Date: Sat, 07 Jun 97 17:51:24 EDT From: "communications" Subject: HRC Release: Colorado Governor Vetoes Anti-Marriage Bill ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, June 6, 1997 COLORADO GOVERNOR VETOES ANTI-MARRIAGE BILL TARGETING GAYS Romer Chooses `Principle Over Politics,' HRC Says WASHINGTON -- Colorado Gov. Roy Romer yesterday vetoed a statewide anti-marriage bill targeting gay and lesbian people, while calling for a commission to study the legal rights and responsibilities that are currently denied to gays in long-term committed relationships. "Governor Romer once again has chosen principle over politics," said Human Rights Campaign Executive Director Elizabeth Birch. "The governor has taken a stand for fairness by rejecting this latest attempt to deny gay and lesbian Coloradans equal rights under the law." In a statement he issued explaining the veto, Romer said "it became clear to me that, regardless of how benign the wording, this bill is fundamentally negative and divisive." Since gay marriage is not yet legal in Colorado or elsewhere in the United States, Romer noted that "The only real effect of this bill is to target gay and lesbian people and to exclude and stigmatize this group in our society." Romer rejected a similar anti-marriage bill passed by the Colorado state legislature last year. He becomes the second governor to veto such a statewide bill this year; the first was Gov. Gary Locke, D-Wash. Beyond the rejection of the bill, Romer's statement called for the establishment of a "Commission on the Rights and Responsibilities of Same Sex Relationships." Its aim would be to study the areas of civil law in which lesbian and gay relationships are treated differently than those of heterosexuals, including such issues as hospital visitation and inheritance rights. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 -