Date: Tue, 03 Sep 96 17:28:26 EST From: "Phil Attey" Subject: HRC Unveils TV AD Aimed At Passing ENDA ________________________________________________________ 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 Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996 HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN UNVEILS TV AD AIMED AT PASSING BILL TO OUTLAW ANTI-GAY JOB DISCRIMINATION Spot Features Gov. Whitman, Coretta King, Barry Goldwater, Newt Gingrich's Mom View the Ad Online And Send Messages To Your Senators On ENDA Via HRC'S Online Action Center http://www.hrcusa.org WASHINGTON -- The Human Rights Campaign unveiled a 30-second television ad today featuring national figures urging passage of a bill to outlaw job discrimination against gay men and lesbians. The ad, entitled "Fairness," showcases four very different public figures -- New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, Coretta Scott King, former U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater and Kathleen Gingrich, mother of House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- all of whom agree that gay people deserve basic job protection and support the bill. "A gay person can legally be fired simply for being gay in 41 states," David M. Smith, HRC communications director, said at a news conference to release the ad. "The four national figures featured in our ad are among the 85 percent of Americans who agree that job discrimination against gay men and lesbians is wrong." Winnie Stachelberg, HRC's deputy director of legislation, said the ad is aimed at garnering support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill that would outlaw job discrimination based on sexual orientation. ENDA is slated to be introduced as an amendment to the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act when it comes up on the Senate floor Sept. 5. "Members of Congress continue to deny that DOMA is gay-bashing. If we take them at their word, then no senator should vote against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act," Stachelberg said at the news conference. "More than half the Fortune 500 companies have policies barring discrimination against gays. President Clinton supports this bill. It's basic job fairness, no more and no less." The four figures featured in the ad have spoken in a variety of forums in support of ENDA and the concept it embodies. When the bill was first introduced in 1994, Mrs. King said she supported it "because I believe that freedom and justice cannot be parceled out in pieces." Whitman, a Republican, sent a letter to HRC in 1994, voicing support for the measure, adding, "Discrimination against gays has an adverse effect on productivity." Goldwater's quote in the ad comes from an op-ed piece that ran in The Washington Post on July 13, 1994. And Kathleen Gingrich's remarks are from an interview on NBC's "Today Show," which aired on Aug. 14. The ad is airing Sept. 2-5 in the Washington, D.C., market on all four network affiliates and CNN. 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 -