From: MMOW2000@aol.com Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 16:05:55 EDT Subject: Gay Vote Is Swing Vote, Say MMOW Organizers Millennium March on Washington for Equality April 30, 2000 . Washington, DC Mobilizing, Organizing GLBT Voters Will Be Lasting Impact of Millennium March on Washington, Say Organizers "GLBT Vote 2000" To Focus on Voting Pledge Washington, DC -- The mobilization of the GLBT community to the polls in November of 2000 has emerged as a driving force behind the Millennium March on Washington for Equality, according to organizers from the more than 150 GLBT organizations sponsoring the March. "The GLBT community has emerged as an important swing vote in the upcoming Presidential election," said Nicole Murray-Ramirez, longtime GLBT activist and one of four Co-Chairs for the March on Washington. "Two nationally recognized exit polls show that self-identified gays and lesbians comprise between 5% and 6% of voters in national elections. When you factor in the bisexual and transgendered communities along with our families, friends and allies, the GLBT community has emerged as one of the largest minority voting blocks in the country," added Murray-Ramirez. During recent Millennium March Board Meetings in New Orleans, March organizers unveiled the new GLBT Vote 2000 logo and pledge cards, which will be distributed across the country at gay and lesbian centers, clubs, bars, gay-friendly churches and college campuses. MMOW organizers will be teaming up with local and state voter registration organizations, as well as MTV's "Rock The Vote" campaign, according to Dianne Hardy-Garcia, member of the MMOW Board of Directors. "GLBT Vote 2000 will focus on encouraging people to take a pledge to vote in the presidential and congressional elections in November 2000," she added. Demonstrating how national events can benefit local and state GLBT organizations, Hardy-Garcia noted, "The names from the voter pledge cards will be shared with non-profit statewide GLBT organizations to strengthen membership and participation in local and state GLBT groups. I have long been convinced that national marches benefit local GLBT groups, and this is another demonstration of how this can and should happen." "This March on Washington is unique in that it is the first GLBT March scheduled to take place seven months before the next presidential and congressional elections," said Malcolm Lazin, Interim Executive Director for the March. "The Millennium March on Washington will serve as a focal point to register our community and to turn out the GLBT vote at the polls in November." "We are asking the GLBT community to make two important commitments," added Lazin. "The first is to come to Washington, DC on April 30, 2000, to demonstrate for our civil rights. The second is to make a commitment to use the power of the ballot box on November 7, 2000, to further our call for social justice and equality under the law." "Based on the overwhelming response we are receiving at March headquarters, I can already predict that there will be two long-range outcomes of MMOW," said Lazin. The first is that hundreds of thousands of MMOW participants will return home to become active in local and state GLBT organizations. And the second is that for the first time, the GLBT community will not only demonstrate our power at the ballot box, but will also be recognized as a key swing vote in the next elections." GLBT Vote 2000 information and materials will be distributed by MMOW volunteers and organizers across the U.S. For more information on the Millennium March on Washington for Equality, visit the official website at www.mmow.org or contact MMOW2000@aol.com. (END) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT: Malcolm Lazin, MMOW Executive Director Tel: 215-732-FEST Fax: 215-732-7376 E-Mail: PF98@aol.com Nicole Murray-Ramirez, MMOW Co-Chair Tel: 619-692-1967 Fax: 619-299-3430 E-Mail: nicole@bestmail.net Dianne Hardy-Garcia, MMOW Board Member Tel: 512-474-5475 Fax: 512-474-4511 E-Mail: LGRLTexas@aol.com P R E S S B A C K G R O U N D E R GLBT Vote 2000 A National Project of the Millennium March on Washington for Equality WHAT: GLBT Vote 2000 is a national campaign sponsored by the organizers of the Millennium March on Washington to move beyond traditional voter registration. The focus of GLBT Vote 2000 will be to encourage gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered persons and our families, friends and allies to make a pledge to vote in the November 2000 elections for President and Congress. WHY? Two national studies show that 5-6% of voters in national elections publicly identify as gay or lesbian. When bisexuals, transgendered persons, still closeted individuals, and our supportive friends and families are factored in, the GLBT vote has emerged as a key swing vote in the next national elections. WHEN? While the campaign will continue through the November elections, a state-by-state tally will be provided on April 30, 2000, at the Millennium March on Washington for Equality in Washington, DC. HOW? State and local organizers will distribute posters and pledge cards at community centers, colleges, churches, clubs, and bars. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? For additional information, or to schedule media interviews with GLBT Vote 2000 organizers, contact Nicole Murray-Ramirez, MMOW Co-Chair; Dianne Hardy-Garcia, MMOW Board Member; or Malcolm Lazin, MMOW Interim Executive Director. Contact information is listed above. To be removed from this news list, simply hit "Reply" and type "Unsubscribe."