July 29th, 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Robert R. Larimer, Jr.

INITIATIVE 677: TICKING TIME BOMB AT A VOTING BOOTH NEAR YOU

Vancouver, WA—For two hours tonight, Seattle's "Hot Talk" KVI radio host Floyd Brown interviewed WTV Executive Director Bob Larimer about the far-reaching ramifications of Initiative 677, a.k.a. the Employment NonDiscrimination Act of Washington.

Said Larimer, "As the namesake of the infamous federal Employment NonDiscrimination Act or ENDA -- the similar bill being bantered about the United States Congress, this initiative is similarly illadvised. As with ENDA in Congress, 'perceived sexual orientation' will be used as a legal hammer on employees, employers and families in Washington state if Initiative 677 qualifies for the November ballot and passes. Then it will be exported to the other 49 states. It will either begin here, or it will be defeated here."

Among other comments made, Larimer pointed out that:

1. "There is no crisis of discrimination in employment against homosexual people in our state; therefore I-677 is divisive and unnecessary."
2. "The most illogical thing we as citizens could do would be to begin granting official government recognition and special protections to various groups based on the behaviors they claim to participate in."
3. "The folly of letting someone tell you, 'I engage in non-traditional sexual practices, therefore you must hire me or I'll sue!' should be apparent to all. But once voted in to law, this initiative would provide legal remidies for the applicant who says, 'Although I do not actually participate in any non-traditional sex acts, but I do confess to thinking about them with some frequency. So, hire me or I'll sue!'"

Contact: Robert R. Larimer Jr.
(360) 693-2603
Email: Bob Larimer

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