From: NGLTF@aol.com Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 09:30:29 -0400 Subject: D'Emilio Statement on DOMA ************************************ PRESS RELEASE National Gay and Lesbian Task Force 2320 17th St. NW; Washington, DC 20009 Contact: Tracey Conaty (202) 332-6483 ext. 3303 tconaty@ngltf.org or Kerry Lobel (202) 332-6483 ext. 3307or klobel@ngltf.org ************************************ Statement of Dr. John D'Emilio on the "Defense of Marriage" Act Dr. D'Emilio is the Director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute Bashing gays, lesbians, and their families has become a key method through which the religious right-wing builds its strength. Concerned Women of America launched a major fundraising campaign in response to the National Education Association's endorsement of gay, lesbian, and bisexual History Month. Lou Sheldon of the Tradition Values Coalition won a commitment from House Speaker Newt Gingrich that resulted in Congressional hearings on parenting, values and the schools, and then milked those hearings for publicity. The Defense of Marriage Act, which Sheldon helped draft, is no different. So while having everything to do with strengthening the base and building the coffers of these extremist groups, the Defense of Marriage Act does nothing to strengthen the institution of marriage. Instead it attacks the integrity of lesbian and gay families. Throughout the United States, millions of lesbians and gay men have formed loving, committed relationships. They are caring for each other in good times and bad, contributing to the welfare of their communities, and paying taxes to support government services at every level. Yet they are systematically denied the benefits and rights of marriage. Lesbians and gay men can be turned away at the hospital when a partner has had an accident or illness, lack access to "family" health coverage and other forms of insurance, are denied the benefits of inheritance and taxation that surviving heterosexual spouses automatically enjoy, have no rights to a range of government benefits, and cannot make use of immigration law provisions to secure entry for partners who are citizens of other countries. Large numbers of lesbians and gay men are also raising children. Estimates of the number of lesbian mothers range from about 1 to 5 million; of gay fathers, from 1 to 3 million; and of children of lesbian and gay parents, from 6 to 14 million. Data gathered from exit polling after the 1992 presidential election found that while one-third of heterosexual voters had children under 18 living with them, one-quarter of lesbian, gay, or bisexual voters did as well. In other words, a population not thought to be at all involved with parenting, is only 25% less likely to be raising children than heterosexual adults. The "Defense of Marriage" proponents claim to have the best interests of children and their families in mind. Yet, their legislative solution will penalize and stigmatize the millions of children with lesbian and gay parents. The anti-family tentacles of the Right-wing extremists do not stop at gay families. They reach in and seek to undermine other "non-traditional" families as well. The Right uses a rhetoric of traditional family values to condemn the immorality of single mothers and to campaign for "welfare reform" that is punitive. It attacks government programs such as publicly funded day care for working mothers who need it. The Right supports a "parental rights" movement that would undo gains made to prevent battering of women and child abuse. NGLTF urges all members of congress to turn back this mean spirited, misleading, and deceptive effort. The Halls of Congress should not be used as an election forum to scapegoat gays and lesbians and divide the American people. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is a progressive organization that has supported grassroots organizing and pioneered in national advocacy since 1973. Since its inception, NGLTF has been at the forefront of virtually every major initiative for lesbian and gay rights. In all its efforts, NGLTF helps to strengthen the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement at the state level while connecting these activities to a national vision for change. ###