PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND The nation's largest lesbian, gay and bisexual political group FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Gregory King (202) 628-4160 work (202) 547-4310 home IDAHO CONGRESSMAN OPPOSES ANTI-GAY INITIATIVE WASHINGTON, DC (April 12, 1994) Idaho Congressman Larry LaRocco (D-ID), the first public official in Idaho to publicly oppose an anti-gay initiative under consideration for the November ballot, has called on other candidates to take a stand on the issue. "If candidates for public office can't decide what to think about the initiative, I suggest they see the movie 'Schindler's List' and then speak out on the issues of hate and discrimination," the Congressman said in an April 11th release. The anti-gay ballot initiative in Idaho is one of as many as ten ballot initiatives being considered by states around the country. On Friday, April 8th, Marion County Circuit Judge Rodney Miller of Oregon released a ruling that an anti-gay initiative planned for the Oregon ballot is unconstitutional. A similar ruling was issued earlier by the Florida Supreme Court. Tim McFeeley, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign Fund, indicated that these developments are positive signs in the effort to defeat the Radical Rights' effort to legalize discrimination against lesbian and gay people. "Congressman LaRocco and others who oppose these initiatives recognize that they promote discrimination and threaten all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation." McFeeley said that if the Radical Right is allowed to win on anti-gay initiatives, they will move on to restricting the lives and liberty of other Americans. "The Radical Right is raising millions of dollars in this effort to divide our country. We will do everything in our power to defeat them." - 30 - 1012 14th Street, NW Suite 607 Washington, DC 20005 phone:(202)628-4160 fax:(202) 347-5323