Date:         Thu, 19 Jan 1995 16:20:05 -0500

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PRESS RELEASE

15 January 1995

From: Phyllis Randolph Frye, Attorney
      Executive Director of the
      International Conference of Transgender Law
          and Employment Policy, Inc. (ICTLEP)
      5707 Firenza Street
      Houston, TX 77035-5515  USA
      713/723-8368  fax-1800

      Internet Contact:  JoAnna McNamara
                         address jmcnamar@willamette.edu

RE:  MAJOR GAY GROUP STRONGLY URGES INCLUSION OF
     TRANSGENDER IN GAY, lESBIAN AND BISEXUAL LEGISLATION

     The National Lesbian and Gay Law Association today adopted a
resolution that recognized the history of oppression that
transgenders have received at the hands of the same people who
oppress lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

     With a unanimous vote, NLGLA voted to strongly urge
(1) all persons, organizations and coalitions consider and
advance transgendered persons in their programs and
deliberations,
(2) inclusion of the transgendered in the Employment Non-
Discrimination Act, and
(3) inclusion of transgendered persons in statutes, ordinances
and regulations that positively affect lesbians, gays and
bisexuals and other oppressed minorities.

                    RESOLUTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
             OF THE NATIONAL LESBIAN AND GAY LAW ASSOCIATION
            URGING THE INCLUSION OF THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY
               INTO THE EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT
             AND OTHER STATUTES, ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS
                 ALONG WITH LESBIANS, GAYS AND BISEXUALS

     1.   WHEREAS the transgendered have been legally defined in
current favorable legislation to include those persons "having or
being perceived as having a self-image or identity not
traditionally associated with one's biological maleness or
femaleness"; and

     2.   WHEREAS the history of oppression of the transgendered
is similar to the oppression suffered by homosexuals and
bisexuals, often by the same oppressors and often in a fashion
that continues to pit transgenders and homosexuals and bisexuals
against each other; and

     3.   WHEREAS the oppression in the area of employment of the
transgendered is likewise similar to the oppression suffered by
homosexuals and bisexuals and often by the same oppressors; and

     4.   WHEREAS lesbians, gays and bisexuals seek protection
under the term of "sexual orientation" and transgenders seek
protection under the term of "gender identification" and the four
communities may seek protection under the combined term of
"sexual or gender orientation"; and

     5.   WHEREAS the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1994
has excluded the transgendered from federal job protection; and

     6.   WHEREAS the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association
recognizes the need for all sexual and gender minorities to have
protection of employment; therefore

     BE IT RESOLVED THAT the National Lesbian and Gay Law
Association, through its Board of Directors meeting on the 15th
day of January 1995, (1) strongly urges all persons,
organizations and coalitions to consider and advance the rights
of transgendered persons in all their programs and deliberations,
and (2) strongly urges Members of Congress to include the
transgendered in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1994
(ENDA) and any successor or amended bills, and (3) strongly urges
members of state and local legislative and regulatory bodies to
include transgendered persons in all statutes, ordinances and
regulations that also or already positively affect or protect
lesbian, gay and bisexual people, and other oppressed minorities.