Date: Thu, 16 Sep 99 15:45:57 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] Bradley tells NGLTF he opposes Knight Initiative ********************************************* NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE Contact: David Elliot, Communications Director 202-332-6483 ext. 3303 800-757-6476 pager delliot@ngltf.org http://www.ngltf.org 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC ********************************************* CANDIDATE BILL BRADLEY BECOMES FIRST TO OPPOSE ANTI-GAY CALIFORNIA INITIATIVE Also endorses same-sex domestic partner benefits Sept. 16, 1999 - The Bradley For President Campaign released two statements to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force on Thursday stating Bradley's opposition to the anti-gay Knight Initiative on the March 7, 2000 California ballot and expressing his support for domestic partnership benefits for gay and lesbian couples. Bradley's announcement came in a letter to The Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force responding to specific questions about the Initiative and partner benefits. Earlier this week, the Policy Institute released a report entitled, Courting the Vote: The 2000 Presidential Candidates' Positions on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues. The report documents the positions of the two Democrats, nine Republicans and one Independent on issues of concern to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender voters and was sent to the Bradley campaign earlier this week. The Knight Initiative - which will be decided by California voters the same day as the California Presidential primary - would ban recognition of same-sex marriages. Because California already bans same-sex marriage and because same-sex marriages currently are not recognized by any state government in the United States, the measure is seen as an extraordinary, divisive and targeted attack on GLBT people. In the letter to NGLTF from the Bradley campaign, Bradley is quoted as opposing gay marriage but stating that "if I were a California voter I would vote against the Knight Initiative because as a referendum issue I think it is divisive and has the potential to contribute to an atmosphere of hate, which is the last thing I want to have any role in abetting." Bradley also said he supports "efforts to provide to committed gay couples the ability to enjoy all the economic and legal benefits that are available to married couples, including inheritance, taxation, right to visit your partner in the hospital - all of those elements." Thus far, Bradley's only Democratic opponent, Vice President Al Gore, has come out in favor of domestic partner benefits. The Gore campaign has not come out for or against the Knight Initiative. Urvashi Vaid, Director of the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), welcomed Bradley's announcement. "Some candidates no longer run from issues important to the GLBT community," Vaid said. "Bill Bradley's condemnation of this homophobic initiative is critical for others to emulate. Both Bill Bradley and Al Gore have taken important stands in support of domestic partners benefits. Now it is time for the truly moderate Republican candidates to pry themselves from the clutches of the right wing of the GOP and support policies that promote fairness and equality." NGLTF Executive Director Kerry Lobel also praised Bradley. "We look to those running for office to take bold steps to unite our country," Lobel said. "With today's announcement, Bradley has taken such a step." The Policy Institute is a think-tank based in New York dedicated to research, policy analysis, strategy development and coalition building to advance the equality and understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people. The NGLTF Policy Institute report, Courting the Vote: The 2000 Presidential Candidates' Positions on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues will be provided to media representatives upon request. Please call the NGLTF Communications Department at 202-332-6483. Note to reporters: A copy of the Bradley campaign letter is available upon request. Please call Jason Riggs at the NGLTF Policy Institute, 212-604-9830, ext. 11. _____________________________________________________________________ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. _________________________________________________________________ The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force presents the Creating Change conference - the nation's premier conference for activists and organizers in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender movement. November 10-14 * Oakland, CA * http://www.creatingchange.org _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Communications Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. To reach the NGLTF Communications Department at NGLTF, please call David Elliot, Communications Director, at 202-332-6483 x3303 or pager 800-757-6476. 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