This came to us via AEGIS Internet News. It was written by Dianna Cicotello, who can be reached at Dainna@aol.com.

From: DAINNA@aol.com
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998
Subject: Colorado Activism, update 3/3/98

Fort Collins Civil Rights Bill

In Fort Collins Colorado last night, the city council voted 7-0 for final approval of a new civil rights bill which adds "Sexual Orientation" as a protected class. Ft Collins thus becomes the first city in Colorado to add "sexual orientation" to its civil rights protective laws since Amendment2 was shot down by the US Supreme Court (Amendment2 would have made it impossible to pass or have this kind of law.)
The "Sexual Orientation" definition includes the "actual or perceived" language. Public comments this time ran 35 in favor, 29 opposed. (My 80-year old mom went to the microphone to speak in favor of the law, in this - the town where she grew up!!)

A promised amendment to the bill redefining "gender" to include transgender status was listed in the printed ordinance material as "Option #2", but was not brought to the floor for debate or vote, despite that many of the people who came to the microphone for public comment -- TG and non-TG -- urged the council to include TG status. I spoke with the City Manager, City Attorney, and a couple of City Council members during the ensuing break, and they all told me that they felt that the wording of the TG language was not ready yet to be a law. The Assistant City Attorney had taken what may have been too much information, and had attempted to write his own TG-protective language, without the benefit of adaquate interpersonal education, instead of just using the "boiler-plate" TG-protective language he had been given. I was assured by concil members that the TG-protective issue was still open, and that it would be addressed again in the coming months.

It is my opinion that in the meantime, members of the TG community could rely on the "actual or perceived" language of sexual orientation to provide basic protections if problems arise.

There is a Potential PROBLEM, however: - Opponents have ten days to file a protest against the ordinance(s). If that doesn't happen [and it will], they go into effect at the end of 10 days. - If there's a protest, the filers have some time (I'm not sure how long) to get wording for their petitions approved by the City Clerk - Once approved, they have 20 days to collect 1,783 signatures. - If they collect enough signatures, Council has the choice to repeal the ordinance or refer it to the ballot. All indications are that they would choose the November general election (which is probably the choice most favorable for passage). - If any of these deadlines come without the requirements being met, the ordinance(s) go into effect.

Boulder, Denver, & State News

I and several members of the Front Range TG community met with Boulder Colorado's City Attorney on Friday, to do TG education at the city's request so that they can update their 10-year old civil rights ordinance to include TG protection. The meeting went VERY well, and the City Attorney told the city human rights director how best to move these changes forward with the least resistance. The changes will essentially be administrative changes to definitions, rather than new law; a nice stealth approach. (This is likely the best approach for Ft Collins as well, suggested one Ft. Collins city council member)

We continue to work in favorable conditions for a similar change in Denver, as well.

On a state level, a bill to provide for state-wide protection based on sexual orientation was defeated in assigned committee 3-9. A bill to change the state's existing "Ethnic Intimidation" law to become a "Hate Crimes" law -- and which would include sexual orientation (including TG status a la Minnesota) -- passed first committee 9-3, but is now in Appropriations committee (no public hearings) where it is expected to die....

The same-sex marriage ban bill (Colorado DOMA) is in holding ("late bill status") for now. Governor Romer will most likely veto it anyway (for the third time), based on his personal comments to me a week ago.

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