From: Heather Wright Subject: PFLAG News Release: PFLAG President Discusses Bias Crimes After W Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 14:30:53 -0400 For Immediate Release September 28, 1999 Contact: Eric Ferrero 202-638-4200 x212 PFLAG National Leader Discusses Bias-Motivated Crime With Select Group After White House Religious Breakfast After attending the prestigious White House Religious Leaders Breakfast this morning, the president of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) discussed hate crimes with a small group of faith leaders and White House staff. Rev. Paul Beeman, National PFLAG President and retired United Methodist Minister, attended the breakfast with fewer than 130 other prominent national religious figures who gathered to talk about faith in American life. Following the breakfast - which included speech and prayer from President Clinton - Beeman and a "small handful" of leaders whose constituencies are targets of harassment and violence stayed for a discussion with the White House. "This meeting was truly historic," said Beeman who is married with four children, including a gay son and a lesbian daughter. "Too often, we are seeing these issues debated in a context of religious people versus gay-supportive people. Many g/l/b/t people and their families are people of faith - and we are appalled by hate crimes of any sort, including those based on religion." Clinton told the group that faith communities can play "a major role" in preventing violence, and he again called on the House to approve Senate-passed legislation expanding the government's power to pursue perpetrators of hate crimes. Next week, PFLAG will release "Hate Crimes Hurt Families," an unprecedented issue paper on the devastating effects such crimes often have on g/l/b/t people and their families. Beeman said the White House faith gathering was an ideal venue to begin "critical dialogue" about the nation's role in preventing bias-motivated crimes. "I have met parents who regularly travel hundreds of miles for Parole Board hearings for their children's murderers. I have comforted families whose children committed suicide after being attacked in hate crimes. I have seen families whose homes were vandalized and whose lives were threatened - simply because they love their gay children unconditionally," Beeman said. "This morning's meeting was a key beginning to greater dialogue. Our nation has serious issues to address, and we're all going to have to work together to affect lasting change." # # # Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families & friends through support, education, and advocacy. Serving nearly 77,000 members & supporters, PFLAG affiliates are located in 430 communities in the U.S. 1101 14th St. NW, Suite 1030, Washington, DC 20005 . phone: 202-638-4200 fax: 202-638-0243 Email info@pflag.org Web http://www.pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe from PFLAG's Email Alert, send an email, subject line "unsubscribe" to info@pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~