Steve Endean, Director of the Field Division for the Human Rights Campaign Fund, discussed the fund's efforts to support gay and lesbian rights through political action and lobbying. Key issues include the Hate Crime Statistics Act, which mandates data collection on prejudice-based crimes, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which aims to include persons with AIDS or HIV infection as disabled. The fund's Speak Out program, which uses Western Union messages to mobilize constituent mail, has seen significant growth, with 20,000-25,000 participants. This program has increased the impact of gay and lesbian advocacy on Congress, particularly in the context of the AIDS crisis.