Subject: VICTORY: Amerucan family Association defeated in Florida
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 22:01:04 -0400
From: Speakpos@aol.com

AMERICANS FOR EQUALITY
P.O. Box 4984 * Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33338 * Tele: (954) 341-6378
Fax: (954) 763-9860 * E-Mail: Speakpos@aol.com
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Contact: Dean J. Trantalis, Esq.
September 19, 1996                      (954) 341-6378


            AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION DEFEATED

     Wednesday, September 18th, 1996.  Broward County, Florida residents
claimed a stunning victory over the religious political extremist group
American Family Association (AFA) and its local chapter Take Back Broward
when the group missed the September 18th deadline for submitting the
requisite 46,311 signatures to the County Administrator to repeal the Broward
County Commission vote of 6 to 1 on June 13th, 1995 which expanded the Human
Rights Ordinance to include protection from discrimination in employment,
housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation.

     "Their dangerous agenda failed in its attempt to single out and legalize
discrimination," explained attorney Dean J. Trantalis, co-chair of Americans
For Equality, the political action committee that successfully lobbied for
the law and spearheaded the winning campaign against the AFA and Take Back
Broward.  Take Back Broward was formed after the law's enactment with the
sole purpose of gathering the required signatures on petitions seeking a
public referendum to repeal the measure.  "The public refusal to sign these
petitions is a glowing testament to the success of the 'Say NO to
DISCRIMINATION...DECLINE TO SIGN' educational component of our campaign,"
added attorney Robin L. Bodiford, co-chair of Americans For Equality.

     During the course of the campaign, Americans For Equality, a coalition
formed from the county's 1.3 million residents, its businesses, civic
organizations and religious institutions, had its "Decline to Sign" message
on taillight posters of 25 Broward County buses, mobilized hundreds of
"Decline to Sign" volunteers at the polls on September 19, 1995, and March
12, 1996, and raised $50,000  ---  seven times the $7,000 sum collected by
Take Back Broward.  "We're extremely grateful to all those who blessed us so
generously with their financial, moral and volunteer support," said Gary L.
Steinsmith, fundraising chair of Americans For Equality.

     In addition to Bodiford, Trantalis and Steinsmith, other Americans For
Equality principals include treasurer Valerie Powell, board members Derrick
Hankerson, David Stack and Barry Teeters, and volunteer committee chair Shane
Gunderson.

Pd. Pol. Adv. - Paid for by Americans For Equality