Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 18:42:53 -0400
From: PRCenter@aol.com
Subject: LA Gay & Lesbian Center Denounces Clinton's Intentions on
Marriage Bill

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News from the:
LOS ANGELES GAY & LESBIAN COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER
1625 N. Schrader Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
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CONTACT:  Jim Key
                  Dir. of Public Info.
                  PH: 213-860-7357

L.A. GAY & LESBIAN CENTER DENOUNCES CLINTON'S INTENTION
TO SIGN FEDERAL ANTI- MARRIAGE BILL
                           
     LOS ANGELES, May 22, 1996 -- The following is a response from
Lorri L. Jean, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian
Community Services Center, to today's announcement that President
Clinton intends to sign the "Defense of Marriage Act":
     "President Clinton's untimely announcement that he would sign the
misnamed  'Defense of Marriage Act,' a bill Congress has taken no
action on, is outrageous, insulting and nothing more than bald political
expediency.  How ironic that just days after the Supreme Court's most
important decision supporting the civil rights of gay and lesbian
people,
the President should send a message to the world that he believes we
are in fact not equal citizens.  That we do not share the same civil
rights
the rest of the country enjoys.  That we are not even entitled to one of
the most basic of human freedoms, the freedom to legally marry and be
responsible for the one you love.
     By attempting to steal some of the political capital from religious
political extremists who introduced this hate-filled bill, the President
risks
alienating not only many of his most ardent supporters, but all
fair-minded Americans who recognize the difference between political
pandering and political principle.
     The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, working with other local and
national members of the Freedom to Marry Coalition, will continue to
fight for fairness and against this unconstitutional gay bashing bill.
We
encourage all members of Congress to vigorously oppose it."
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