Date: Thu, 01 May 1997 12:55:23 -0400
From: Riki Anne Wilchins <riki@pipeline.com>
Subject: ACTIVISTS ON CAPITOL HILL FOR 2nd NATIONAL GENDER LOBBY DAY

MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Riki Wilchins	  (212) 645-1753   (GENDERPAC)
Betsy Gressler    (202) 332-6438   (NGLTF)
Stephanie Berger  (510) 601-1806   (BiNet USA)
Shannon Minter    (415)392-6257    (NCLR)
Jean Marie Stine  (617) 894-8340   (IFGE)
Cheryl Chase      (415) 552-6448   (ISNA)
Susan Right 	  (718) 383-3318   (NCSF)


ACTIVISTS ON CAPITOL HILL FOR 
2nd NATIONAL GENDER LOBBY DAY
==============================

Endorsed by Broad Coalition of Transgender, Gay, 
Lesbian, Bisexual, Transexual, & Sexual Rights Groups
-----------------------------------------------------

[Washington, DC - May 5th, 1997]  THE SECOND National 
Gender Lobby Day has been called for May 5th in 
Washington, DC, as scores of transgender, bisexual, gay, 
intersex, lesbian, and sexual rights activists from 
across the US converge for 2 days of Congressional 
advocacy and education. 

   Sponsored by the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition 
or GenderPAC, the event has been endorsed by a broad 
spectrum of national groups, including the 
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), BiNet USA, 
the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the 
Intersex Society of North America (ISNA), the 
National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF), and the 
International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE). 

   GenderPAC's first National Gender Lobbying Day in 
October, 1995 drew over 100 activists to Capitol Hill 
for advocacy on a range of issues connected to 
discrimination based on sexual identity, orientation, 
or desire.


A Murder Trial and Hate Crimes
------------------------------
   With a verdict expected soon in the Chelsea, MA jury
trial for murdered transgender woman Chanell Pickett --
one of many trans-murders in the past 2 years -- 
lobbyists are expected to focus heavily on gender-based 
hate crimes, including gay-bashing and rape.  Ms. Pickett
was strangled to death on November 20, 1995, by 
Mr. William C. Palmer.  Palmer admitted to the killing, 
but claimed his distress associated with discovering
Ms. Pickett's transgender status was to blame. Included
among transgender murders in recent years have been
Debbie Forte (MA), Christian Paige (IL), 
and Brandon Teena (NB)

   With help from the Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, 
GenderPAC has just completed its first National Study on 
TransViolence, and is expected to distribute it widely to 
Congressional offices. Also high on activists' agenda are: 
the need for employment protection for gender expression as 
well as sexual orientation; the continued cutting of 
intersex infants' genitals in US hospitals for cosmetic 
and social reasons (Intersex Genital Mutilation or IGM); 
and improved access to health care for those who are 
differently-gender, HIV+, or gay.


Press Conference information:
-----------------------------

WHERE: SouthEast side of the Capitol Building

WHEN : Monday, May 5th,  9:00 am 


                  ###
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