Date: Tue, 11 Oct 94 15:58:35 EDT
From: HRCFCOMM@aol.com

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PRESS RELEASE            PRESS RELEASE            PRESS RELEASE

               THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND                    

The Nation's Largest Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Political Group   
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To contact the HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND, please call us at     
(202)628-4160, fax us at (202) 347-5323 or write to us at PO Box 
1396  Washington, DC  20013.  WE CANNOT RESPOND TO E-MAIL.  
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            
TUESDAY, OCT. 11, 1994

COLORADO SUPREME COURT DECLARES ANTI-GAY MEASURE UNCONSTITUTIONAL

  -- Ruling Prompts Call for an End to Expensive and
     Discriminatory Anti-Gay Campaigns in Other States -- 

     WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court of Colorado today threw out
a discriminatory anti-gay measure passed in 1992 that would have
institutionalized discrimination against gay and lesbian people
in the state.  The decision prompted a call from the Human Rights
Campaign Fund for an end to divisive campaigns that seek to
impose discrimination through anti-gay ballot measures.   Similar
measures will appear on ballots Nov. 8 in Idaho, Oregon and
Alachua County, Florida.  

     "Today's decision from Colorado sends a clear signal across
the nation that anti-gay ballot measures are not only costly and
divisive, but against fundamental American values," said Tim
McFeeley, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign Fund
(HRCF), which contributed to the legal challenge against
Amendment 2 and is helping fight similar measures in Idaho,
Oregon and Florida.  "Amendment 2 and other discriminatory
measures would deprive people of their basic rights.  The
Colorado Supreme Court has declared the measure unconstitutional,
and courts across the nation are certain to follow suit. Those
who are pushing these ballot measures are wasting taxpayer money
to further a narrow political agenda.  They should drop these
wasteful campaigns so that we can focus on the real problems
facing this country."

     After a costly legal battle, the Colorado Supreme Court
upheld a lower court decision declaring Amendment 2
unconstitutional and barring it from taking effect.  The Colorado
Legal Initiatives Project (CLIP), which coordinated and financed
the legal challenge to Amendment 2, has estimated that the legal
battle over the amendment has cost taxpayers and advocates at
least $2 million so far.  The Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF)
was the single largest donor to CLIP's legal fund, contributing
$40,000 to help cover $175,000 in court-related costs.
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