------------------------------

From: Richard Brown 
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 1994 13:24:13 -0500 (EST)
Subject: LAMBDA ALERT: Elders Fired by Clinton

============== Clinton fires Elders ================


by Richard Brown
December 10, 1994


[This may be posted to all appropriate lists and newsgroups without 
permission, so long as attribution is included.]


President Bill Clinton has fired Surgeon General Joycely Elders on 
learning that she spoke out in favor of teaching masturbation as one 
means of controlling AIDS, according to Reuters.

"The president feels that's wrong, feels that's not what schools are for, 
and it's not what the surgeon general should say," according to chief of 

staff Leon Panetta on Friday.

Elders was quoted as saying "I think we all may; wish we said things 
differently, but I have no regrets. Words are strange things.  Once they 
are out you can't get them back," said Elders.

Her resignation is effective on December 31.



During her time in office, Elders raised the fires of conservatives by 
stating that Roman Catholics who oppose abortion might have "a love 
affair" with fetuses.  She also suggested that the government consider 

the legalization of drugs, and that a five year old could benefit from 
being taught about AIDS.

The Surgeon General, an African American, grew up in segregated Arkansas.  
She has said that she never saw a physician until until she was a 
first-year college student.

In addition to her stands on drugs and abortion, Elders used her office 
to accuse the radical right of selling out the youth of America by using 
religion as cover.  Her support for homosexual adoptions led Catholic 

Cardinal James Hickey of Washington to call on Clinton to disavow her 
remarks.



In swift reaction to the demand for Elders' resignation, The National 
Association of People with AIDS.  The said "Dr. Elders made significant 
contributions to better educate the nation on the AIDS epidemic and the 
role of human sexuality in its transmission."  In addition, NAPWA  
expressed it's disillusion over the action, "because it reflects a lack 
of commitment to aggressive public heath measures in favor of political 

expediency."


The Family Research Council reacted swiftly to the firing.  In a release 
dated 12/9/94, Drew attention to the fact that firing comes just "before 
a conservative GOP majority prepares to take the lead on family issues."  

The FRC has called for Elders' resignation on several occasions, they 
say, because of the policies she has advocated. "But FRC will not be 
satisfied with a different salesperson for the liberal left--only with a 
new, pro-family direction." 



It seems clear that the conservatives are not merely happy at the action 
of the President, but will be more and more focusing on public figures 
who support open programs related to AIDS and the LGBT community.

Email responses to President Clinton, expressing our reactions are a 
first step which can be taken now to send the message that we are also 
watching and that we also have a good deal of deep feeling about the loss 
of Surgeon General Elders and what it might mean in terms of the Clinton 

presidency moving to the right.

The email address for the President is

 President Bill Clinton E-mail President@whitehouse.gov.

The fax number for the President is:
(202) 456-2461