Date:         Thu, 2 Feb 1995 19:26:43 -0500
Reply-To: RAKNGLTF@aol.com

NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Robin Kane, 202-332-6483, ext.3311; rakngltf@aol.com


NGLTF BOARD OUTLINES 1995 PROGRAM PLANS AND BUDGET
AT WINTER MEETING IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA

$300,000 Earmarked at Meeting to Launch
Policy Institute Think Tank


Washington, DC...February 1, 1995...The Board of Directors of the National
Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) met in Atlanta January 27 through 29,
enthusiastically recommitting itself to the new vision of the organization.
 The reorganization of NGLTF includes transforming the NGLTF Policy Institute
into a think tank producing important research and policy papers for
community activists, and strengthening the field operations to connect work
more effectively with and between activists around the nation.

 During the weekend meeting, held at the King Center, the 26-member board
approved a $3.1 million budget for 1995.

 Board members pledged an immediate $100,000 for NGLTF during the meeting.
 This money, in addition to a $200,000 house that was donated recently to
NGLTF, will be used as the foundation for creating the NGLTF Policy Institute
think tank.  The NGLTF Policy Institute is the educational arm of NGLTF,
which has in the past produced such documents as the annual report on
anti-gay violence and the domestic partner organizing manual.  The
invigorated Policy Institute will be directed by a nationally respected
scholar and researcher who will recruit activists, academics, cultural
critics, theorists and others to produce provocative and pragmatic reports.
 A Policy Institute director is expected to be named within the next few
weeks.

 In addition to discussions about recent financial support from foundations
and major gifts, it was also announced at the meeting that the membership
rolls of NGLTF increased 3,000 in the final quarter of 1994 to 35,000.

 "NGLTF has received increased financial support in recent months," said
Chris Collins, co-chair of the NGLTF Board of Directors. "That tangible
support for the new vision has bolstered our confidence in the work we are
doing.  It also ensures our ability to deliver crucial programs to our
community."

 The board reviewed the political direction of NGLTF in this new era, and
supported NGLTF's goals as outlined by NGLTF Executive Director Melinda
Paras.  Goals and priorities for 1995 include defense of Ryan White CARE Act
funds on the federal level; a focus on school and youth issues (including
curricula battles, accurate sex and AIDS education, legislative attacks on
foster care and adoption rights) and groundwork on the issue of marriage in
preparation for the upcoming legal decision in Hawaii.  That ruling may
legalize same sex marriage in Hawaii and is already touching off legal and
legislative battles in other states.

 "In the 104th Congress, the Radical Right will have more access to power
because the newly installed Republican leadership owes them a debt," Paras
said.  " The Radical Right will go after AIDS funding; they will attack
school curricula, sex education and diversity training programs."

 "The obstacles we face on Capitol Hill remind us of what we've been saying
for years," Paras noted. "We must focus on the grassroots.  We must gain more
political power at the local level.  We must increase NGLTF's ability to
serve those on the front lines of all these battles."

 The NGLTF board approved the Marriage Resolution, created by the Lambda
Legal Defense and Education Project's Marriage Project.  The resolution
states, "Because marriage is a fundamental right under our Constitution, and
because the Constitution guarantees equal protection of the law, Resolved,
the State should permit gay and lesbian couples to marry and share fully and
equally in the rights and responsibilities of marriage."  In signing on to
the resolution, NGLTF has also agreed to work closely with Lambda and other
national and local organizations in battling the expected Radical Right
attacks on our right to marry and form families.

 The Atlanta meeting marked the first board meeting attended by Dee Mosbacher
and Nancy Koch, two new NGLTF board members.  Two others who have been
selected to serve on the board are Graciela Sanchez and Don Davis. [See
related release].

 The weekend board meeting also featured an open Town Meeting on Thursday,
January 26.  The event featured several NGLTF staff and board members,
including Executive Director Melinda Paras and activist and board member Pat
Hussain of Atlanta.  About 40 people attended the session, with discussions
focusing on the program of NGLTF, the current political climate, and a
variety of issues raised by audience members such as marriage, domestic
partnership and the state of the movement.  On Saturday night, NGLTF board
and staff members in Atlanta also held a joint dinner event with the boards
of the Atlanta Lambda Center and the Atlanta gay/lesbian pride day organizing
committee.

 "We were honored to meet at the King Center in Atlanta," said Paras.
 "Atlanta is the site of outstanding local activism, as exemplified by the
successful Olympics Out of Cobb organizers.  That is the sort of local
organizing that the re-engineered NGLTF is intending to serve more
effectively."


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