Date: Sun, 10 Jul 1994 23:42:42 -0700 (PDT) From: Richard Isaac As promised, the following is a Bigot Buster statement given to the major media (Seattle Gay News, Seattle Times and Seattle P-I) on the defeat of I-608; approved at the Steering Committee meeting, 7/10/94: (note: it differs only slightly from our statement of 7/7/94 in response to the I-608 press conference; we intend to answer the charges leveled against our "gestapo tactics" in other forums, including letters to the editor and op-ed pieces, among others): ----------------------------------------------------------------------- July 10, 1994 Bigot Busters Statement on the Defeat of Initiative 608. We are pleased that Washington voters have declined to sign Initiative 608. They have demonstrated that discrimination will not be tolerated in Washington State and are to be congratulated. Bigot Busters' goal has been to keep Initiatives 608 and 610 off the November ballot by providing clear information about them. We have been working to help educate voters, by explaining the true facts about the initiatives. Bigot Busters formed to defend lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered persons agains the discriminatory nature of the initiatives. Bigot Busters is democracy in action. Bigot Busters is part of the initiative process. Bigot Busters has had a significant impact on the outcome of this campaign by supplying the voters of Washington with truthful and accurate information about the content of the initiatives. While doing our work, many potential signers thanked us for clearly providing our view. For example, an elderly man who was misled by the title "Equal Rights, Not Special Rights" signed I-608. After discussing the initiative with a Bigot Buster, he realized that it was *against* equal rights and immediately wanted to remove his signature from the petition. Bigot Busters has been targeted, precisely because we have been effective and because we have exposed the broader right-wing agenda of the initiative backers. Bigot Busters has been targeted because we have been effective and because we have exposed the broader right-wing agenda of the initiative backers. It has been the combined efforts of many different groups and individuals that have led us to the victory against I-608. This shows the tremendous support and solicarity among individuals and organizations opposed to discrimination. We will continue to strive for basic human rights for all people and will work in solidarity with all who have stood with us-- feminists, church and labor groups, and people-of-color organizations, among others. We thank you for your invaluable support; it will be reciprocated. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- * Richard Isaac __*_*___ ************************* \* * / Seattle * INITIATIVES 608/610 * *\ * * b. 1/10/94 d. 7/8/94 * ***\**/** rmisaac ************************* \/ @eskimo.com