine-year-old girl on homosexuals because an autopsy showed the victim had been beaten to death and repeatedly sexually assaulted and sodomized. The girl's uncle has confessed to the killing and court records show that her father, uncle and her mother's boyfriend are all suspected of molesting her over the years. Although there is no evidence whatsoever that Rachel Carver was ever abused by a homosexual, Dr. Amend remained fervent in his portrayal of homosexuals as directly responsible for her death, by spewing to the local media, "She's been sodomized over and over and sodomy is a homosexual act, it is...It's a horrible, unbelievable thing that this child went through and they (homosexuals) destroyed her life." ACTION: Contact Dr. Amend and let him know what you think of his logic. Spokane County Coroner's Office, West 1201 Broadway, Spokane, Wash., 99206, (509)456-2296. Ask the County Commissioners, George Marlton, Steve Hasson and Phil Harris to demand Dr. Amend's resignation. County Commission, 1116 W. Broadway, County Courthouse, First Floor, Spokane, Wash., 99260-0100, (509)456-2265 phone, (509)456-2274 fax. Send a carbon copy of letters and faxes Craig Peterson, openly gay HRC vice chair, Spokane Human Rights Commission, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, Wash., 99201-3322, (509)625-6263 phone, fax (509)625-6217. ************************************************* The Empire Strikes Back The University of Alaska, in order to comply with a court order, has instituted a new policy providing benefits to domestic partners. The action comes as a result of suit filed January, 1994 by two University of Alaska employees. The Juneau Empire, the only newspaper in the state capitol, has published a blistering editorial saying that "Benefits for domestic partners threatens not only traditional family values but also the pocketbooks of every Alaskan..." The editorial is filled with the standard misinformation and anti-family defenses of domestic partner benefits, including that covering domestic partners is expensive, destroys the family, and is bad public policy. ACTION: Write the Editor of Juneau Empire; 3100 Channel Drive; Juneau, Alaska 99801; fax (907) 586-9097 and demand they clarify the record on domestic partnership. The experience of municipalities who have instituted domestic partnership, including Berkeley, CA and Madison, WI, among others, has proven that the cost is extremely minimal. Further explain that providing these benefits DOES NOT undermine traditional family values - instead, it supports healthy, long-term financially and emotionally committed relationships. It promotes TRUE family values by allowing family members to take care of one another. Demand they print the facts. Demand they print the truth. ************************************************* GLOBEwide Security The Federal Gay, Lesbian, and Bi Employee group GLOBE has produced "Security Clearances In The Wake of the New Executive Order", that can help lesbian, bi, and gay folks through the process of applying for a security clearance. Applying for a security clearance is not limited to government employees; for lesbian, bi, and gay employees of many federal contractors, a security clearance is required in order to get high-level jobs. ACTION: To order your copy of "Security Clearances", contact GLOBE: POB 45237; Washington, DC 20026-5237; 202.986.1101. ************************************************* Federal Workers Unite...And Give! NGLTF has been approved as a recipient of funds through the Combined Federal Campaign! Any US federal government employee anywhere in the nation can designate NGLTF to receive funds during the September through December enrollment period. Make a note of our ID number and help us publicize it in your community. Designating NGLTF as your recipient is an excellent way for you to support the ongoing work of the Task Force. Our CFC number is 2622.