Date: Tue, 06 May 97 18:01:54 EDT From: "Phil Attey" Subject: NEW HAMPSHIRE PASSES LESBIAN AND GAY RIGHTS BILL ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, May 6, 1997 NEW HAMPSHIRE PASSES LESBIAN AND GAY RIGHTS BILL Poised to Become 10th State to Extend Civil Rights Protections Based on Sexual Orientation WASHINGTON -- New Hampshire passed landmark legislation today that would extend basic civil rights to its gay and lesbian citizens, putting it on the brink of becoming the 10th state to offer such protections. The state Senate voted 13-9 today to amend its existing civil rights law to protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodations. The state House passed the measure March 18 by a vote of 205-125. Both chambers are Republican-controlled. Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen is expected to sign the bill. "New Hampshire is on the brink of joining the nine states that already treat their gay and lesbian citizens equally," said Elizabeth Birch, HRC's executive director. "But in all the other states, gay people have no legal recourse if they are discriminated against merely because of their sexual orientation." No federal law protects Americans from discrimination based on sexual orientation. The last state to pass a civil rights bill covering sexual orientation was Rhode Island, in May 1995. The other states that currently include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination laws are: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont and Wisconsin. Two other states are currently considering bills to extend civil rights to their gay and lesbian citizens: Maine is deliberating over a comprehensive bill while Oregon is looking at a measure to outlaw job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Just a week ago, America was riveted by the coming out of actress Ellen DeGeneres and her TV character, Ellen Morgan, Birch noted. During the April 30 episode of "Ellen," HRC broadcast a television commercial in 35 markets, including Manchester, N.H., highlighting the fact that in 41 states, people can lose their jobs merely for being gay or lesbian. "As a result of these events, Americans learned a great deal in recent weeks about the discrimination faced by gay people in our society," Birch said. "I hope that we have broken a barrier today and that we will see more states and, ultimately, the U.S. Congress, pass laws to grant equal rights to gay and lesbian Americans." A bipartisan group of U.S. representatives and senators is expected to introduce a federal bill soon that would outlaw job discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which enjoys broad public support, missed passing the Senate last year by one vote. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 -