News from the A2 trial.  Testifying yesterday were:

Ignacio Rodriquez, former member of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission (bad
guy)
-To extend protected status to gays and lesbians would "weaken and dilute" the
civil rights protections extended to the groups which already have them

Rabbi Steven Foster, former chair of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission (good
guy)
-"the notion that affluence should bar people from having the right to be free
from discrimination is particularly disturbing."

Joseph Broadus, assistant professor at George Mason University Law School (bad
guy)
-"Amendment 2 says to these local governments that have been so completely
reckless in passing these ordinances, that if you don't know how to play with
your toys, then we're going to take them away from you."

Terry Schleder, leader of Boycott Colorado, Inc. (good gal)
-"The people were passionately convinced that a boycott had to happen because
of this injustice (passage of Amendment 2)."

Robert Knight, director of cultural studies for the Family Research Council
(take a guess)
-"We believe that the gay-rights movement is seeking to fundamentally alter the
social mores of this country, and to take away the family's legitimacy as the
fundamental building block of society."


Ex-rights panel member backs Amendment 2
Key bias issues missing, he says

By Howard Pankratz
Denver Post Legal Affairs Writer

  A former member of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission testified yesterday
that gays and lesbians lack the critical traits that have earned certain
groups, such as racial minorities, special civil rights protections.

  Ignacio Rodriquez, who served on the commission for 8.5 years until June
1992, said homosexuals shouldn't have the same anti-discrimination protections
as religious and racial minorities.  He said granting the rights would be a
"dramatic departure" from previous precedent.

  Testifying for the state of Colorado on the sixth day of the Amendment 2
trial, Rodriquez said that unlike racial minorities who are readily identified
by their names and skin colors, which can lead to blatant discrimination in the
form of substandard wages, education and jobs, homosexuals are not so easily
identified.

  He also said homosexuals appear to be better educated and financially more
secure than many.

  Rodriquez is at direct odds with commission member Stephen Foster, senior
rabbi of Congregation Emanuel, who was chairman of the commission in 1989-1990.

  Foster believes homosexuals deserve civil rights protections and has told
Denver District Judge Jeff Bayless -- who will rule on Amendment 2's
constitutionality -- that "the notion that affluence should bar people from
having the right to be free from discrimination is particularly disturbing."

  "As a Jewish person and a rabbi, I am protected from discrimination under
Colorado law as well as under federal law," said Foster in an affidavit
submitted to Bayless.  "This is in spite of the fact that Jews are more likely
than the general population to be college graduates, to have higher per capita
income, a higher household income and to travel abroad.  These characteristics
have been cited over generations as reasons to discriminate against Jews."

  Rodriquez, who said he actively worked for the amendment during last year's
campaign, admitted that he opposed a commission recommendation to the governor
that legislation be proposed adding sexual orientation to the list of state
civil rights protections.

"Weakens" other groups

  To extend protected status to gays and lesbians would "weaken and dilute" the
civil rights protections extended to the groups which already have them,
Rodriquez charged.

  But Foster noted that both in Colorado and United States, high levels of
income and education and the ability to travel don't bar protection from
discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, race and national origin.

  Further, Foster said that as a member of the Colorado Civil Rights
Commission, he has found there are a "great number" of men and women in
Colorado who aren't wealthy.

Prof backs amendment

  He said that after conducting its hearings, the commission found there was a
history of discrimination against gay men and lesbians in Colorado.

  Also testifying on behalf of the state yesterday was Joseph Broadus, an
assistant professor at the George Mason University School of Law in Fairfax,
Va.

  Broadus said Amendment 2 was a legitimate way by Colorado citizens to bring
Denver Boulder and Aspen officials into line after they violated the rights of
general citizens by enacting gay rights laws.

  Those gay rights laws, claimed Broadus, violated First Amendment protections
of freedom of religion, freedom of association and right to privacy of most of
the residents.

  Also testifying yesterday was Boycott Colorado Inc. leader Terry Schleder.

  Although claiming Colorado has lost more than $80 million in business
following Amendment 2's approval, Schleder -- who helped organize a boycott of
the state -- took minimal credit for that result.

  Rather, said Schleder, she believed many entities that decided not to do
business in the state did so simply because they felt it was the "politically
correct thing to do."

  Schleder was called as a witness by the state, which claims gay groups wield
considerable power.

Boycott testimony

  But Schleder described Boycott Colorado Inc. as anything but powerful. 
Rather, she said it was a very small organization that has received just $8,000
in contributions since its founding 11 months ago.

  Boycott Colorado, Inc. was formed to tell the nation that Amendment 2 "was
really hurting people," Schleder said.

  "The people were passionately convinced that a boycott had to happen because
of this injustice (passage of Amendment 2)."