From: Hrccomm@aol.com Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 17:59:32 -0400 Subject: HRC Slams House Leadership Over Hearing on Anti-Gay Marriage Legislation ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, May 13, 1996 HRC SLAMS HOUSE LEADERSHIP OVER HEARING ON ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE LEGISLATION Terms Hearing Gratuitous Election-Year Gay-Bashing Go To HRC's Website For More Information At http://www.hrcusa.org WASHINGTON -- The Human Rights Campaign criticized the House leadership today for putting the first federal anti-gay marriage bill on a fast track, scheduling a public hearing on the legislation a mere week after its introduction. "The eagerness of the House leadership to push this bill just proves this is a calculated election-year strategy to force this issue onto the national agenda," said Elizabeth Birch, HRC's executive director. "This is a political trap set by the Republican Party to snare President Clinton and any other fair-minded Democrat." A hearing on the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15, at 1:30 p.m. before the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution. The bill was introduced May 7 by Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga. A companion measure was introduced in the Senate the following day, sponsored by Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas, the presumptive GOP nominee for president. These bills come on the heels of an orchestrated campaign by religious political extremists to introduce anti-gay marriage bills in every state legislature. To date, anti-gay marriage bills have come up in at least 34 state legislatures and laws have been passed in eight states. "All these bills are being positioned as pre-emptive strikes against the possibility that the state of Hawaii may soon legalize same-sex marriage," said Daniel Zingale, HRC political director. "However, Hawaii is unlikely to approve same-sex marriage for at least two years, so these states -- and now the federal government -- are legislating against a non-existent institution." Last week, HRC released a report, "Wedded to Intolerance," which exposes the false and defamatory rhetoric being used by religious political organizations as they spread anti-marriage bills from statehouse to statehouse, and attempt to inject this issue into the presidential campaign. The eight states that have passed laws that would ban marriage between people of the same sex are: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah. Anti-gay marriage legislation remains pending in nine states, and measures were defeated, withdrawn or killed in 17 states. The Human Rights Campaign, is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support, and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community. - 30 -