From: zstewart@nyx.cs.du.edu (Zhahai Stewart)
Newsgroups: co.general
Subject: Re: Amendment #2
Date: 6 Nov 92 20:46:47 GMT
Distribution: co
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In article <Nov06.060107.50183@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU> valeria@lamar.ColoState.EDU writes:
>Amendment as it was written on the ballot. 
>	Shall there be an Amendment to Article II of the Colorado Constitution
>	to prohibit the state of Colorado and any of its political subdivisions
>	from adopting or enforcing any law or policy which provides that
>	homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual orientation, conduct, or relationships
>	constitutes or entitles a person to claim any minority or protected
>	status,quota preferences, or discrimination.
>
>My question to the fools and idiots is: Where in the law does it say that
>discrimation is lawful. Once again the press, the gay rights groups and the
>poltical groups are misleading the people of Colorado.l voted for #2 and still
>have no problems sleeping.
>
>I know that I will be called all types of names and will be flamed for these
>comments but who cares about narrow minded bigots.

It is sad that you seem to feel that you can before the fact call anyone who
disagrees with you "fools and idiots", and then feel justified in calling
them narrow minded bigots.  Particularly sad it that you probably think you
are open minded and friendly and logical and all that.  If you can start the
discussion by insulting others, then calling them the bigots, then I have no
doubt that you can twist things so as to sleep at night.

Just in case, let's look at some facts.  There are NO laws or regulations by
the State of Colorado or its subdivisions giving gay, lesbian, or bisexuals
any special rights, "minority status", or quota preferences.  None.  Period.
Quote one if you think otherwise; you won't find it.

Here is what does exist: Aspen, Boulder, and Denver have laws which prohibit
discrimination in certain areas (housing, employment) based on sexual
orientation.  That is, under such ordinances, you cannot fire someone just
because they are heterosexual.  Read that again.  HETEROsexuals are protected
from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.  Up until Ballot
Issue 2, so were homosexuals (bisexuals, etc) - equally.  Again: equally.
Amendment 2 says that homosexuals can no longer be protected from such
discrimination.  Heterosexuals can, of course; only gays, lesbians and
bisexuals are prohibited from EQUAL rights.  Likewise, this overrules some
state and local government EQUAL rights internal regulations, only in the
case of discrimination against homosexuals.

Yes, Ballot Issue 2 prohibited quota preferences, etc - however, there were
none existing or proposed.  The sponsors knew that, and ran a deceitful
campaign, focussing on non-existant special rights.  Hard core bigots didn't
care, but some decent moderates were deceived by this into thinking that the
effect of #2 would be to reverse "special rights"; since there were none, the
entire and only effect of #2 is to reverse "equal rights".  To prohibit 
any laws against discrimination is equivalent to legalising discrimination;
in the same way that prohibiting laws against abortion would be to legalise
abortion.  I realize that the sponsors of #2 tried to bury the real effect
and purpose of #2 in a final word towards the end, but if after studying
this amendment you really cannot understand this, it is extremely ironic
that you could call others "fools and idiots" as well as "narrow minded
bigots".

I am open to any countering facts to the above.  Demonstrate a single ordinance
or regulation by Colorado or subdivisions thereof, which gave homosexuals one
iota more rights than it gave heterosexuals.  You cannot, because they didn't
and don't exist.  Your position is based on accepting deceptions, not on real
facts.

Please rethink, if you are capable of doing so.  You may have honestly been
deceived.