From: TomSwann@aol.com Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 13:43:32 -0400 Subject: Fwd: Stonewall Democratic Club Press Statement on Defense of Marriage Act PRESSRELEASE Stonewall Democratic Club 7985 Santa Monica Bl. #325 West Hollywood, CA 90046 For Immediate Release Date: May 23, 1996 Contact: Eric C. Bauman Phone: 818-780-4590 Fax: 818-786-6981 Stonewall Dismayed by White House Marriage Stance Cheered by President's Anti-Discrimination Statement Los Angeles, CA Today, President Clinton confirmed that he would sign the Defense of Marriage Act if it is approved by Congress, but went on to strongly denounce anti-gay discrimination, and castigated Republicans for attempting to divert Americans from the real issues facing America. The President said "I will do everything I can to stop this election from degenerating into an attempt to pit one group of Americans against another group of Americans." The President was asked what he would tell gay Americans who disagree with him on this issue, he said "Look at my record, there has never been a President so pilloried for standing up against discrimination toward gay Americans." Stonewall Democratic Club President Eric Bauman said "Stonewall members are obviously not happy with the President's position on the Defense of Marriage Act, but his opposition to same-gender marriage is not news. While we had hoped the President would oppose this bill on the basis of it being a state's rights issue, we are clear as to why it has become an issue. The introduction of this bill is nothing more than a cynical attempt by Republicans to try and save the floundering campaign of GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole. Dole is so far behind in the polls, the only strategy the right-wing extremists running Dole's campaign could come up with is to make lesbians and gays the "Willie Hortons" of 1996. Bauman continued "President Clinton's statement today condemning discrimination against gay Americans, and his forceful denunciation of Republican attempts to divide our nation with divisive social issues makes clear his refusal to allow right-wing extremists to make our community the whipping-boys of the year." "Lesbians and gays must resist the urge to turn their backs on President Clinton, because that is exactly what the Republicans hope we will do. While our community is once again disappointed with the turn of events, Bill Clinton's record on gay issues exceeds that of all prior Presidents combined. We must remember that Clinton is the first American President to endorse legislation banning discrimination against gays in the workplace, the first to ban discrimination in executive branch employment, the first to appoint over 100 openly gay people to the executive branch, including two requiring Senate confirmation, the first to appoint openly gay Federal Judges, the first to make a commitment to fully funding Ryan-White and the first to make fighting AIDS an Administration priority." Bauman concluded, "While some in our community have already begun a chorus of criticism, we must stand up and refuse to be sucked into the Republican plan of divide and conquer. If lesbians and gays choose not to vote or to sit on their hands during the upcoming campaign, we will be totally marginalized and will have no one to blame but ourselves. Our community's best hope is to stay the course while making clear our disappointment, and when we re-elect the President and retake the Congress from the right-wing idealogues currently in power this November, we must then demand aggressive action to establish our basic civil rights in Federal law." Stonewall Democratic Club is California's oldest and largest lesbian and gay Democratic club. Its members hail from throughout California and a dozen other states. Stonewall was the first group in the nation to endorse President Clinton and Vice President Gore for reelection. ##end## -Tear Sheet Requested-