February 26th, 1997
DSHS'S SEXUAL MINORITY INITIATIVE LIVES ON IN SPIRIT AND SUBSTANCE
Vancouver, WA—The Washington State Legislature is once again taking
exception with the use of tax revenues to promote narrow special interest
agendas. House Bill 2024 - "prohibiting the use of state funds for
promoting a sexual minority initiative" would end one of those agendas for
good.
In testimony before the House Appropriations
Committee today, WTV's Executive Director Robert R. Larimer, Jr. responded to
pro-homosexual testimony charging that the bill does not contain a specific
enough definition. Holding up a hot pink 8 1/2" by 11" book titled
'SEXUAL MINORITY INITIATIVE,' (SMI), which was printed by DSHS in 1994, Larimer
observed:
"This agency was confident enough of the definition of SMI to print books
about it's planned implementation and features."
Larimer reminded the Committee that House Speaker Clyde Ballard had expressed
his disgust upon being shown that DSHS had finessed this program behind his
back, calling it an "agency agenda," and that budget notes from the
previous session clearly showed the intent of the Legislature to remove all
funding for the Sexual Minority Initiative.
Pointing out the absurdity of DSHS's behind-the-scenes political manipulations,
Larimer stated:
"Unless this Legislature believes that it would be appropriate to institute
similar programs, lavishing favoritism and special, preferential treatment in
order to force state employees - and the public - to be more
"sensitive" to the concerns of home schoolers, hunters, pro-lifers or
any other conduct-based group which might claim to be a victim of negative
stereotyping, it would be inappropriate to continue to provide the funding and
political advocacy being lavished on this particular special interest through
the SMI or similar programs."
Contact: Robert R. Larimer Jr.
(360) 695-4845
Email WTV: blarimer@e-z.net
Return to: WTV-P News Releases