NEWS 1990 I L5 (6
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LEXINGTON GAY/LESBIAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION, P. 0. BOX II47I, LEXINGTON, KY 40575
NGLTF RELEASES YEAR-END FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE REPORT
KENTUCKY RANKS NEAR BOTTOM
from the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force has gays and lesbians -- with progress being made
issued its year-end Federal Legislative Remrt in some areas while ground is lost in others.
covering the first session a t e IOIst Congress. For example, more peo Ie are cosponsoring
The report provides information on the voting gay/lesbian and AIDS billps, but the necessary
and co-sponsorship records of all 535 members support to defeat the anti-gay Armstrong
of Congress from January to December, I989, Amendment has not been attained.
and gives an insight into the legislative progress "At the half-way mark of this Congress, the
of the federal gay/lesbian civil rights and AIDS Report if a good way to know who our angels
agenda. and who are our devils," said Robert Bray,
Among other findings, the report shows NGLTF public information director.
which members of Con ress have "perfect" Kentucky ranked in the bottom ten states in
voting records and whiclg't need work. For the Senate survey in the Senate re rt with
example, 85 Members of the House voted Q Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) andeSenator
the NGLTF pro-gay position a“ of the time, Wendell Ford (D-KY) both receiving a 25%
while 4I Members voted 0 ainst NGLTF eve ranking.
time. In the Senate, I4 voted _for the NGLIF Similarly, Lexington Representative Larry
position a“ of the time while I2 voted against Hopkins (R-éth), compiled a 25% rankin , the
gays every time. second worst ranking among Kentucky Sf'louse
Senate lawmakers were tracked on four key members, (Representative Jim Bunning (R-Ath)
gay/lesbian and AIDS votes: the Americans was worse). Hopkins' rankin is especially
With Disabilities Act (ADA), a measure that discouraging since it dropped From his 59%
extends anti-discrimination protections to people ranking in last ear's report of the IOOth
with AIDS and HIV; two votes on the National Congress. Hopkins voted with the NGLTF
Endowment for the Arts (NEA) anti—ga Helms' position on only the NEA anti-gay amendment
Amendment; and an amen ment offered by and one of the two votes on restricting
Gordon Humphrey (R-NH) that would have educational materials relatin to homosexuality.
banned federal funds from school programs that Reflecting the "mixed gag" results of the
resented homosexuality as "normal, natural or report, Hopkins did, however, become a
liealthy." co-sponsor of HR I280 which would among
In the House, Members were tracked on other things, repeal the exclusion of lesbians
eight key votes, including the Hate Crimes and gay men from immigrating to the United
Statistics Act, the NEA anti—gay amendment, four States.
votes on the "Armstrong amendment" that Letters to congressional representatives can
exempts religious educational institutions in the be effective. To write your Senator write: The
District of Columbia from anti-discrimination Honorable , US Senate,
laws, and two votes on restricting educational Washington, DC, 205 (I. I0 write your
materials relating to homosexuality. Representative write: The Honorable
The report reveals that so at the current , US House of Representatives,
Congress appears to be a "mixed bag" for Washington, DC, 205I5.