From: Date: Wed, 03 Aug 94 11:44:02 -0400 Eastern ***************************************************************** PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND The Nation's Largest Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Political Group ***************************************************************** To contact the HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND, please call us at (202)628-4160, fax us at (202) 347-5323 or write to us at PO Box 1396 Washington, DC 20013. WE CANNOT RESOPND TO E-MAIL. ***************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Douglas Hattaway 202-628-4160 office TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1994 202-265-5573 home UNANIMOUS SENATE VOTE WILL PROTECT SCHOOLS FROM HELMS ANTI-GAY AMENDMENT ON FEDERAL EDUCATION BILL WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate voted unanimously late Monday on an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that will protect schools targeted in an anti-gay amendment sponsored by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.). After approving the Helms amendment by a vote of 63-36, the Senate voted unanimously for an amendment offered by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) providing an alternative to the Helms language. Kennedy will use his amendment to remove the Helms language from the final version of the bill. The Kennedy amendment, supported by the Campaign Fund and passed by a vote of 99-0, prohibits the direct use of federal funds to "promote or encourage sexual activity" of any kind. Helms' amendment would cut off federal funds to schools "encouraging or supporting homosexuality as a positive lifestyle alternative" -- whether or not federal funds were directly spent on the programs targeted by Helms. Programs likely to be affected include suicide prevention counseling for youth, AIDS prevention programs and curricula providing neutral infromation on sexuality. "Jesse Helms wasted taxpayer money and Senate time in a hateful campaign to discriminate against youth who need help. His amendment would endanger young people by denying them the counseling and information they need to stay safe and healthy," said Tim McFeeley, executive director of the Campaign Fund. "Local schools should determine the content of their curricula, not the federal government. Helms is determined to single out gay youth for discrimination in public schools, and to penalize schools that try to meet the needs of all their students. We are grateful that the Kennedy amendment provides an opportunity to keep Jesse Helms off the backs of the nation's public schools." 1101 14th Street, NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 phone:(202)628-4160 fax:(202) 347-5323