Date: Thu, 26 Sep 96 16:38:41 EST
From: "ngltf" <ngltf@ngltf.org>
Subject: Church Defaced Following Opposition to DOMA

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National Gay and Lesbian Task Force 
PRESS RELEASE
distributed on behalf of Montana Human Rights Network and PRIDE!
Contact: Christine Kaufmann - 406/442-5506
         Sandy Hale - 406/442-9322
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Church Defaced Following Opposition to Defense of Marriage Act

Appears to be First Incident in Nation Following Signing of Bill

The Metropolitan Community Church in Great Falls, Montana, was desecrated in
what is likely the first anti-gay backlash following President Clinton's signing
of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  Rev. Gina Hartung was featured
on local television Sunday and Monday evenings expressing her opposition to DOMA
and her intention to continue performing commitment ceremonies for her gay and
lesbian parishioners.

Christine Kaufmann, Director of the Montana Human Rights Network, said, "The
debate around DOMA was characterized by prejudice and inflamatory rhetoric. 
This fuels the fires of hatred that leads to actions such as the desecration of
the Great Falls church." 

When Rev. Hartung arrived at the church on Tuesday afternoon, she found it had
been vandalized.  An upside down cross was painted on the front door, and on the
rear of the building was "666", a swastika, and other graffiti. In response to
the attack a community rally has been called at the church for noon on Saturday,
September 28.

Human rights activists say that the legal framework in Montana marginalizes gays
and lesbians and increases their vulnerability.  The state lacks any legal
protection to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment
and housing.  

In addition, the state still has an antiquated law on the books making sexual
conduct between persons of the same sex a felony.  Sandy Hale, Director of
PRIDE!, Montana's lesbian, gay, and bisexual civil rights group,
stated,  "As long as Montana's laws maintain the status of gays and lesbians as
second-class citizens, we will continue to be subject to these hateful attacks."

Robert Bray, spokesperson for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said that
this is the first incident he's heard of in the wake of the signing of DOMA.  He
stated further, "Public officials, including the president, must condemn acts of
intimidation against gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. Passing bills such as
DOMA foment an environment of intolerance, discrimination, and anti-gay
demonization."

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