>From hrcfcomm@aol.com Tue May  3 14:08:21 1994
>Date: Tue, 03 May 94 14:08:09 EDT

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.  


     POLL INDICATES SUPPORT FOR PROTECTING LESBIAN AND GAY AMERICANS
                         IN HEALTH CARE REFORM 

     WASHINGTON, DC  (May 3, 1994)  67 percent of the American
public supports the inclusion of non-discrimination language
protecting lesbians and gay men in health care reform legislation. 
That's the result of a national poll on health care reform released
by the Human Rights Campaign Fund.  The poll, conducted by the firm
of Mellman, Lazarus, Lake, Inc., found that by a 67 to 24 percent
margin, a substantial majority of Americans favor including
specific language in health care reform legislation "that would
prohibit discrimination in the delivery and quality of health care
on the basis of sexual orientation."  

     The poll also found that, by a margin of 54 to 20 percentage
points, Americans are more likely to vote for members of Congress
who support a health care reform plan that prohibits discrimination
on the basis of sexual orientation in the delivery and quality of
health care.

     Human Rights Campaign Fund lobbyists are working with Members
of Congress to include sexual orientation in the non-discrimination
provisions of the health care reform bill.  Currently,
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is legal in 42
states.  The poll has a 3.1 percent margin of error.  

     Campaign Fund Public Policy Director Daniel Zingale notes that
"support for including sexual orientation cut across all regions of
the country as well as party affiliation."  Zingale added that
"documented experiences of lesbian and gay Americans in the current
health care delivery system underscore the need to include sexual
orientation in the anti-discrimination provisions of the law you
enact."

     Tim McFeeley, executive director of the Campaign Fund, was
encouraged by the poll's results.  "Most Americans are united in
the belief that all citizens--regardless of sexual orientation--
should be free from unfair discrimination.  No one should be denied
quality health care because of their sexual orientation."

                                  - 30 -