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---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Date: Monday, September 25, 2000 12:32 PM -0400
From: Wayne Besen <Wayne.Besen@hrc.org>
To: HRC-YOUTH@LISTS.HRC.ORG
Subject: HRC LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN FOCUSING ON BUSH AND CONGRESSIONAL 
OPPONENTS OF THE HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT

________________________________________________________

NEWS from the
Human Rights Campaign

919 18th Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
email: hrc@hrc.org
http://www.hrc.org
________________________________________________________


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 25, 2000

  HRC LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN FOCUSING ON BUSH AND CONGRESSIONAL
  OPPONENTS OF THE HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT

HRC Calls on Bush and GOP Leadership to Enact Hate Crimes Legislation

WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign announced today it will unveil
a radio, television and print ad campaign tomorrow calling on Texas
Gov. George W. Bush and the GOP leadership to support hate crime
legislation that recently passed the House and the Senate.
         "This ad campaign will highlight those in Congress who
         actively oppose popular hate crime legislation," said HRC
Political Director Winnie Stachelberg. "These ads will educate the
public and send the message that Bush and these members of the House
and Senate are not in-step with the legislative priorities of the
American people."
         The ads will debut tomorrow, during a critical period when
Congressional negotiators will determine whether hate crime
legislation will stay in the Department of Defense Authorization
Bill. In June, the Senate voted 57 to 42 to pass the language of the
Hate Crimes Prevention Act. On Sept. 13, by a vote of 232-192, the
House passed a motion to instruct conferees to keep the hate crimes
measure in the DoD bill. The ad campaign will focus on those who
continue to try to thwart the bill, even after successful bipartisan
efforts to pass hate crime legislation in the House and Senate.
         The ad will target the following House and Senate members:
         Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.; Rep. James
Rogan, R-Calif.; Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss.; and
Sens. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.; Rod Grams, R-Minn.; Spencer Abraham,
R-Mich; and Slade Gorton, R-Wash. The $75,000 HRC ad campaign will
run for four days. In addition to holding members of Congress
accountable, Bush's opposition to hate crime legislation as governor
of Texas will be highlighted.
"Amazingly in Texas, where Bush is governor, it is a felony to attack
an oil well, but only a misdemeanor to attack a person because of who
they are," said Stachelberg. "When Bush talks of 'Real Plans for Real
People,' we urge including real people who have been victimized by
hate violence." HRC and coalition allies including the Leadership
Conference on Civil Rights, the American Association of University
Women, and others will place a full page ad in Tuesday's Washington
Times. The ad costs $10,000. On Tuesday, HRC will launch a 30 second
TV spot and a 60 second radio ad that highlights opposition to hate
crimes legislation by both the Republican leadership and Bush. The
spot will air on CNN for three days. According to the radio ad:

                 "The FBI reports that hate violence and hate crimes
                 are on the rise.  Violent crimes that target victims
because of their race, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity,
gender and disability. So, the U.S. Senate voted to extend hate crime
legislation, and the House voted to support it. 175 law enforcement,
religious, and civil rights groups support it.  The American public
overwhelmingly supports it. But George W. Bush and (Sen./Rep)
actively oppose hate crime legislation. They're even willing to
jeopardize other Republicans who support it.  Call Governor Bush at
512-463-2000 and (Sen./Rep.) at 202-224/225-3121 and ask them why
they won't support the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a bill to protect
all Americans from hate violence.  Paid for and authorized by the
Human Rights Campaign."

         A new poll released earlier this month by the
Garin-Hart-Yang-Research Group shows that hate crime legislation is
widely supported by the public. According to the poll, nearly 66
percent of voters say they would be less likely to vote for a
candidate who voted against legislation to "strengthen the
prosecution of violent hate crimes motivated by prejudice against
race, religion, gender or sexual orientation of the victim." 63
percent of Independent voters say they are "less likely to vote for a
candidate opposed to hate crime legislation.
A coalition of organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, the
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the Anti-Defamation League of
B'nai B'rith, and the American Association of University Women are
leading efforts to pass hate crime legislation.
         The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian
         and gay political organization, with members throughout the
country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support
and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can
be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

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