Date: Sat, 11 May 1996 16:15:11 -0800 From: LGBTVOICES@aol.com (LGBT VOICES '96) Subject: Mobilization of LGBT Response to GOP Convention LGBT VOICES '96 P. O. Box 3128 San Diego, CA 92163-1128 PRESS RELEASE =46or Immediate Release =46or Further Information Call: VOICES '96 Brenda Schumacher and Tony Valenzuela, Co-Chairs (619) 296-1179 A Chorus of LGBT VOICES Emerges to Respond to the GOP Convention in San Diego A nonpartisan grassroots coalition of San Diego organizations activists have initiated a nationwide mobilization to ensure that the voices of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are clearly heard during the Republican National Convention in San Diego August 12 - 15. LGBT VOICES '96 (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Voters Organized in Coalition for the Elections) was formed to provide a coordinated positive response to the religious political extremists threatening to dominate the GOP convention. The official VOICES '96 kickoff was held April 16 outside the Lesbian and Gay Men's Community Center in San Diego. Representatives from local organizations were joined by Melinda Paras, Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) and Daniel Zingale, Political Director for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in addressing the crowd of approximately 300. The national rollout of the VOICES '96 campaign continued April 25 in Washington, DC at a press conference hosted by the NGLTF Policy Institute at the National Press Club to unveil the Policy Institute's survey report "Power at the Polls: The Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Vote." Brenda Schumacher and Tony Valenzuela, LGBT VOICES '96 Co-Chairs, were invited by NGLTF to make a national announcement of the VOICES' plans for political, cultural, and educational activities during the Republican National Convention. The trip to Washington provided an opportunity for Schumacher and Valenzuela to meet with representatives of a variety of national organizations to inform them of the work that VOICES is doing and to discuss ways that VOICES could collaborate in exposing the agendas of the political religious extremists. Productive meetings were held with representatives of NGLTF; HRC; People for the American Way; Log Cabin Republicans; Gay and Lesbian Parents Coalition International; the National Latino/a Lesbian and Gay Organization (LLEGO); AIDS Action Council; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); the Interfaith Alliance; Out There (an organization of open lesbians and gays in the Hollywood entertainment industry), and the office of Congressman Barney =46rank. Organizations that have already committed resources and support for the VOICES '96 efforts include NGLTF, HRC, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the Los Angeles Lesbian and Gay Services Center, in addition to approximately 20 local San Diego organizations. Other groups can become a "supporting organization" by contacting VOICES (see contact information below). VOICES has adopted a platform which identifies five issues that will be the focus of the coalition's activities: (1) Legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation, (2) Recognition of the rights of lesbian, gay, and bisexual and transgender families including the right to adoption, child custody, foster parenting, and the freedom to marry, (3) Social acknowledgment and condemnation of anti-gay prejudice, intolerance and violence based on sexual orientation; (4) Increased funding for research and quality, accessible health care for people with AIDS/HIV, breast cancer and other serious diseases; (5) School- and community-based support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. VOICES has also adopted a Statement of Solidarity with communities fighting to: keep Affirmative Action; preserve federal assistance programs as entitlements; end the scapegoating of immigrants as the cause of our economic woes and the LGBT communities as a threat to "family values"; uphold the separation of church and state; and protect a woman's right to choose. Contingent on approval of permits, tentative VOICES activities for the week include: =85 A LGBT VOICES '96 March and Rally on the opening night of the convention= , Monday, August 12. =85 On Tuesday afternoon, August 12, VOICES will host the National Youth SpeakOut, in which youth, through their own words and experiences will voice their demands for safety and education within their schools and communities. =85 On Tuesday evening, a dramatic AIDS candle light march will be held. =85 Wednesday evening, VOICES is planning an "Honoring our Voices" reception to recognize national movement leaders and "out" celebrities. =85 Later Wednesday night, a VOICES '96 Dance Celebration is planned. =85 On the closing night of the convention, Thursday, August 15, VOICES will be participate in a Progressive Coalition March and Rally which will bring together a multitude of communities under attack by the religious political extremists, including people of color, women, labor, immigrants rights groups, welfare rights groups, and others. In addition to events relating to the Republican National Convention, VOICES will be coordinating a massive voter registration drive in the San Diego area. In November, VOICES plans to follow-up with a "get out the vote" drive to ensure that LGBT voters and their allies get to the polls. Most political analysts agree that California is critical to the outcome of the presidential election, so there will be an opportunity for the LGBT vote in San Diego and other cities in the state to vote to have a real impact. The NGLTF's "Power at the Polls" survey results, based upon 1992 and 1994 exit polling data collected by the Voter News Service (VNS), shows that the lesbian, gay and bisexual vote will play a critical role in the 1996 elections. The exit polls indicate that 3.2% of the voters self-identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual, although the actual percentage is likely to be substantially higher since many gay, lesbian and bisexual people are afraid to reveal their sexual orientation to a pollster. Significantly, in large urban areas with a population of 250,000 or more, the percentage of self-identified lesbian, gay and bisexual voters exceeded 8%. Dr. John D'Emilio, Director of the NGLTF Policy Institute, points out that "eleven states with urban areas and well-organized gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities -- such as California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, and others -- together provide 49% of the total electoral vote." While the VNS data shows that 72% of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual voters supported Clinton in 1992, D'Emilio cautioned their votes cannot be taken for granted in 1996. In 1992, the LGBT community was galvanized by the hate-filled rhetoric of the GOP convention in Houston. Pat Buchanan declared a "cultural" war" in this county in which he accused gays, feminists, environmentalists and others as having stolen America from its rightful heirs. The 1992 GOP platform claimed that gays and lesbians were a threat to "family values," opposed legislation providing protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and opposed legislation that legally recognizes same-gender marriages and allows gay or lesbian couples to adopt children or provide foster care. "This year," Schumacher said, "VOICES aims to expose the religious political extremists and their attempt to control the GOP convention, the Republican Party, and our country. We will challenge and respond to divisive rhetoric and attacks on the LGBT community in the party platform and from the podium. We will support the democratic principles of fairness, justice and equality and invite all fair-minded people to join with us in San Diego this August as we counter intolerance and defend democracy." Hotel and motel rooms will be scarce during the convention. Community housing will be available to visiting activists on a first-come, first-served basis. Call Cathy at the VOICES '96 Housing Hotline at (619) 280-4304, Monday - Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Savings Time) at (619) 280-4304. Be sure to leave your phone, fax, e-mail and/or address. Limited hotel rooms are available. Call (800) 854-7688 and mention VOICES. The mailing address for LGBT VOICES '96 is P.O. Box 3128, San Diego, CA 92163-1128; phone (619) 296-1179; e-mail: LGBTVOICES@aol.com; World Wide Web http://www.rainbow-mall.com.