Date:         Wed, 22 Jun 1994 08:55:35 EDT

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Press Release

Group of Idaho Clergy Call for Opposition
to the ICA Anti-Gay Initiative

BOISE, IDAHO, June 21 -- Discrimination is not an act of faith according
to over 35 ministers and representatives of faith communities who spoke
out against the anti-gay ballot initiative sponsored by the Idaho Citizens
Alliance. 

"It is time for people faith to speak out clearly against the ICA
initiative," said Rev. John Schaefer, an Episcopal minister from Meridian. 
"Our announcement is not a call to condone homosexuality, but the oppose
discrimination." 

The ICA initiative would prohibit the extension of civil rights
protections to people based on their sexual orientation. 

Proponents of the ICA initiative have often evoked religion into to their
ballot drive.  "The clergy's opposition to the initiative points out the
myth that people of faith must are anti-gay," said Darlene Harryman, a
member of the group Idaho Voices of Faith for Human Rights.  "The Radical
Right is wrong on this subject." 

Rev. Schaefer, who is Vicar of the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, said
that homosexuality may be a "strange-ness" to some people.  "Throughout
the Scriptures, God reminds us that in some ways we are all strangers, but
the truth is gay and lesbian people may be members of our own families,
friends, neighbors or business associates." 

The announcement was made on the steps of St. Michael's Episcopal
Cathedral in downtown Boise.  Rev. Schaefer called upon Idaho's clergy and
all people of faith to join in opposition to the initiative. 

Members of the group Idaho Voices of Faith for Human Rights were also in
attendance and offered "pastor-to-pastor" education to help ministers deal
with the issue.