Date: Sat, 7 May 1994 12:58:05 -0400 From: John Greene As promised, I am filling in more information on our loss in the NH Senate on HB 1432. Outlined here is a general history of the New Hampshire Coalition to End Discrimination. Sorry for the delays in getting this posted, but Organic Chemistry and Anatomy and Physiology finals were taking their toll... I am posting this for a friend of mine (Mike) who spent considerable time following house bill 1432 as it went through the house and senate. Please forgive the 'all caps' format as he typed it in on an ancient tandy machine that I was able to translate with my mac rather than retyping it all. If there are any mistakes in names, addresses or phone numbers, please let me know and I will correct and repost them. The information below was written by Mike and thus I assume no responsibility for his editorial comments about anyone or thing. NEW HAMPSHIRE COALITION to END DISCRIMINATION NH CED(seed) HISTORY THIS GROUP WAS STARTED WHEN EIGHT PEOPLE MEET ON A SAT. AFTERNOON IN APRIL OF 1993. THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE IN N.H.. THAT THE ISSUE OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED HERE IN THIS STATE. BECAUSE THERE WERE MANY SMALL GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY, LOOSELY KNIT AT BEST, A NEW MAIN GROUP NEEDED TO FORM AND WORK TO PULL TOGETHER THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S FRIENDS. DURING THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER AND EARLY FALL THE BALL STARTED ROLLING SO THAT BY NOV. CED WAS A GROUP READY FOR THE CHALLENGE AHEAD. A BILL WAS DRAFTED BY MARCUS HURN A LAW PROFESS. WHO IS OPENLY GAY AND SPONSORS IN THE N.H. HOUSE AND SENATE WERE LINED UP. CED HAD A 25 MEMBER STEERING COMMITTEE WITH A NUMBER OF SUB-COMMITTEES, THE BATTLE IN FEB. 1994 THE BILL WAS READY FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN THE HOUSE. AT THIS TIME IT WAS FELT 100 YES VOTES AT BEST FOR THE GOVERNOR WAS ALREADY AGAINST IT. AT THE HEARING CAME THE FIRST SURPRISE, A LARGE TURN OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL. THE COMMITTEE REPORTED THE BILL OUT IN SUPPORT OF IT. CED THEN LAUNCHED A MAJOR LOBBYING EFFORT IN THE HOUSE. THE DAY OF THE VOTE OF THE FULL HOUSE EST. OF YES VOTE WERE AROUND 175. THEN CAME SURPRISE TWO , DONNA SYTEK A CONSERVATIVE REP. TOOK THE HOUSE FLOOR, MANY THOUGHT SHE WOULD SPEAK AGAINST THE BILL AND TAKE THE CONSERVATIVE BLOCK SHE LEADS WITH HER, BUT SHE INSTEAD SPOKE STRONGLY OF THE NEED FOR THE HOUSE TO PASS THIS BILL. THE SENATE GO INTO THE SENATE THE COUNT WAS EST. AT 13-10 IN FAVOR OF THE BILL. THEN DISASTER STRUCK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING THE CATH. CHURCH CAME OUT AGAINST IT , ALONG WITH THE CONSERVATIVE VICTORY FUND LEAD BY CHUCK DOUGLAS , OUR VOTE EST. DROPPED TO 13-10 AGAINST , WITH BOTH SIDE LOBBYING HARD, CED WAS UNABLE IN THE END TO PULL OFF A VICTORY THANKS TO THE CHURCH AND THE CONSERVATIVE VICTORY FUND. ROUND TWO CED HAS A LOT TO BE PROUD OF . THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE AN ISSUE FAR IN SUCH A CONSERVATIVE STATE AS N.H. PLANS FOR THE 1994 ELECTIONS ARE UNDER WAY. RECRUITMENT OF CANDIDATES FOR THE HOUSE TO RUN AGAINST THOSE WHO VOTED NO, GETTING VOTERS TO SWITCH TO UNDECLARED SO THEY CAN EASILY MOVE WHERE NEEDED IN THE SEPT. PRIMARY. THE DEADLINE IS MAY 31ST FOR GETTING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR FRIENDS TO VOTE THIS YEAR. ONE CAN REG. THE DAY OF THE ELECTION. PLANNING FOR THE 1995 BATTLE: CED CAN BE REACHED AT P.O. BOX 74 CONCORD, N.H. 03302-0074 I WILL UPDATE THIS WITH PHONE NUMBER WHEN I GET IT. LIST OF CED SUPPORTERS: THE AMER. FRIENDS SERVICE COMM. P-FLAG - NATIONAL OFFICE CARROL COUNTY N.O.W. SPRINGFIELD COLL. OF HUMAN SERV. CONCORD CAMERA STORE N.H. NURSE'S ASS. GIBSON'S BOOK STORE GREATER CONCORD INTERFAITH COUNCIL HOLMES SIGN SOLUTIONS NASHUA NAT. ORG. OF WOMEN INTERN. ASS. OF PRIDE COORD. NASHUA YWCA ISIS STORE COUNCIL ON CHURCH IN SOCIETY, METROPOLITIAN COMM. CHURCH N.H. CONF. - UCC OF THE MOUNTAINS UNITARIAN UNVI. CONGR. OF MILFORD MOM'S GARAGE DARTMOUTH G/L/B STUDENT ORG. N.H. AFL-CIO LADY IRIS N.H. PRIDE COMM. STONEY FARM YOGURT N.H. WOMEN'S LOBBY AMER. CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION P-FLAG OF N.H. AMER. FEDERATION OF TEACHERS THE NORTHERN VOICE N.H. CHAP. OF AMER. ACAD. OF PEDIATRICIANS OUT&ABOUT GREATER NASHUA CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL UINTED CHURC COAL. FOR L\G NH N.H. ASS. OF ELDERY SPRIT MOUNT. FAITH COMMUNITY N.H. CAP DIR. ASS. STONEWALL 25 COMM. NEW ENG. REG. JOINT BOARD OF AMALG. CLOTHING & TEXTILE UNION WOMEN MEETING WOMEN N.H. CITZEN ACTION BI/GAY/LES. LAW ASS. N.H. STATE EMPLOYEE ASS. WATER STREET BOOKSTORE N.H. CITZ. ALLI. FOR G/L RIGHTS WHITE MOUNTAIN INVESTMENT N.H. PEACE ACTION ALPHA TUA OMEGA FRAT-UNH HUMAN RIGHTS CAMP. FUND - WASH. D.C. N.H. COALI. AGAINST DOMESTIC & SEXUAL VIOLENCE NAT. EDUCATION ASS. CONCORD UNITARIAN CHURCH SOCIAL CONCERNS COMM.