Date: Thu, 7 Oct 99 09:52:45 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] Iowa Governor Signs NonDiscrimination Order ********************************************* 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 ********************************************* IOWA GOVERNOR SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER BANNING DISCRIMINATION IN STATE EMPLOYMENT Historic move covers gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Iowans Oct. 7, 1999 - Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack has signed an Executive Order banning discrimination in state employment based on "race, creed, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or physical or mental disability." The move is thought to be the first executive order of its type because it is inclusive of transgendered people. "This is a great first step toward equality for all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Iowans," said Peg Sandeen, spokeswoman for the Iowa Coalition for Human Rights. The Iowa Coalition for Human Rights and the Gay and Lesbian Caucus of the Iowa Democratic Party worked with Gov. Vilsack in making the executive order a reality. Kerry Lobel, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, joined Sandeen in praising the governor's actions. "The true test of democracy is how it embraces those who look, act and think differently, not just those who are the same," Lobel said. "Governor Vilsack's visionary move demonstrates what political leadership is all about. Political leadership is about moving all of us forward and making communities safer, better places for us to live and work." For more information, please call Randy Palmer of the Gay and Lesbian Caucus of the Iowa Democratic Party, 515-244-9202. _____________________________________________________________________ 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.