Date: Wed, 22 Mar 1995 16:09:11 -0500 Subject: AP STORY: Montana votes to register homosexuals SENATE DECIDES HOMOSEXUALS MUST REPORT WHEREABOUTS TO AUTHORITIES by Bob Anez Associated Press writer Helena -- Homosexuals, like murderers and rapists, are criminals in Montana and should be required to let authorities know where they live for the rest of their lives, the Senate decided Tuesday. Senators agreed to include homosexuality as one of the crimes for which a convicted person must register with local law enforcement under a lifetime mandate. An attempt to remove that provision from House Bill 214 failed on an 18-32 vote. The measure was endorsed on a voice vote and faces a final Senate vote Wednesday. Sen. Terry Klampe, D-Florence, led the effort to exclude homosexuals from the registration requirement. He said homosexuality may be considered deviant sexual conduct under state law, but it is not a violent crime and has no victim like other offenses covered by the bill: murder, rape, aggravated assault, incest, sexual assault, and indecent exposure. "We're not talking about whether you condone homosexuality," he said. Sen. Fred Van Valkenburg, D-Missoula, said the rape law already covers violent acts involving homosexuals and heterosexuals. What's more, he said, no one has ever been prosecuted for homosexual acts so no homosexuals will have to register and they should not be covered by the bill. "This is much ado about nothing," the deputy Missoula County attorney told those wanting the measure to include homosexuals. "Why are you making a big deal out of it? It is stirring up a pot that doesn't need to be stirred." But those wanting the provision retained were adamant. Sen. Al Bishop, R-Billings, said he considers homosexual acts as worse than some other crimes. "This type of action is even worse than a violent sexual act," he said. [Reprinted without permission] ----------------- ----- USA Today story ----- MONTANA BILL SEEKS REGISTRATION OF GAYS From USA TODAY, Date: 03/24/95 By SHANNON TANGONAN Montana residents who engage in homosexual sex may soon have to register with the state, like certain other felons. That's one intent of a bill that passed the state Senate Wednesday. The bill is expected to be hammered out in a conference committee. Voting along party lines, the Republican-controlled Senate agreed to include homosexual sex in a bill requiring convicted sex offenders and other felons to register with local law enforcement for life. [missing text] ...that lumps consensual gay sex with murder, rape, aggravated assault, incest, sexual assault and indecent exposure. Republican state Sen. Al Bishop of Billings told the Senate that gay sex is "even worse than a violent sexual act." In Montana, it's a felony to engage in "deviant" sexual acts, but those having consensual homosexual sex are rarely prosecuted. Sodomy laws are on the books in 24 states. "The intention was to require a lifetime registration for certain violent offenders," says Senate Minority Whip Steve Doherty, who voted for an amendment to exclude the homosexual sex provision. That failed 18-32. "We did not feel we had any business asking gay people to register - period," Doherty says. Copyright (c) 1995 Gannett/USA TODAY Electronic News ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Since this issue is basically out of the Senate, it is now time to concentrate on the governor and ask him to veto this bill. I don't have much contact information on the Montana Governor's office, but you can call 406-444-3111 to reach a receptionist/call-director. If anyone can find a fax number, please send it my way. [snipped out attribution; I'm also including the following. AK] ************************************************* National Gay and Lesbian Task Force FLASH POINTS Contact: Robin Kane (202) 332-6483 ext. 3311 (800) 757-7736 pager rakngltf@aol.com 2320 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20009 ************************************************* March 22, 1995 Helena, MT -- State Moves to Require Life-Time Registry for Certain Criminals and Targets Gays and Lesbians-- March 23, 1995 Issue: The Montana State Senate will likely vote tomorrow to require offenders of the state's sodomy law to register for life with local law enforcement officials. According to a provision in House Bill 214, those convicted of homosexual acts between consenting adults would be included with murders, rapists and other violent criminals in Montana's pending law to register violent criminals. Efforts in the state House and Senate failed to remove sodomy from the list of crimes requiring state registration. HB 214, which cites sodomy, murder, rape, aggravated assault, incest, sexual assault, and indecent exposure, passed the state House and will face a final vote in the Senate on Thursday. Anti-gay rhetoric rang out during senate deliberations. Sen. Al Bishop (R-Billings) said he found homosexuality to be worse than some violent crimes. "This type of action," Bishop said, "is even worse than a violent sexual act." "Senator Bishop's comments are appalling and must be denounced by all Montanans, gay and straight, for its offensiveness to survivors of violent sexual crimes." said Robin Kane, spokesperson for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF). Sandra Hale, Executive Director of Pride!, a Montana gay, lesbian, and bisexual public policy group called the bill offensive. "What an insult to women who have been raped, children who have been molested, and any victim of a truly violent crime - let alone, lesbians, gay men and bisexuals who are in loving committed relationships and make up the backbone on our Montana community," Hale said. Some lawmakers downplayed the implications of the legislation, noting that no Montanans have ever been prosecuted for sodomy. Activists were quick to shoot down this reasoning. "This bill is a frightening example of the insidious dangers of sodomy laws," said Kane. "Sodomy laws, even when not fully enforced, classify all gay men and lesbians as criminals and are used as weapons in public debate. Our criminal status under these laws is cited as justification for policies that deny us our rights and dignity." Currently 22 states have laws barring sodomy. 6 states, including Montana, bar only homosexual sodomy. Local contact: Sandy Hale, Pride! Executive Director, (406) 442-9322. NGLTF contact: Robin Kane, NGLTF Public Information Director, (202) 332-6483, ext. 3311; 800-757-7736 pager; rakngltf@aol.com.