Date: Fri, 14 Oct 1994 09:19:37 -0500 (GMT-0500) From: "Thomas W. Holt Jr." Subject: CFV Blasts NCOD Ruling (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 13 Oct 1994 12:52:20 -0700 From: Mills Mike To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Subject: CFV Blasts NCOD Ruling Gay-Rights Ruling Faces Appeal Date: Wed, 12 Oct 94 DENVER (AP) -- State officials plan to appeal a state Supreme Court decision striking down an anti-gay rights amendment as unconstitutional. Gay rights groups hailed the ruling. The court ruled Tuesday that Amendment 2, which prohibited local governments from outlawing discrimination against homosexuals, denies gays an equal voice in government. ``This ruling is a decisive affirmation of lesbian and gay rights, and a crushing blow to the radical right's efforts to curtail important constitutional protections,'' said co-cousel Suzanne B. Goldberg, an attorney at Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, a gay-rights organization. The amendment ``singles out one form of discrimination and removes its redress from consideration by the normal political process,'' Chief Justice Luis Rovira wrote for the court's 6-1 majority. State Attorney General Gale Norton said the thrust of the state's appeal to the high court will be the role voters have in setting state policies. Two other states will have anti-gay-rights measures on their ballots next month. Measure 13 in Oregon and Proposition 1 in Idaho would forbid state and local governments from giving legal minority status to people based on homosexual behavior. Unlike Colorado, their measures also would limit public schools and universities in how they teach about homosexuality, and limit access to books on the subject at public libraries. In Alachua County, Fla., voters will decide on whether to repeal a county ordinance barring discrimination against gays, and whether to forbid the county commission from enacting any such measure in the future. Colorado's Amendment 2, which would have struck down anti-discrimination ordinances in Denver, Boulder and Aspen, was never enforced. It was challenged immediately, and has been the subject of court battles since then. It was written by Colorado for Family Values founder Will Perkins and approved, 54 percent to 46 percent, by voters in the 1992 election. Perkins told reporters the ruling did not surprise him because courts ``already have made known their willingness to cast aside the freedoms of those who hold politically incorrect beliefs in today's society.'' Perkins also suggested that the court had delayed issuing the ruling until National Coming Out Day, when gays are encouraged to declare their sexual orientation. ``This is an additional slap in the face for the majority of Coloradans and one they won't forget,'' Perkins said. There was no evidence the court timed the decision to National Coming Out Day. But that didn't bother supporters. ``I don't know if it was intentional, but I think it's a fabulous gift for Coming Out Day,'' said Sue Anderson, director of Equality Colorado.