News

Fong Reaffirms Support of Key Gay Rights Issues

Supports Hormel, ENDA, Domestic Partner Rights, Non-Discrimination in Housing and Public Accommodations, and AIDS Funding Increases

October 26, 1998

(WASHINGTON, DC) – California Republican U.S. Senate nominee Matt Fong issued a signed statement today to Log Cabin Republicans reaffirming his support for an array of important gay and AIDS issues. The statement reiterated Fong's positions on issues which were discussed and agreed to in an August meeting between Log Cabin Republicans and his campaign, which led to Log Cabin Republicans' endorsement of Fong for Senate.

In the statement, Fong reaffirmed his supportive positions on the following issues:

• Support for the nomination of openly gay nominee James Hormel to be Ambassador to Luxembourg.
  
  
• Support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as well as his support for legislation to prohibit the same discrimination in housing and public accommodation.
  
  
• Pledged to consult with Log Cabin Republicans on securing increases in federal AIDS funding programs, a top legislative priority.
  
  
• Support for a range of domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples, including: hospital visitation rights, sick and berievement leave, health insurance benefits, and retirement and survivor benefits.
  
  

"As much as the Democrats want to paint Matt Fong as an extremist, he clearly is not and we urge the voters to remain focused on Matt Fong's positions on the issues," said Richard Tafel, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans. "The reality here is that Matt Fong has as good or better positions on gay and AIDS issues than many Democrats endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign and other gay groups across the country. So last minute attempts to distort his positions on the issues won't work."

"We are opposed to everything Lou Sheldon and the Traditional Values Coalition stand for, and that won't change no matter whom Sheldon chooses to support for office," Tafel said. "And as much as the Democrats want to make Lou Sheldon the issue, he isn't. It doesn't matter what Lou Sheldon says -- it's Matt Fong's positions on the issues that matter, and Matt Fong supports ENDA, supports Jim Hormel, supports a range of domestic partner rights and benefits and supports AIDS funding. That's why he earned our endorsement."

Log Cabin Republicans is the nation's largest gay and lesbian Republican organization, with 50+ chapters nationwide, a full-time Washington office and a federal political action committee.