Date: Sat, 24 Aug 1996 17:47:08 -0400 From: Philattey@aol.com Subject: HRC's OutVote '96 A Stunning Success! ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, Aug. 21, 1996 HRC'S OUTVOTE '96 A STUNNING SUCCESS Top-Notch Speakers, Workshops, Impress and Inform CHICAGO -- More than 600 political activists heard President Clinton and key administration officials reaffirm their support for equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans at HRC OutVote '96, the Human Rights Campaign's first national political convention. The three-day meeting opened Aug. 16 with a birthday party for Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, D-Ill., and climaxed with a videotaped address by Clinton. Conventioneers also attended workshops and heard speeches by Rep. Steve Gunderson, R-Wisc., and his partner, Rob Morris; the Rev. Jesse Jackson; Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros; top Clinton adviser George Stephanopoulos and many others. "I'm especially proud to be the first president ever to endorse a civil rights bill that specifically includes gay and lesbian Americans," Clinton said in his videotaped address, played at the main plenary session Aug. 17. "I support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, because I believe in the fundamental values of fairness and equality --values that are at the very heart and soul of the creed that unites us as a nation." Clinton reminded the audience of the vision of America he first articulated when he ran for president in 1992 --"a vision you were and are very much part of," he said in the taped address. "I wanted us to come together in all of our diversity to prepare and strengthen America for the 21st century." The Human Rights Campaign endorsed Clinton for re-election in February, citing the many steps he has taken toward securing equal rights for gay Americans. Stephanopoulos came to HRC OutVote '96 to formally accept the endorsement, assuring conventioneers that "we will be your partners in the unfinished work that remains before us." Stephanopoulos noted some of Clinton's accomplishments on behalf of gay and lesbian Americans, including his record of instituting non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation for all Cabinet-level agencies; ending the ban on security clearances for lesbians and gays; and appointing more than 100 openly gay officials in his administration. "Our administration has worked with you to address problems that prior administrations ignored," he said. "We created an interagency task force to examine hate-related violence. We granted political asylum to gays and lesbians who face persecution abroad. We gathered experts to examine the causes and solutions to suicide among gay and lesbian teen-agers." Actress Judith Light, star of ABC-TV's Who's the Boss, spoke movingly of her admiration for the gay and lesbian community. "It is within this community that I have witnessed the clearest demonstrations of what I have always believed this country to stand for. It is here that I have seen the immensity and unconditionality of love that all religions talk about," she said. "It is here that I have seen the most vivid demonstrations of family values." Light, who works tirelessly in the fight against HIV and AIDS, was one of three stars of the gay and lesbian rights movement honored with an HRC Equality Award on Friday night. The others were Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer, the highest-ranking member of the military ever to be expelled for being gay, and the Rev. Troy Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Church. HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch, who attended the GOP convention in San Diego, said before the president's message, "I spent the last week in San Diego with Newt Gingrich, Pat Buchanan, Pat Robertson, Ralph Reed, Bob Dornan, Phyllis Schlafly and Jesse Helms. I recommend the experience to any of you who need to rekindle your enthusiasm for Bill Clinton." Birch acknowledged that Clinton has not been perfect on lesbian and gay issues, but, she said, "the best friend we have in the presidential campaign already lives at the White House." HRC OutVote '96 also showcased the Human Rights Campaign's first class of young activists, 26 youths who participated in the organization's first Youth College for Campaign Training. Others who addressed the convention's plenary session included Rep. Juanita Millender McDonald, D-Calif.; Ellen Malcolm, president of EMILY's List; professional golfer Muffin Spencer-Devlin; and state Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl, D-Calif. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. -30-