Activist Alert: October 1992 Page: 1 of 2
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N A T I O N A L
GA Y & L E S B IA N
TA S K FO RC E
PolicyIsiteWELCOME to the NGLTF ACTIVIST ALERT.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy
Institute produces this monthly newsletter to
inform activists around the country about cur-
rent crises,upcoming events and issues on which
activists can have an impact. We urge you to use
the ACTIVIST ALERT as a tool to take action in
support of gay and lesbian freedom.
OREGON INITIATIVE LEADS TO TWO DEATHS
A lesbian and a gay man were killed late last month as
their home burned as a result of a fire bomb. Hattie Mae Cohens
and Brian Mock died September 26 following several weeks of
harassment by a group of Skinheads, who beat Mock three weeks
prior to his death. The harassers had been heard using racist and
homophobic slurs against Cohens, who was black, and Mock,
who was white and mentally retarded. Police arrested four
suspects.
The anti-gay homicides come in the midst of a Far Right
campaign to enact an anti-gay initiative during the November
election. The Oregon Citizens Alliance has placed a referendum
on the ballot that would declare homosexuality "abnormal, un-
natural and perverse" and would amend the state constitution to
ban civil rights laws that include protection based on sexual
orientation. The OCA is using disreputable "psychological" stud-
ies about homosexuality to frighten voters, creating an atmo-
sphere in which hatred and violence are inevitable.
Another target of this new Far Right strategy is Colorado,
which is facing a similar statewide anti-gay ballot initiative. The
threat of these initiatives does not stop at the borders of Oregon
and Colorado-any town or state could be next.
Gay and lesbian activists around the country must be as
involved as Right wing groups. Send funds and organizational
statements of support to No On 9 (formerly the Campaign for a
Hate Free Oregon). P.O. Box 3343, Portland, OR 97208,(503)232-
4501: Equal Protection Campaign.P.O. Box 300476. Denver, CO
80203. (303) 839-5540. Also. send letters to the editor of major
newspapers in each of the states, expressing your concern as a
potential tourist and visitor: Portland Oregonian. 1320 SW
Broadway, Portland, OR 97201; Denver Post 1560 Broadway,
Denver. CO 80202.VOTE AS IF YOUR LIFE DEP ENDED ONbT
In the final month before the election, gay and lesbian
activists across the country are mobilizing to register voters,
educate the community, and get out the vote. Activists are also
prepared for a possible new round of anti-gay rhetoric as the
campaign heads into the final month, which is traditionally a time
of negative campaigning. The Republican Party has toned down
its anti-gay statements, but Vice President Dan Quayle continues
to say that homosexuality is a "wrong choice." He has also lied
repeatedly to the press about a non-existent non-discrimination
policy regarding sexual orientation under the Bush administra-
tion. Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton
toured both Oregon and Colorado without including in his
speeches strong stands against the anti-gay initiatives pending in
those states, although he did speak out against the Oregon initia-
tive when questioned by reporters.
Tell the Republicans that hate is not a family value and
demand that they stop their attacks on the gay and lesbian
community. Write to James Baker, Chief of Staff and Bush-
Quayle Campaign '92 Director, White House.1600 Pennsylva-
nia Ave..N.W.. WashingtonDC 20500. Also write directly to the
Republican Party to protest the party platform on gay and
AIDS-related issues. Write RNC Chairman Rich Bond, RNC,
310 First St.. S.E.. Washington, DC 20003, (202) 863-8500.
Encourage Democratic candidate Bill Clinton not to
back down on his support for gay and lesbian rights in the face
of gay-baiting negative campaigning by the RNC. Write Clinton
for President,112 W. 3rd St., Little Rock, AR 72201. Also write
directly to the Democratic Party. Write DNC Chairman Ron
Brown, DNC. 430 S. Capitol St.. S.E., Washington, DC 20003,
(202) 863-8000.
NGLTF has produced a "Fight the Right '92 Action Kit"
with materials you may use to combat the Far Right "family
values" rhetoric and other distortions. Included in the kit: voter
registration information, action ideas and contacts, media ad-
vocacy tips, background fact sheets, press clips, opinion pieces,
and more. For a copy of the kit, write Robin Kane, Public
Information Manager, NGLTF Policy Institute, 1734 14th St.,
NW, Washington, DC 20009.I
NGLTF Policy Institute - 1734 14th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20009-4309 - (202) 332-6483; FAX (202) 332-0207; TTY (202) 332-6219
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National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (U.S.). Activist Alert: October 1992, periodical, October 1992; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc915845/m1/1/: accessed June 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.