Subject: Anti-Gay Initiatives Update

JOINT PRESS RELEASE


National Gay and Lesbian Task Force,
contact: David M. Smith (202) 332-6483 ext. 3309, 
pager (800) 757-7736

Human Rights Campaign Fund
contact: Doug Hattaway (202) 628-4160

Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum
contact: Mandy Carter (202) 628-4160

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
contact: Suzanne Goldberg (212) 995-8585

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RADICAL RIGHT FAILS TO QUALIFY IN 8 OUT OF 10 STATES

OREGON AND IDAHO FACE INITIATIVES THAT LEGALIZE 
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GAY PEOPLE


  Washington, D.C. (July 12, 1994) -- Radical Right wing groups in eight
 states failed to qualify ballot measures that would have legalized
discrimination against gay people, said representatives of four national gay
and lesbian groups at a briefing in Washington, D.C. Initiatives in two
states, Oregon and Idaho, qualified for the ballot. While the Oregon measure
has been struck from the ballot by a state judge, that ruling is being
appealed. 

 "We are relieved, but not relaxed," said Sue Hyde, Fight the Right Project
Coordinator for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF). "The failure
of the Radical Right to qualify in eight states is positive, but it should
not send the 'all clear' signal."

 Radical Right groups in Arizona, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, and
Washington failed to gather the required signatures by deadlines that ranged
from January 31st to July 11th. The initiative in Florida was ruled invalid
by that state's Supreme Court in March, 1994. An announced initiative effort
in Ohio never materialized, but the group announced plans for a project
attacking politicians who have been supportive of equal rights for gay
people. 

 "Our job now is to support local communities as they come together to
counter the discriminatory agenda of national Radical Right wing
organizations," said Tim McFeeley, Executive Director of the Human Rights
Campaign Fund. "We will work in close cooperation with local communities in
Oregon, Idaho, and wherever Radical Right groups try to institutionalize
discrimination. We must reach people with information about the problem of
anti-gay discrimination and pass a federal bill to protect people from losing
their jobs to discrimination."

 Mandy Carter of the National Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum said
"National radical groups have divided communities by trying to
institutionalize discrimination. Their cynical strategy is best challenged by
the truth.  People of color communities are an important part of the effort
to expose the discriminatory agenda of the Radical Right."

 Nicole LeFavour, an official with the Idaho Campaign for Human Dignity, the
group that will be opposing that state's discriminatory measure noted that
the Idaho initiative barely qualified. "The Idaho anti-gay group fell far
short of its goal of 100,000 signatures and squeaked past with only a few
thousand to spare," said LeFavour. "Unfortunately, this gives the national
Radical Right wing organizations an opportunity to take their disinformation
campaign all over our state. Local communities in Idaho must come together to
stop the Radical Right groups from institutionalizing censorship and
discrimination in Idaho.

 Oregon's ballot measure was struck down as unconstitutional by Marion County
(Or.) Circuit court in April 1994. Judge Rodney Miller ruled that an
initiative limiting the rights of gay people cannot appear on the November
ballot because it violates the state constitution, which requires that an
initiative deal with a single issue. The decision is currently on appeal to a
higher court.

 "The courts continue to tell us that citizens cannot vote lesbians and gay
men out of constitutions, " said Suzanne Goldberg, a staff attorney for
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. "Still, the Radical Right continues
to promote these unconstitutional assaults, and we will continue to battle
against them in court." 

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