Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 12:03:07 -0500 From: Virginians For Justice Subject: Action Alert-C.A.N. Bill January 29, 1996 Virginians for Justice ****** Action Alert Phone Calls Needed on C.A.N. Reform Bill For the third consecutive year, Delegate Karen Darner (D-Arlington) has submitted legislation that will override a portion of Virginia's archaic Crimes Against Nature law (CAN). Subsection A of the CAN law is Virginia's version of a "sodomy" law that prohibits all oral and anal sex. Despite the fact that this insidious law applies to all Virginians, regardless of sexual orientation, it is used almost exclusively against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Virginians. The CAN law is used to intimidate gay businesses and individuals and to rationalize homophobic court decisions such as the Sharon Bottoms child custody case. Last year, Delegate Darner was the bill's only sponsor, but six other legislators have stepped forward this year as co-patrons of House Bill 1468: House of Delegates NAME Party/City District Moran Brian J. D-Alexandria 46 Almand James F. D-Arlington 47 Darner L. Karen D-Arlington 49 Melvin Kenneth R. D-Portsmouth 80 Jones Jerrauld C. D-Norfolk 89 Senate NAME Party/City District Lucas L. Louise D-Portsmouth 18 Ticer Patricia S. D-Alexandria 30 **REQUESTED ACTION** Contact your DELEGATE and SENATOR immediately to ask for their support of HB1468. Although all legislators should be contacted by their constituents, it is especially important to concentrate on the House of Delegates Courts of Justice Committee listed below. Please spread the word to other Virginians! You may call your Delegate directly in Richmond, or call 1-800-889-0229 to register your support of HB1468. If you do not know who your Delegate is, the operators at the 1-800 number can tell you or call your local voter registrar or Virginians for Justice (804-643-4816). The operators are tallying the number of calls in support or opposition to each bill, and relaying a summary to all legislators. For this reason, it is imperative that we generate a large number of calls. House of Delegates Courts of Justice Committee: :NAME Party/City Richmond # District Johnson, Jr Joseph P D-Abingdon 804-786-6685 4 Baker, Jr. Thomas G R-Dublin 804-786-6605 7 Reynolds W. Roscoe D-Martinsville 804-786-7205 10 Armstrong Ward L D-Martinsville 804-786-6817 11 Cranwell C. Richard D-Vinton 804-786-6891 14 Deeds R. Creigh D-Millboro 804-786-6606 18 Howell William J. R-Falmouth 804-786-6997 28 Davies III John J. D-Culpeper 804-786-7102 30 Mims William C. R-Sterling 804-786-7207 32 Watts Vivian E. D-Annandale 804-786-6707 39 *Moran Brian J. D-Alexandria 804-786-7253 46 *Almand James F. D-Arlington 804-786-6893 47 Brickley David G. D-Woodbridge 804-786-6994 51 Bennett, Jr. W. W. D-Halifax 804-786-6805 60 McClure Roger J. R-Centreville 804-786-6996 67 Cantor Eric I. R-Glen Allen 804-786-6503 73 McEachin A. Donald D-Richmond 804-786-6906 74 Forbes J. Randy R-Chesapeake 804-786-7252 78 Moore, Jr. William S. D-Portsmouth 804-786-6889 79 *Melvin Kenneth R. D-Portsmouth 804-786-6888 80 McDonnell Robert F. R-VA Beach 804-786-7105 84 *Jones Jerrauld C. D-Norfolk 804-786-7188 89 *HB1468 cosponsor James Almand is the committee's chair ** Special Action for Roanoke Area Residents ** As with our hate crimes bill, Delegate Richard Cranwell, the House Majority Leader, is seen as a crucial vote. He chairs the subcommittee that is likely to hear testimony on this bill prior to the full Courts of Justice committee, so if you know anyone who may live in his district (Craig County and portions of Roanoke, Botetourt and Bedford Counties), please make a special effort to spread the word to them. -------------------- Virginians for Justice advances equal justice for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and those affected by the HIV epidemic, through the state's legislative, administrative and judicial systems.