Subject: EVENT CRASHES AS GAY SPONSORS WITHDRAW
From: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 17:38:52 -0500

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PRESS RELEASE
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
http://www.ngltf.org   [email-masked]
Contact: Robert Bray 415-552-6448
   or Tracey Conaty 202-332-6483 ext. 3303
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MAJOR HOT AIR BALLOON EVENT CRASHES AS GAY SPONSORS  WITHDRAW FOLLOWING
PASSAGE OF ANTI-MARRIAGE LAW;

TASK FORCE BLASTS MARRIAGE MEASURE IN SOUTH DAKOTA

Washington, D.C., Feb. 28, 1996...Arch-conservative politicians in South
Dakota may have successfully gotten an anti-gay marriage law off the ground
and onto the books, but their efforts may have seriously deflated a major
international ballooning event in the state.

 The success of the Governor's Cup, a popular event featuring top national
and international balloonists,  has been threatened by the passage of HB1143
into law.  The event was slated to be held this June.  HB1143  bans the
recognition of same-gender marriage in the state, and was recently signed
into law by Governor Bill Janklow.

 South Dakota natives Jacques Soukup and Kirk Thomas, longtime partners,
philanthropists, investment consultants, internationally recognized
balloonists and longtime NGLTF members, have canceled their support of the
Governor's Cup in protest of the law.    In a sharply worded statement to the
Cup's organizing committee, Soukup and Thomas said, "We cannot in good
conscience...be associated with a government that has just passed a
mean-spirited and hateful piece of legislation that hurts us, hurts the
60,000 gay and lesbian people of South Dakota, hurts members of our families
and ultimately the people of South Dakota.

 "The Governor's Cup puts us in close association with the government of
South Dakota," continues the statement.  "Although we remain committed to the
people of South Dakota, we have no choice but to withdraw all our support
from the Governor's balloon race."

 Soukup and Thomas are major figures on the international sport aviation
scene.  They have won numerous race awards and ballooning citations and
played a key role in the creation of the South Dakota Governor's Cup.  They
founded the Soukup and Thomas International Balloon and Airship Museum in
Mitchell, S.D.  Soukup and Thomas have played an active role in fighting the
anti-marriage bill, both last year when it was first introduced and defeated,
and this year.  Most recently, the two worked with the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) to sponsor the first-ever South Dakota National
Coming Out visibility tour held last October.  They helped underwrite a
computer system and other efforts for Free Americans Creating Equal Status
(FACES) of South Dakota, the first state-wide gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender education and advocacy group.

 The two had planned to serve as Cup officials and event organizers before
the bill was passed, but have withdrawn all support.  "There will probably be
no measurers, stewards, judges, meteorologists or jury members," said Soukup
and Thomas. "Since we know most competitive balloonists worldwide, we will
inform them of the actions of the South Dakota government and will discourage
anyone from attending this event held in such an inhospitable state."

 The history of the anti-gay marriage bill in South Dakota has had more ups
and downs than a hot air balloon race.  Last year, a similar measure was
passed out of various House and Senate committees only to be stalled by local
activists before dying in legislative limbo when the session ended.  This
year the measure, sponsored by Rep. Roger Hunt (R-Brandon), was defeated in
its first House committee following dramatic testimony from gay and non-gay
advocates.  The victory made local history as the first time a gay-related
bill was killed on a straight up-or-down vote.  Unfortunately the triumph was
short-lived as homophobic lawmakers "smoked" the bill out of committee and
subsequently passed it. 

 "The people of South Dakota are being held hostage by right wing
extremists," said NGLTF executive director Melinda Paras.  "This bill was
about national right wing extremist groups inserting themselves into the
business of state governments to forward their deplorable agenda of
intolerance and hatred.   The sponsors of HB1143 used old fears and
prejudices to whip up new hatreds and confusion."

 "The values of justice, equality, fairness, compassion and generosity should
guide the citizens of South Dakota," said Barry Wick, president of
FACES/South Dakota.  "The myths, stereotypes and lies used to pass this
legislation can cause harassment, intolerance and even violence for us."

 South Dakota and Utah are the only two states to ban same-gender marriage.
 Some 20 other states are currently facing laws that would prohibit gay
marriage.

 For more information about HB1143, contact Barry Wick of FACES South Dakota,
at (605)343-5577.
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