PRIDE GUIDE 1994 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 35

OAD launches campaign to fight Ohio initiative

Our lives are at stake, so keep reading. This concerns an issue that is vitally important to all Ohio citizens. This is not the issue or the battle that any one of us can afford to sit out.

Recently, a Radical Right organization calling itself The Ohio Pro-Family Fo-

rum

announced that it was looking at Ohio as one of the next states for a Colorado-style amendment that would prohibit laws that protect gay, lesbian and bisexual people from discrimination. Most of us have heard their distorted (and legally incorrect) argument about "special rights." We know that it is not a “special right" to be free from discrimination when looking for a job or housing. Unfortunately, that argument was used quite effectively against us in Cincinnati last fall and the Radical Right won at the ballot box.

That's the bad news. The good news is that a group of politically astute, highly capable people from across Ohio (including several from Cleveland) have formed Ohioans Against Discrimination (OAD). OAD is a political action committee formed to raise money to: mount an effective, professionally-run campaign to fight any type of discriminatory ballot measure that finds its way onto the state-wide ballot in 1994 or 1995; and if there is no ballot initiative, to assist our political friends who may be targeted by the Radical Right for supporting us.

Organizations such as the Christian Coalition, the Rutherford Institute, Traditional Values Coalition and the Ameri-

can Family Association, who are run by the likes of Pat Robertson, Ralph Reed and Donald Wildmon, spend millions of dollars on anti-gay and lesbian propaganda. They encourage "pro-family” activists to aggressively fight us at the state and local level. Since 1990 there have been 36 anti-gay, anti-lesbian ballot measures across the country; unfortunately, 29 have been successful.

To prevent yet another Radical Right win, all of us even those of us who resist and abhor involvement in politics must: treat this as a political campaign (the candidate is us); work together in coalition with others outside of our community; and raise money—and lots of it.

OAD has put together a budget that includes hiring a professional campaign manager/media consultant who has experience fighting ballot measures such as the one we anticipate, retaining a professional pollster to assist in developing "our" message, office space and equipment, literature production and distribution and, of course, purchasing paid media (television and radio commercials). Doing what is absolutely necessary will be extremely expensive. Keep in mind what we are fighting, though. The Christian Coalition, Traditional Values Coalition and American Family Association spent nearly half a million dollars just to win in Cincinnati. Can you imagine what they might spend to win across the state?

We must stop the Radical Right from turning our state into another Colorado.

Do your part by making a generous donation to OAD. Donations may be made at OAD's Pride Fest '94 table or sent to: Ohioans Against Discrimination Lynn Greer, Treasurer 395 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43215-3877 614-265-8300

Your contribution at this stage in the battle will provide OAD with the funds it needs to continue to pay the professional campaign manager we have hired, get a paid staff on board and start polling Ohio voters. While your contribution is not tax-deductible, we hope you still will consider making a generous donation

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because life as we know it is at stake. In addition to your personal financial support, please consider hosting a house party for OAD and inviting your friends and associates, both gay and straight, because this is not just a battle to protect ourselves--it is a battle to protect everyone from discrimination. If you are interested in hosting a house party or if you would like to become more involved in the campaign, please come visit us at our table at Pride Fest '94.

Thank you for your generous support. For more information, contact Tim Downing at 216-291-8863.

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