Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 14:49:12 -0400
> From: PRCenter@aol.com
> Subject: LA Gay & Lesbian Center Responds to Supreme Court Decision
> 
> ******************************************************************************
> **
> News from the:
> LOS ANGELES GAY & LESBIAN COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER
> 1625 N. Schrader Blvd.
> Los Angeles, CA 90028
> ******************************************************************************
> **
> Contact:       Jim Key or Mike Ausiello
>                    PH: 213-860-7357
> 
> L.A. GAY & LESBIAN CENTER LAUDS SUPREME COURT DECISION
> ON COLORADO'S AMENDMENT 2
> 
>      LOS ANGELES, May 20, 1996 -- Lorri L. Jean, Executive Director of
> the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center, has issued
> the following statement in response to today's U.S. Supreme Court
> decision, finding Colorado's Amendment 2 unconstitutional:
> 
>      "Today is a great day for all fair-minded Americans, especially the
> gay and lesbian community, and it is a great day for American
> democracy.  In turning back the hateful  Amendment 2 initiative--an
> initiative that struck at the very heart of the core principles upon which
> this country was founded--the United States Supreme Court has ruled
> on the side of fairness and justice.
>      Not only has the Court repudiated the attempts of Amendment 2
> proponents to establish state-sanctioned discrimination, but it has
> summarily rejected the notion that gay and lesbian citizens could be
> barred from the ordinary channels of political participation.  The Court
> stated in no uncertain terms that states may not enact laws that 'make
> [lesbian and gay people] unequal to everyone else.'  But the Court did
> more than that.  They have pulled the sheets off of the kind of people
> who worked so hard to get Amendment 2 passed.  The court said that
> the only explanation for this law was spiteful bigotry and prejudice and
> that such animus would not be allowed, as it is unconstitutional.
>      So take heed, Lou Sheldon.  Take heed Jesse Helms.   Take heed,
> Patrick Buchanan, and everyone else of your ilk.  The highest court of
> this land has spoken.  They have sent a message, loud and clear, that
> gay and lesbian people are protected under the Equal Protection Clause
> of our Constitution, that we have the same rights as everyone else and
> that campaigns of hatred and bigotry and divisiveness, which seek to
> create second class citizenship for lesbian and gay Americans, will not
> be tolerated as they are an assault on the very principles of American
> democracy.
>      Today, the Supreme Court took a stand for ALL Americans.  Today
> was not only a legal victory, it was a moral victory.  The Supreme Court
> made it clear that while religious political extremists may have a choke
> hold on our government, they cannot overcome our Constitution which
> guarantees to all of us life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  We are
> indeed happy today and we invite our families, our churches, our friends
> and colleagues, and all fair people everywhere, to rejoice with us on this
> historic occasion."
>   - 30 -