Date:         Tue, 28 Jun 1994 07:08:00 EDT


June 21, 1994
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 For further information:
 Timothy Chanaud, 228-0222

Nevadans oppose discrimination, turn down anti-gay initiative

The effort to qualify an anti-gay "Oregon Initiative" for the November
ballot has failed, a direct reflection of Nevadans' respect for the basic
civil and human rights of all, according to a Campaign for Liberty
spokeswoman.

"The opposition was well-organized and worked extremely hard but they
just couldn't get anywhere near the 51,399 signatures they needed," says
Beverly Baum. "Nevadans rejected the discrimination and intolerance in
the initiative and refused to sign."

The initiative was proposed by the Oregon Citizens Alliance, an extremist
group which failed to pass a similar initiative in its home state in
November 1992.

The current initiative was filed with the Nevada Secretary of State's
office on Jan. 25, 1994. Its supporters have until June 21 to collect
51,339 signatures of registered voters. That number must include voters
in 13 of the state's 17 counties.

The OCA and its supporters initially conducted a "stealth" campaign,
collecting signatures from friends and family and circulating the
petition out of public view. In recent weeks, the opposition had to
change tactics and go to the public for signatures.

Timothy Chanaud, the Campaign for Liberty's campaign manager, said he
encountered two women circulating the petition at the Department of Motor
Vehicles in Las Vegas one morning in mid-June.

"I watched as they approached 60 or 70 people standing in line," says
Chanaud. "Some people talked with the women about the petition, but most
quickly declined to sign. I only saw one person sign the initiative.
Clearly a lot of Nevadans were voting against the petition by not
signing."

Besides the OCA, other radical groups, including the extremist
Independent American Party (IAP), lent their supporters to the petition
campaign.

The IAP spent $15,000 to print and distribute a 16-page tabloid insert
through the Las Vegas Review-Journal in an unsuccessful last-minute
attempt to build support for the petition.

"It is clearer to us now that Nevadans aren't ready to require
discrimination and hatred against gay and lesbian people," says Baum.
"Nevadans have shown again their respect and tolerance for the civil
rights of all "

The initiative drew strong opposition from Gov. Bob Miller, Las Vegas
Mayor Jan Jones, Secretary of State Cheryl Lau and Assemblyman Jim
Gibbons, all four of whom are running for governor. Other state leaders
have also expressed opposition to the amendment.

She said the initiative helped open a dialogue across Nevada, encouraged
residents to address their feelings about gays and lesbians, and
developed a broad based, diverse statewide coalition to oppose the
discriminatory measure.

The Campaign for Liberty organized to fight the initiative, should it
have qualified for the November ballot. The group, founded in January,
built coalitions, provided informational materials and raised funds.

Under this "discrimination amendment," any Nevadan could have been fired
from his or her job, or denied an apartment or home solely because of
their sexual orientation.

"We pride ourselves here in Nevada on standing strong for individual
liberty, for tolerance, for fairness, for keeping government out of our
personal lives and for our rights as Americans to be treated equally
under the law," Baum said.