Date: Fri, 12 Sep 97 18:59:14 EDT From: "communications" Subject: HRC Action Alert: Come Out for Equal Rights as NCOD Nears ________________________________________________________ ACTION ALERT COLUMN from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, Sept. 12, 1997 AS NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY NEARS, GET READY TO TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP Come Out for Equal Rights "Yep, I'm gay." With those three words, Ellen DeGeneres used her candor to make the lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans better. But you don't have to be famous to make a difference. National Coming Out Day -- October 11 -- is upon us, and the Human Rights Campaign can help you make the most of it. Coming out is one of the most important steps we can take to secure equal rights. People who are aware of the lesbian, gay and bisexual people they already know are much more supportive of ending discrimination based on sexual orientation. Whatever your next step is toward being more open and honest about your orientation, the time has come to take it. Whether it's telling a family member, friend or co-worker, the more honest and visible we are, the more we can break down unfair myths and stereotypes. Coming out isn't just for lesbian, gay and bisexual people, either. Yes, as gay people we need to come out and be honest, but also we need to encourage our fair-minded straight friends and family members to come out in their own way -- by voicing support for equal rights. After Ellen DeGeneres came out earlier this year, her mother, Betty, came out as an advocate for lesbian and gay equal rights and is now HRC's 1997-98 National Coming Out Project spokesperson. "As long as our gay sons and daughters face discrimination and are excluded from the basic protection of our laws, I will urge all American families to come out for fairness," Betty DeGeneres says. Clearly, coming out is for everyone -- so why not take your next step today. Contact HRC's National Coming Out Project For information on National Coming Out Day or to receive a free resource guide to coming out, please contact the Human Rights Campaign's National Coming Out Project. Call (800) 866-6263, visit our website at www.hrc.org or write to 1101 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. 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. To join, call (800) 777-4723. - 30 - ************************************************************************* HRC-NEWS is a public email news service of the Human Rights Campaign, providing you with up to the minute news releases and action alerts. You can instantly and easily subscribe or unsubscribe to HRC-NEWS via http://www.hrc.org/hrc/hrcnews or by sending an email to majordomo@lists.hrcusa.org. The subject line can be blank, but on the top line of the body of the message either type: SUBSCRIBE HRC-NEWS or UNSUBSCRIBE HRC-NEWS The server is case sensitive so please type the above commands as shown. If you have any problems, please contact Phil Attey at phil.attey@hrc.org ************************************************************************* - 30 -