Date: Fri, 17 Sep 99 17:57:41 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] Gore 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 ********************************************* VICE PRESIDENT GORE OPPOSES ANTI-GAY CALIFORNIA INITIATIVE Sept. 17, 1999 --- Vice President Al Gore today announced his opposition to the anti-gay Knight Initiative on the March 7, 2000 California ballot. Gore's announcement followed fellow Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley's stance against the Knight Initiative calling it divisive and contributing to atmosphere of hate. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Kerry Lobel praised Gore's statement, "Vice President Al Gore has made clear his support for equality in his rejection of the politics of scapegoating and exclusion. The other candidates should show a similar commitment to fairness and compassion." The Knight Initiative, which will be decided by California voters on the same ballot as the presidential primary, would ban recognition of same sex marriages. Because California already defines marriage as between a man and a woman, the unnecessary Initiative is widely seen as a targeted attack on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Clearly outlining the fine line that both Gore and Bradley are walking on the anti-gay Knight Initiative, Gore spokesperson, Kiki Moore stated that although Gore was opposed to same sex marriage, "if the Vice President lived in California he would not support this divisive initiative." 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. _____________________________________________________________________ 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. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . You may also unsubscribe by visiting http://www.ngltf.org.