From: NGLTF@aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Oct 1995 12:12:02 -0400 Subject: NGLTF October 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 ************************************************* UNDO 2: A DAY OF ACTION MONDAY, OCTOBER 9 On October 10th, the US Supreme Court will hear the Colorado Amendment 2 case, Romer v. Evans. The ruling, expected in the spring, will have significant implications not only for Coloradans, but for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people throughout the country. In 1992, Coloradans for Family Values successfully introduced and passed Amendment 2, which overturns existing protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and prohibits such protections in the future. Fortunately, Amendment 2 was challenged in the Colorado courts and ruled unconstitutional. Romer v Evans is an appeal to the Colorado court's decision. Responding to the call for action from a statewide coalition of Colorado groups--including Equality Colorado and Ground Zero--NGLTF and activists across the country have organized UNDO 2 - A DAY OF ACTION. In at least 27 locations throughout the country, activists will come together to undo 2. From a singout and candlelight vigil in Tucson Arizona Supreme Court to a demo in front of the federal building in downtown Las Vegas, this day of action will let the Supreme Court and the nation know that the gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender community nationwide is unified and organized and will be vigilant in ensuring that Amendment 2 and all similar measures are ultimately defeated. This day of action will also serve as the foundation for a unified national response on the day the decision is handed down. Action: Attend the UNDO 2 event in your area. On the following page you will find a list of participants that were confirmed as the Activist Alert went to press. Call the NGLTF Undo 2 Hotline (202) 332-6483 ext 3310 (or contact us at ngltf@ngltf.org) if: >> you don't see your community listed--many other communities are in the process of organizing an action for November 9. >> you want to organize an October 9th action in your community order the UNDO 2 Action Kit and educate your community about one of the most important Supreme Court cases in our movement's history Action Kits are $2 >> you are interested in becoming part of our UNDO 2 Action Network organize your community to respond on the day the decision is handed down. Alaska Laura Burleson (907) 479-7348 Arizona Phoenix Dianne Post (602) 258-7985 Tucson Tucson Lesbian & Gay Alliance Kenny Jacobs (520) 751-4652 California San Diego Russel David Roybal rdr@asmail-sdsu.edu San Francisco GLAAD-SFBA (415) 861-2244 Colorado Equality Colorado (303) 839-5540 Colorado Springs Ground Zero (719) 635-6086 Florida Tampa Bay Human Rights Task Force Nadine Smith (813) 443-6016 hrtffl@aol.com Georgia Atlanta Antonia (404) 584-9224 Idaho Coeur d'Alene People Like Us (208) 667-4523 garyb@ieway.com Illinois Chicago Illinois Federation for Human Rights (312) 477-7173 Kentucky Louisville Fairness Campaign (502) 893-0788 Louisiana Louisiana Electorate of Gays & Lesbians (504) 525-7117 Massachusetts Cambridge Brad Hoylman (617) 576-9188 Michigan Detroit Triangle Foundation (313) 537-3323 Missouri Kansas City Human Rights Project (816) 753-1672 St. Louis Privacy Rights Education Project (314) 862-4900 New York New York City Project Reach (212) 966-4227 North Carolina NC Pride Pac (919) 829-0343 Ohio Cincinnati Stonewall Cincinnati (513) 541-8778 Oregon Portland Leslie Griep (503) 280-0733 Eugene Citizens Against Discrimination PFLAG Eugene-Springfield Alan Brown (503) 688-1601 alanb@efn.org Pennsylvania Philadelphia Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force (215) 772-2000 Rhode Island Young Queers in RI RI Alliance for Lesbian & Gay Civil Rights (401) 521-GAYS Texas Austin Lesbian & Gay Rights Lobby of Texas (512) 474-5475 Dallas Dallas Gay & Lesbian Alliance (214) 528-4233 (ask for Michael Osborne) Virginia Richmond Virginians for Justice (804) 643-4816 Washington D.C. Jarmila Dokladalova (202) 667-0693 For information about actions in Las Vegas, NV; and San Antonio, TX call the Undo 2 Action Hotline. ********************** No "No-Promo-Homo" Hearings Because of phone calls and letters from grassroots activists (September Activist Alert), the House Economic and Employment Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations tentatively postponed its hearing on public school programs that deal with issues of sexual orientation. Originally scheduled for September 12, the hearing will now occur on October 13. Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) is behind these hearings and has characterized school programs that deal with issues of sexual orientation as "resulting in recruitment" in the public schools. Though he will not be testifying, Sheldon clearly sees this hearing as a pulpit to promote his efforts to further subject lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth to anti-gay ignorance, hostility, and violence in their own schools. A recent TVC fundraisng letter asked donors to help TVC hire a public relations firm to assist with the media before, during, and after the hearing. According to Lou Sheldon, "[w]e need $25,000 in addition to our regular costs to effectively saturate the hundreds of media outlets around America." While this Subcommittee cannot draft and pass legislation, this hearing could set the tone for others who want to introduce or amend legislation promoting anti-gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender propaganda. ACTION: Call Subcommittee Chair, Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI), 202-225-4401 and Ranking Democrat, Rep. Thomas Sawyer (D-OH), 202-225-5231 and ask that this hearing be cancelled, since it will only further the agenda of Lou Sheldon and other right wing extremists, who seek to promote intolerance and hatred against our communities. If your Representative is on the Subcommittee (see list below) contact their local office and their D.C. office and tell them you are a constituent. Even if your Representative is not on the Subcommittee, contact their local office and express your concern about the impact of such a hearing. Ask them to contact Chairman Hoekstra (if they are Republican) or Rep. Sawyer (if they are a Democrat). IT IS IMPORTANT TO CALL EVEN IF YOU DID SO PREVIOUSLY - THE EARLIER CALLS & LETTERS CLEARLY HAD AN IMPACT SO PLEASE ACT RIGHT AWAY. Other Subcommittee Members: Bill Barrett (R-NE) 202-225-6435 Cass Ballenger (R-NC) 202-225-2576 Randy Cunningham (R-CA) 202-225-5452 Howard McKeon (R-FL) 202-225-1956 Michael Castle (R-DE) 202-225-4165 Dave Weldon (R-FL) 202-225-3671 William Goodling (R-PA) 202-225-5836 Harris Fawell (R-IL) 202-225-3515 Matthew Martinez (D-CA) 202-225-5464 Jack Reed (D-RI) 202-225-2735 Tim Roemer (D-IN) 202-225-3915 Robert C.Scott (D-VA) 202-225-8351 Gene Green (D-TX) 202-225-1688 ********************** Don't Let Maine Discriminate On November 7th, Maine voters will decide the outcome of a statewide anti-gay referendum that could impact the entire country. The confusing and misleading referendum is the first of its kind east of Colorado. It was designed by a Virginia attorney and is intended to withstand court challenges like those currently being faced by Colorado's Amendment 2. The proponents of the referendum openly admit that this is a test. If passed, they intend to take it to states throughout the country. Maine Won't Discriminate, a broad-based coalition formed to defeat the initiative, is in full swing to stop the extremist agenda of the radical right and educate the public about voting "No on 1." However, they need your help to succeed. ACTION: Call or e-mail the campaign today. Find out how you can help. Contact Maine Won't Discriminate at 207.761.1788 or Mary Dorazio at ninjalb@aol.com. ********************** NEA and History Month under Attack This year's celebration of October as Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual History Month (LGBHM) has caught the attention of the right wing extremist group Concerned Women for America. CWA has flooded the National Education Association with over 20,000 letters and phone calls in the past 2 weeks protesting its endorsement statement which calls upon teachers and school districts to develop programs for "identifying and eliminating sexual orientation stereotyping." Some school districts and local NEA chapters are beginning to feel heat from callers misinformed about the issue. Action: Call/write the NEA and tell them you commend the resolution passed via democratic process by its membership. Let them know you are a citizen concerned about equity in education and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people: Keith Geiger, President; National Education Association; 1201 16th St. NW; Washington, DC 20036-3290; 202.833.4000; fax 202.822.7974 Contact the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network for more information and a curriculum packet: GLSTN; 122 W 26th St, Suite 1100; New York, NY 10001; 212.727.0135; GLSTN@glstn.org ********************** Creating Change Deadline Approaches The second early registration deadline for NGLTF's eighth annual activist skills building conference is nearing. This year's conference will be in Detroit, Michigan from November 10 through 12 with pre-conference institutes on November 8 and 9. Creating Change is an exceptional opportunity to meet and share ideas with local and national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community leaders from around the country and attend a myriad of workshops on issues ranging from workplace organizing to fundraising to sex to affirmative action. The conference will include full-day intensives, including a youth institute and an organizational development seminar. ACTION: The next lower-fee registration deadline is October 20. For registration and further information on the Creating Change Conference call (202) 332-6483 ext. 3329.