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
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