Washington, D.C.--The House narrowly passed two amendments to the VA/HUD appropriations bill that have grave implications for gay Americans, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The Hilleary amendment, which passed by a vote of 231-200, would drastically cut housing funds for people with AIDS.

"Right-Wing GOP gay bashing has hit an all-time hypocritical low. Anti-gay bias and the need to appease James Dobson has led conservatives to abandon their professed principles of local autonomy by allowing unprecedented federal intrusion into the city of San Francisco," said HRC executive director Elizabeth Birch.

"The two vote margin and the fact the Senate bill has no corresponding language shows that the Riggs amendment will likely be removed in conference.

HRC vows to do everything possible to defeat these discriminatory measures," said HRC political director Winnie Stachelberg. To pass, California Republican Congressman Frank Riggs, had to change his amendment five times to make it more palatable. However, even in its present form, it is a thinly veiled attempt to attack San Francisco and micro-manage the city.

This drop in mortality is due to people living longer because of new AIDS drugs. However, the success of these new drug treatments is dependent on people having a steady place to live where they can stick to the often rigorous drug regimens.

If the Hilleary amendment becomes law, many people would not be able to continue effective treatment. The Hilleary amendment would disproportionately affect veterans.

According to the Veterans Administration, 100,000-150,000 veterans are living with HIV and roughly 17,000 access care through the veterans care system.

Thirty percent of the homeless in America today are veterans. A new poll released today by HRC and conducted by the polling firm Penn, Schoen, and Berland shows America disapproves of the current spate of anti-gay rhetoric and legislation circulating through Congress.

The poll shows that 75 percent of Americans believe job discrimination against gay people should be illegal. The poll also shows that there are political consequences for gay bashing with 33 percent of likely voters saying that they would be "much less likely" to vote for a Congressperson who voted to overturn President Clinton's ban barring job discrimination against gays. Only 11 percent of respondents said overturning the discrimination ban would make them "much more likely" to vote for their Congressperson.

The poll also asked how the recent attacks on gay Americans by the GOP affected the respondents opinion of the Republican party. 40 percent said their opinion was "less favorable." Only 18 percent said anti-gay rhetoric made their impression of the party "more favorable."

"America rejects this gratuitous gay bashing. The recent attacks against gay people have backfired and there will be severe consequences at the polls in November for those members of Congress who continue to pander to religious political extremists. Voters are perplexed by this new obsession with gay people and are wondering when Congress will realize it is time to start focusing on real issues instead of red-meat for the Far Right" said HRC communications director and senior strategist David M. Smith.