Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) Executive Director Urvashi Vaid strongly rebuked ‘Sullivan. “We believe strong family values have traditionally meant the nurturing, affirma- tion, protection and understanding of young people, not their alienation and stig- matization,” said Vaid to Sullivan. “We t believe, as we hope you do, that suicide and violence are not family values.” For more information, contact NGLTF at 1517 U St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009 (202)332-6483. NGLTF Blasts Speech By Civil Rights Official - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) strongly condemned the appearance of U.S. Civil Rights Commis- sion Chairman William Allen at an anti-gay and lesbian symposium, saying Allen’s participation is “sad and appalling, and deeply antithetical to principles of equality and fairness.” Allen’s presentation, entitled "Blacks? Animals? Homosexuals? What Is aMinority?,” was made at the “West Coast Symposium on Homosexuality and Public Policy Implications” on October 7 in Anaheim, Calif. The conference was sponsored by the California Coalition for Traditional Val- tes, led by Rev. Louis Sheldon, a strident toe of gay and lesbian civil rights. Many of Allen’s own cofleagues on the Commission rebuked the chairman for appearing at the conference and called the title of his speech “thoughtless, disgusting and unnecessarily inflammatory.” Rep. Don Edwards (D-Calif/ 10), who chairs the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights, stated in a letter to Allen that his participation in the anti-gay conference “appears to be outside the scope of the Commission’s jurisdiction, and is an inappropriate use of limited Commission resources.” Gay activists also criticized the use of government funds to send Allen to the conference. Partners in Recovery and Growth, Therapist Erica Marks, B.A.S.A.C. & Giita Clark Substance Abuse, Sexuality, Parenting, Grief, Gestalt, Spirituality, Individuals, Couples, Families, Groups Hearthstone Assoc. 182 Main St. Burlington, VT 05401 Sliding fee scale° Phone: _8£5-2 The Civil Rights Commission, created to study, analyze and make recommenda- tions to the Republican Administration on equality, discrimination and other civil rights matters, is scheduled to expire at the end of November of this year. Gay and Lesbian Groups Denounce Gutting of D.C. Human Rights Act National and District of Columbia les- bian and gay organizations strongly de- nounced the recent anti-gay Congressional vote that weakens the D.C. Human Rights Act and permits religiously affiliated edu- cational institutions to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. The House approved by voice vote the so-called Armstrong amendment. The amendment exempts religious educational institutions from Washington, D.C.'s Human Rights Act and its strong gay and lesbian anti-discrimination protections. The amendment was created after an on-going battle between D.C.’s Geor- getown University and its gay and lesbian student group was settled in court to the satisfaction of both parties. “It takes amazing arrogance to gut D.C.’s Human Rights Act, enacted by the democratically elected government of the citizens of the District,” said Roger Doughty, executive director of D.C.’s Gay and Lesbian Activist Alliance (GLAA). “Congress wouldn’t dare change any other city's laws, but it feels free to treat D.C. like a colony and use our gay and lesbian com- munity as a punching bag for bigotry.” In a Washington Post article following the bill’s passage, Rep. Bill Green (R- N.Y.), an opponent of the Armstrong amendment and cosponsor of the Federal Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights bill, attrib- uted the vote to members’ fear “of being identified with anything seen as a gay is- sue.” But representatives of gay and lesbian organizations made it clear the tight to perserve the D.C. Human Rights Act is far from over. Added Robert Bray, public informa- '9 403i V-#1. December 198 tion director for NGLTF, “We urge gays and lesbians to let their lawmakers know that endorsements of discrimination will not be tolerated—- in the capital or in their hometowns. New Report Highlights Homophobic Violence A new report from the Center for Democratic Renewal (CDR) ties the rising tide of violence against gays and lesbians to far right and white supremacist organi- zations that are using anti-gay bigotry to attract new recruits. Entitled Quagantines mg Death: The Fa; Righfs Hgmgphgbig Agenda, the re- port examines such issues as why gay men and lesbians have been targeted by far right groups, the nature of homophobic vio- lence, and the ideology of the new right and the far right regarding homosexuality, AIDS and civil rights. The CDR, formerly known as the National Anti-Klan Network, was founded 10 years ago as the nation’s principal clear- inghouse for information on community- based responses to hate group activity and bigoted violence. CDR is a non-profit organization with offices in Kansas City, MO, Seattle, WA and Atlanta, GA. The CDR implements programs of research, training, public education, community organizing and technical assistance to counter white su- premacy, religious intolerance and homo- phobic violence. is available for $5 from the Center for Democratic Re- newal, PO Box 50469, Atlanta, Georgia, 30302. A discount of 15% is available on orders of 10 or more. Lyphomed Donates AIDS Drugs Lyphomed, Inc. of Rosemont, Ill has launched a “Patient Assistance Program” to provide certain quantities of free NebuP- ent (TM) for prophylaxis of AIDS patients at high risk, for the prevention of Pneu- pneumonia (PCP). The program will provide limited quantities of pentamidine to indigent patients unable to obtain reimbursement for the purchase of the drug through medical insurance cover- age or government reimbursement pro- grams. Lyphomed has an on-going national campaign to ensure coverage of N ebuPent (TM) by all third party payers and private insurers, Blue Cross/Blue Shield pro- grams, Medicaid intermediaries and the 50 state Medicaid programs.