From: Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 19:57:23 -0400 Subject: LA Republican Party Gay-Baiting! **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** LOUISIANA ELECTORATE of GAYS AND LESBIANS (LEGAL) PO Box 70344 New Orleans, LA 70172-0344 504/525-7117 LEGALinc@aol.com Louisiana's statewide non-profit for lesbian and gay human rights. **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** Friends, Voters who live in and around the Florida Parishes of Louisiana have been receiving a mailing from the Louisiana Republican Party that is filled with lies, distortions and misleading statements aimed at Senator "Sixty" Rayburn. While Rayburn has never particularly been a friend to the community, it is important that we take action against this gay-baiting that seems to have become a part of the Republican Party's agenda. The flyer, printed with a pink background with white lettering states, "'Sixty' Rayburn supports Gay Rights ("Gay Rights" is printed here in a very floral-looking font)..." On the inside it goes on to state, "Sixty Rayburn voted for Gay Rights (underlined) 3 times." Then in a block beneath this it states, "Sixty Rayburn voted to give Homosexuals (underlined) special rights by voting for: Senate Bill 26 (1993), Senate Bill 918 (1993) and House Bill 130 (1994). "After 48 years, Sixty Rayburn has lost touch with the voters." First of all, friends, those bills mentioned had nothing to do with gay rights. They were Hate Crimes Bills which provided for increased penalties against a criminal when that criminal is found guilty of selecting his victim based upon their status -- those statuses included, age, sex, religion, nation origin, sexual orientation, etc.... ************************************************************************** WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP We need to come down hard on the Louisiana Republican party, but we also have to send word to Sen. Rayburn's office that he has lesbian, gay and straight constituents alike who are abhored at the gay-baiting tactics being used by the Republicans. To contact the Republican Party of Louisiana write: Mike Francis, Chairman 2133 Silverside Dr., Ste B Baton Rouge, LA 70808 (504) 769-5056 To contact Sen. "Sixty" Rayburn write: PO Box 44294 Capitol Station Baton Rouge, LA 70804 To contact the Democratic Party of Louisiana call: (504) 336-4155 ******************************************************************* WHAT TO SAY Demand the Democratic Party to rebuke the misleading statements. Demand the Republican Party to retract the misleading statements. ****************************************************************** A Hate Crimes Bill is a world's difference from a Gay Rights Bill. And even one of those does not give "special rights." ******************************************************************* END.