Looking to the Legislature:
Gay Rights Tops Network Agenda
"Our opponents accuse us of having a hidden agenda. Our friends accuse us of lacking political sense," said Network lobbyist Christine Kaufmann. "In spite of it all, we just keep doing what we believe is right," she added.
The Network will again promote equal rights for Montana's lesbians and gay men as its top legislative priority. The package of bills will include efforts to amend the Montana's Human Rights Act to include gay men and lesbians, granting protection from discrimination in employment, housing and government practices; to repeal the Deviate Sexual Conduct Law which makes gays and lesbians felons; to include sexual orientation in the malicious harassment law, providing tougher sentences for gay-bashers; and to require law enforcement training and reporting on hate crimes.
Last session, some Democrats in leadership advised the Network not to promote gay-rights legislation. Since there was no realistic chance for passage, they reasoned, why force supportive legislators to cast votes that might later be used against them in a campaign. "To be sure, defending equal rights is often considered a political hot potato," said Kaufmann, " but Democrats and Republicans alike need to deal with this issue."
Later in the session, when all the republicans in the Senate voted to require life-time registration of lesbians and gay men convicted under the felony statute, those reluctant Democrats jumped into the national limelight as defenders of gay rights. "One hopes they did so out of renewed conviction, rather than simply to embarrass their fellow Republican legislators in front of the nation," said Kaufmann.
Republicans have promised to further their campaign against gays by making sure Montana never recognizes gay marriages. The Network will oppose that bill and other efforts to deny equal rights to Montana citizens.
In other areas, the Network is considering a bill that would simply outlaw the formation of private armies. Support of anti-government groups such as the militia and Freemen was openly apparent among legislators during the 1995 session. Public sentiment following the Oklahoma City bombing and the Freemen standoff will hopefully make militia support an unpopular idea among legislators.
The Network has also pledged to continue supporting efforts by Montana's Indian tribes to strengthen sovereignty rights. It will also push for improved efforts by the public education system to recognize the unique cultural heritage of American Indians, as guaranteed in the state's constitution.
Public education is one of the institutions experiencing the threat of the right wing nationwide and in Montana. Some of the right's success is dependent on low voter turnout at off-season trustee elections. The Network may consider a bill to move school elections to the general election cycle.
Finally the Network will watch the budget process to help protect funding for the state agency which enforces discrimination law, the Montana Human Rights Commission.