From: WAND_M@gold.colorado.edu
Subject: Amendment galvanizes--and divides--gays
Followup-To: amend2-discuss@cs.colorado.edu
Originator: doherty@ucsu.Colorado.EDU
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 05:23:24 GMT

Groups organize but differ over boycott
By Louis Aguilar of the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph
December 8, 1992

Gays and lesbians in Colorado are attempting to organize politically at an 
unprecedented level as they grapple with ways to deal with Amendment 2.

During the weekend in Colorado Springs, about 150 people formed a group they 
dubbed Ground Zero, vowing to launch a high-profile campaign to promote gay 
rights.  A similar effort was approved by about 100 gay leaders in Denver.

But while both groups have clear goals, neither knows yet how it will act on 
them.  What's more, there are divisions within the groups--and among gays in 
general--over whether to support an economic boycott against the state.

Still, gay leaders say, the coming together is significant in itself.  "Never 
before have I seen the community so motivated," said Tony Ogden, an official 
with Equality Colorado, an anti-Amendment 2 group in Denver.

"Colorado for Family Values may think they have silenced the gay community. 
No," he added, "it was a wake-up call."

Colorado Springs-based Colorado for Family Values authored the amendment, which 
prohibits laws protecting gays from discrimination based on sexual orientation.  
Its leaders could not be reached for comment.

Gay community activist Robin Miller said many gays thought Amendment 2 had no 
chance of passing, so they didn't become active before the Nov. 3 election.

"Many people realize that it's essential to stand up now," she said.

It's that feeling of urgency that caused the Colorado Springs group to name 
itself Ground Zerok, said Bruce Pfrommer, a member.

"It sums up the level of gay and lesbian rights at this point," Pfrommer said.  
"We want to make people understand that may people are living in fear right now 
because of this amendment."

The group was formed through a series of meetings held after the amendment's 
passage, including one Sunday night at Colorado College.  The group includes 
members of several gay grass-roots organizations and former members of the 
Equal Protection Campaign, which campaigned against Amendment 2.

Ground Zero supports an economic boycott of Colorado by groups, businesses and 
cities.  It also wants to launch an "education" campaign to familiarize the 
public with the gay community and the impact of Amendment 2.  Gays contend that 
the amendment gives them no legal way to fight discrimination.

Organizers also talk about a series of statewide rallies in the spring and of 
gathering enough signatures to place a measure on the ballot that would repeal 
Amendment 2.

But for now, those goals are just that--talk.  The group, newly organized, has 
no detailed plans on where to go next.

The goals, though, mirror many of those outlined by nearly 100 gay leaders in 
Denver at two weekend meetings.  In both cities, representatives from national 
gay and lesian groups are working with local gay activists on strategies to 
combat Amendment 2.  Some of those groups, like the National Gay and Lesbian 
Task Force, have been waiting to either endorse or reject the idea of a 
boycott.

No statewide consensus resulted from the metings because the Denver group 
stalled on a boycott stand.  An endorsement of the boycott, leaders there said, 
would alienate business and civic leaders who share their opposition to 
Amendment 2.






----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corrections, new info, and requests for info: amend2-info@cs.colorado.edu
Administrative comments                     : amend2-mod@cs.colorado.edu
General Discussion                          : amend2-discuss@cs.colorado.edu
Boulder/Denver area local meetings/events   : amend2-local@cs.colorado.edu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe to a list, send mail to Majordomo@cs.colorado.edu, with
        subscribe <list-name>
in the BODY of the message.  For multiple lists, use multiple lines.

Newsgroups: co.politics.amend2.info