Date: Thu, 13 Jan 1994 09:48:00 EST From: Karla Hangsleben Subject: STATE FARM CANCELS GAY, LESBIAN CENTER'S INSURANCE Reprinted without permission COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Illinois-based State Farm Insurance Co. says it wasn't discriminating when it canceled the policy for a homosexual-rights organization. The insurer says it just doesn't write policies for politically active, high profile organizations. The bottom line is that the non-profit Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Columbia has closed until it can find new, affordable insurance for its office. "This center has been a dream that we've had that has finally come to fruition," said center volunteer John Scruggs, "and we're not going to give it up." State Farm's regional office in Jacksonville, Fla. said it overrode the local agent who wrote the policy. The insurance was canceled two months after it was issued. The agent, Art Ford, would not comment, The (Columbia) Sate reported Friday. "While we do insure civic organizations, we do not insure high profile organizations which may be politically active on a national scale," a State Farm executive wrote in a letter to the Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement. State Farm spokeswoman Patti Nates would not discuss the specifics but said the company does not discriminate. Its primary market is home, life, and auto insurance policies, and State Farm insures businesses and organizations only when they are small and locally oriented, she said. "Organizations like those (gay and lesbian centers) tend to operate on a national level, larger than the town or community they're basd in," Nates said. "We're just not in that market." The community center is no more politically active than a senior citizens center or a church, said Pete Tepley, a Columbia attorney and member of the Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement. The center has bulliten boards, a small library, a television, a kitchen area, a ping-pong table and space for meetings or informal get-togethers. The center opened in October and served 15 to 30 people a day on weekends. South Carolina allows an insurance company to cancel a policy for any reason if a month's notice is given within the first 90 days. *****End of forwarded material***** Sounds life the place every city in America and world wide needs. Hopefully an arrangement can be made quickly that can enable the center to reopen. Date: Fri, 14 Jan 1994 14:36:20 EST From: Karla Hangsleben Subject: ADDRESS FOR STATE FARM INSURANCE I have received a few requests in regard to an article that I posted yesterday in regard to State Farm Insurance cancelling a policy for a Gay and Lesbian center in South Carolina. The address for the main office of State Farm Insurance is: 2702 Ireland Grove Rd. Bloominton, IL. 61709 I am unsure of a contact person or who to address it to but I am working on getting that information. Right now I would simply suggest writing to the President of Company or possibly to the Executive Officer. I do agree with a number of the letters that I have received that letters from Gays and Lesbians in support of the center and lack of support for State Farm might be very successful in altering the decision made by State Farm. I do know that the Allstate Corporation is a rival of State Farm for business, and a statement referring to switching companies may also help make a point. Any further information that others can give me would be very helpful and much appreciated. - Karla Kay Hangsleben