From lldef@aol.com Tue Dec 14 12:11:18 1993
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 93 12:03:48 EST
From: lldef@aol.com
To: qrd@vector.intercon.com
Subject: Colo Amendmnt 2 Unconstitutional

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND, INC.
666 Broadway, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10012

Suzanne Goldberg                                           
(212) 995-8585                                            

Beatrice Dohrn 
(212) 995-8985


COLORADO COURT DECLARES ANTI-GAY AMENDMENT 2 UNCONSTITUTIONAL

     (New York, NY, December 14, 1993)  In a strong affirmation of lesbian
and gay civil rights, a Colorado trial court today invalidated Amendment 2,
the anti-gay initiative passed by Colorado voters over a year ago, and
blocked it from ever taking effect in the state of Colorado.  

     Ruling in Evans v. Romer, Judge Jeffrey Bayless declared
unconstitutional the initiative which would have amended Colorado's
constitution to prohibit any state entity from outlawing discrimination
against lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals.

     The amendment had been temporarily blocked from taking effect since
last January when plaintiffs sought and won a preliminary injunction, which
was upheld by the Colorado Supreme Court in July.

     "This ruling brings us closer to achieving basic civil rights for
lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals in Colorado," said Suzanne B. Goldberg,
the Lambda attorney who is co-counsel in the lawsuit challenging Amendment
2.  "It establishes clearly that fundamental rights of lesbians and gay men
cannot be voted away by the general public."  

     Goldberg added, "The court's ruling also sends a powerful message to
proponents of anti-gay initiatives around the country that efforts to cut a
minority group out of the political process offend our nation's
constitution and cannot be justified by prejudice or bias."

     Since the passage of Amendment 2, similar battles over anti-gay
initiatives have raged in at least nine states around the country.  Indeed,
on November 16th, Lambda Legal Defense's won a challenge to Cincinnati's
anti-gay charter amendment in an Ohio federal court, which decided the
amendment should be blocked.

     Lambda's legal director, Beatrice Dohrn, said, "The court realized
that Amendment 2 singles out a politically unpopular group for
discriminatory treatment in the political process for no legitimate
reason."

     It is expected that Colorado will appeal the ruling to the state's
supreme court. 

     Joining Lambda in the legal challenge are lead counsel and Colorado
attorney Jean Dubofsky, the Colorado Legal Initiatives Project and the
American Civil Liberties Union.

     
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