FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: MELINDA SHELTON, 767; DIANE MINOR, x773

AT VALENTINE'S DAY PROTEST: NOW PRESIDENT CALLS FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF LONG-TERM, LESBIAN AND GAY RELATIONSHIPS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1997

On Valentine's Day, a day that celebrates both romance and long-term commitments, thousands of feminist activists nationwide are making this plea to fair-minded people in our country: Have a heart, support loving, committed lesbian and gay couples.

Although we choose this day of candy, greeting cards and flowers to lift our voices, this is not a frivolous issue, but a very serious one. At times, it is a matter of life-and-death. When a lesbian or gay man has a life-long partner who is in an intensive care unit, many hospitals will not allow them to be together because they are not family members in the eyes of the law. We know that love, not the law, makes a real family. Yet we need the law on our side and we first need to demonstrate widespread community support -- among straight and gay people -- for recognition of all loving, committed relationships.

One of the deep truths on a small candy is "love knows no bounds." However, it has definite limits at major national newspapers like The Washington Post and The New York Times. They allow lesbian and gays to buy personal ads, but not paid announcements of their commitment ceremonies. The message they are sending is "we know you're out there, but we won't respect your relationships." Feminist activists don't buy that.

Neither do a lot of people in this country who know lesbian and gay people as family members, friends and colleagues. Polls show many of us now favor making it illegal to discriminate against lesbians and gays on the job. We demonstrate today to urge people to move a step further in their sense of justice. Support your lesbian and gay loved ones and colleagues in their private lives, as well as their public lives. Let committed lesbian and gay couples have the right to, as the saying goes, "make it legal."

Many members of Congress are so out of touch with their own constituents that they opposed a law banning employment discrimination against lesbians and gays last year. They also passed a law banning same-sex marriage. And 16 similar marriage bans passed at the state level last year alone. We need to keep reminding ourselves that we have also managed to defeat 20 state laws banning same-sex marriage. We know a radical right wedge issue when we see one, and we will continue to fight back.