From: EricBauman@aol.com Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1996 16:14:49 -0400 Subject: Clinton Supports ENDA, Dole Opposes Special Rights Network of Lesbian and Gay Democratic Clubs and Organizations For Immediate Release October 17, 1996 Contact: Eric Bauman (800) 225-4157 or (818) 780-4590 fax (818) 786-6981 email: EricBauman@AOL.com PRESIDENT CLINTON TELLS THE NATION HE SUPPORTS ENDA DOLE SAYS HE OPPOSES SPECIAL RIGHTS San Diego, CA - Last night it was put up or shut up time. The most dreaded moment of the 1996 presidential campaign for the two candidates, to have to deal with the the "gay issue" in front of 70 million Americans. A travel agent from San Diego asked President Clinton and Senator Dole to explain their policies on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a federal bill which would prohibit discrimination against lesbians and gay men in the workplace. President Clinton paused for just a moment and said, "I'm for it. That's my policy. I'm for it." With nine simple words President Clinton told ALL of America that he supports equal rights for lesbians and gay men. He didn't duck, he didn't swerve, he simply said "I'm for it." Senator Dole, on the other hand, said, "I'm opposed to discrimination in any form, but I don't favor creating special rights for any group." Network Co-Chair Eric Bauman said "This simple exchange between the two candidates clearly defines and illuminates the choice we face on November 5th: a president who opposes discrimination against lesbians and gays, and who in front of the entire nation is willing to endorse federal civil rights laws to protect us, or a president who calls ENDA the creation of special rights. Any lesbian or gay man who still has doubts about who to vote for or which candidate supports our community just isn't listening. This wasn't a speech at a gay community fundraiser, this was a statement seen and heard by over 70 million Americans" In a further response to the question, the President said, "I believe that any law-abiding tax-paying citizen who shows up in the morning and doesn't break the law and doesn't interfere with his or her neighbors ought to have the ability to work in our country and shouldn't be subject to unfair discrimination. I'm for it (ENDA)." Dole continued his response with "But as far as special rights, I'm opposed to same-sex marriages, which the president signed well after midnight one morning, in the dark of night -- he opposed it." President Clinton ignored the reference to DOMA, an opportunity to tout his signature as proof of his more conservative credentials. Clinton refused to take the bait and kept his response focused on the issue of ending discrimination. The final question of the night was from an MCC minister. She provided the President with an opportunity to speak out further on the issue on anti-gay discrimination and so-called "special rights." She asked President Clinton, "Perhaps you can help me with something tonight. I've heard Mr. Dole say several times, ‘All of us together.' And when he was asked if he would support equal rights in employment for gay and lesbian people, you said that you favored that, and he said that he did not believe in special rights. And I thought the question was equal rights for all people, and I don't understand why people are using the term ‘special rights' when the question is equal rights. Could you help me in understanding that? The President responded, "Now I think I have to let Senator Dole speak for himself....Let me tell you what I feel. We have a lot of differences in our country, and some of us believe that other people's decisions are wrong, even immoral. But under our Constitution, if you show up tomorrow and obey the law, and you work hard, and you do what you are supposed to do, you're entitled to equal treatment. That's the way the system works." "All over the world, people are being torn apart ....because of all their differences. We still have some of that hatred inside us, you see it in the church burnings. And one of the things I've tried hardest to do is to tell the American people that we have to get beyond that, we have to understand that we're stronger when we unite around shared values instead of being divided by our differences." The President ended his response by saying, "Let me say again, there is no more important responsibility for the president than to say if you believe in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence, that's all we need to know. And you can be part of our America, and you can walk across that bridge to the 21st century with us." Bauman summed up his response to the debate by saying, "The last four years have been filled with ups-and-downs for the gay community. We've gone from the highs of ‘92 presidential campaign to the lows of the passage and signing of DOMA. Last night President Clinton gave us a new high, risking a backlash against him from conservatives, he not only endorsed ENDA and spoke out plainly against anti-gay discrimination, he ended his response by inviting lesbian and gay Americans to walk across the bridge to the 21st century with him. Does anyone still doubt that Bill Clinton is the best friend our community has ever had in the White House?" The Network of Lesbian and Gay Democratic Clubs is an organization representing the interests of grassroots lesbian and gay Democratic activists and organizations around the country. Eric Bauman is the co-chair of the Network and the president of Stonewall Democratic Club in Los Angeles. -end-