From: RMVLUG_4@FLINT.MINES.COLORADO.EDU (FRANK BERNDT)
Subject: Business Opposition to Amend 2 Grows
Followup-To: co.politics.amend2.discuss
Originator: gina@rintintin.Colorado.EDU
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 06:13:23 GMT


BUSINESS OPPOSITION TO AMENDMENT 2 GROWS

(RMN-Page 57 Business Section  Sat., Nov. 21, 1992)

A groundswell of opposition to Amendment 2 appears to be growing among
Colorado businesses.

The Greater Denver Chamber of Commerce plans to conduct a
coalition-building meeting today at chamber headquarters.

"The essence is a communications strategy to get out ahead of the
negative perception being projected of Colorado as an intolerant
community, a community that doesn't respect diversity," said chamber
spokesman Ken Parks.  "It really doesn't matter whether Amendment 2 is
in place."

Parks said groups planning to attend include:  the Colorado Association
of Commerce and Industry, respresentatives from the governor's and
mayor's offices, the mayor's office of economic development, the
Anti-Defamation League, the Colorado Council of Churches, the Denver
Center for Performing Arts, the Downtown Denver Partnership, the Metro
Denver Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Colorado Tourism Board,
Colorado Ski Country USA, Equal Protection for Colorado, as well as
various business owners, gay and straight.

"The group, I think you would generally find, supports
the repeal process," Parks said, adding that he based his assessment on
an informal poll of the groups.

Passage of Amendment 2, which bans anti-discrimination laws for
homosexuals, already is taking a toll in the form of at least two
canceled conventions and other threatened cancellations.  Such
cancellations translate into millions of dollars in lost revenue.

On a smaller scale, a Denver computer software firm is feeling the
fallout from Amendment 2 in the form of a withdrawn endorsement.

The irony is that American Fundware produces accounting software for
government and not-for-profit agencies, including several gay
organizations such as the Gay Men's Crisis Center of New York, the AIDS
project of Los Angeles, AIDS Action of Massachusetts, the Cascade AIDS
Project and the AIDS Foundation of San Diego also use the company's
software.

"It's not just the gay and lesbian organizations that are sensitive to
this, it's the whole non-profit industry," said Billl Hauptman of
American Fundware.

Before passage of Amendment 2, the California Association of Not for
Profits had agreed to sponsor American Fundware's software.  The
organization withdrew its support after the measure passed.

But instead of simply complaining, American Fundware plans to act - by
pushing for repeal of Amendment 2.

"Will we work to get it overturned?  Absolutely," said Janice Groth,
president of American Fundware.  "I'm not sure how we are going to be
able to affect it.  Although we're a major player in our industry, we're
not a major Colorado corporation."


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