Date: Thu, 02 Jun 94 15:59:48 EDT From: PFLAGNTL@aol.com PFLAG: Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays Celebrating Real Family Values Contact: George Neighbors, Jr. 202-638-4200 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE COALITION OFFERS STRATEGY & PREVIEW FOR FIGHTING THE RIGHT Washington, D.C. - June 2, 1994 - Community activists fending off assaults by the Radical Right on their schools, libraries, and personal lives can now draw on the experiences of dozens of groups that have already been there. A coalition of more than 60 national and local organizations has produced an organizing guide titled How to Win: A Practical Guide to Defeating the Radical Right in Your Community. The manual includes articles on a wide range of topics, from organizing broad-based coalitions and monitoring school board activity, to using polling data and delivering an effective speech. "As people who believe in traditional American family values, we realize that only together, will we effectively combat the Radical Right and its broad based agenda," said Sandra Gillis, Executive Director of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), a national family support, education and advocacy organization. "As a mother bird defends her young when attacked, we, too, are now becoming vocal about the attacks on our families and loved ones." Valerie Eastwood, PFLAG advocacy coordinator for northern Virginia, said that the manual most importantly "provides me with the nuts and bolts of media skills. It has also made me aware of other groups who are facing the same types of problems. It will remain a close companion to combat the Radical Right in northern Virginia." The task force that produced the manual began meeting in the summer of 1993. It includes organizations concerned with a number of issues, such as abortion, gay and lesbian rights, religious liberty and environmental protection, that came together because of a growing awareness that the same groups were behind attacks in many areas. The task force is charging a $25 fee for the 150 page manual that will cover printing and mailing, and will include the information on disk. People are also being encouraged to duplicate and distribute the information as widely as possible. - 30 - PFLAG: PARENTS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS 1012 14th St, NW Ste 700 Washington, DC 20005 (202)-638-4200 Fax: (202)-638-0243 E-mail: PFLAGNTL@AOL.COM *************************************************************** INFORMATIONAL BACKGROUND ON HOW TO WIN How to Win: A Practical Guide to Defeating the Radical Right in Your Community has been assembled by a network of people who first came together in the summer of 1993. It is intended as a tool for those who want to fight back against attacks being waged by the Radical Right on schools, libraries, art museums and personal lives across the country. Drawing on the experiences of dozens of grassroots organizations, it offers tips on organizing, reaching out to allies, talking to the media and to the public. Just as important as the manual itself, however, is the breadth and scope of the task force members' concerns. People have begun to realize that regardless of the issue, the purpose behind these attacks is the same. It is an attempt by a small group of people to divide our nation by religion, by gender, by sexual orientation. It pits neighbor against neighbor, and parent against parent. It stands in opposition to some of the most treasured American principles: equality, respect for diversity, and religious liberty. A quick glance at the names of people who have worked so hard to produce this guide shows people whose involvement stems from many different issues. There are men and women concerned about protecting a woman's right to choose, about religious liberty and protection from censorship. There are members of the two major political parties, and of any number of religious denominations. There are people fighting censorship in the arts and libraries. There are others working on behalf of their schools, and still others battling to make sure that the right to housing and work is not taken away from people because of their sexual orientation. The threat posed by the Radical Right extends beyond these specific issues to the heart of domestic reform efforts. This extremist movement is now actively working against the idea of universal health care, and has hampered efforts at healing the problems behind teen pregnancy and the spread of AIDS. While the country has indicated its desire to move forward, the Radical Right is intent on moving us back. There is good news, however. This task force is just one example of people coming together to make their positive message heard above the negative words coming from the far right. It is a message that talks about working together to solve common problems, of using our diversity as a source of strength. The organizing information in this guide can be used to promote programs and goals just as much as it can be used to organize against far right attacks. In that sense, this manual is as much an affirmation of our commitment to bettering our communities as it is an indication of our concern of our concern about the Radical Right.