From: WAND_M@gold.colorado.edu
Subject: Tensions are high as 16th annual Gay Ski Week begins
Followup-To: amend2-discuss@cs.colorado.edu
Originator: doherty@ucsu.Colorado.EDU
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 00:34:45 GMT

The Denver Post
January 24, 1993

By Greg Trinker, Special to The Denver Post

The 16th annual Aspen Gay Ski Week began yesterday with an estimated 3,000 gays 
and lesbians pouring into the city.

Some of Aspen's 5,049 permanent residents view the event as an outrage.  
Others see it as welcome tourism business and a victory for human rights.

In any case, with controvrsy over anti-gay-rights Amendment 2 swirling in the 
national spotlight, "the whole world will be watching," said Robert Aikens, 
organizer of a massive anti-Amendment 2 candlelight march through downtown last 
night.

The event attracted several hundred peopoe.  Roger and Mary Moyer brought their 
8-month-old daughter, Kate.  "This is not a gay thing.  It is about equal 
rights for all people," Mary Moyer said.

Because of Amendment 2, tension for Gay Ski Week is running higher this year.  
For example:

*	Denver Ku Klux Klan leader Shawn Slaetr has said he will visit Aspen 
during the week to hand out anti-gay material and protest the injunction by 
Denver Judge Jefrey Bayless blocking implementation of Amendment 2.  Local gay 
leaders say no counter protests are planned, but they can't speak for national 
leaders in town.  Police are on alert.


*	Former National League umpire Dave Pallone, who is gay, will speak to 
the Aspen High School student body Thursday.  The speech has caused bitter 
community debate.

*	National media have set up camp in Aspen to cover the continuing 
Amendment 2 story.  ABC, CBS and NBC plan to have film crews in town for parts 
of the week.

Despite "good treatment from Aspen," San Francisco gay ski club official John 
Armor said this year may be his last.  His organization originally had 50 
reservations for the trip to Aspen, but 30 members dropped out.

"As you can imagine, there has been tremendous debat within the club," Armor 
said.  "We'll give it one more year to change or we won't be back.  We don't 
want to support a state that doesn't support us."

For local pastor Bruce Porter, a vocal Amendment 2 supporter, homosexuality is 
"an abomination," which he is quick to criticize, especially with Gay Ski Week 
on center stage.

"If we truly love someone, we will confront them about their behavior, 
especially if it's destructive," he said.

Hotel bookings for the week are projected at 60 percent of capacity.  Last 
January averaged 69 percent occupancy.

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