From: WAND_M@gold.colorado.edu
Subject: Legal defense dropped by CFV
Followup-To: amend2-discuss@cs.colorado.edu
Originator: doherty@ucsu.Colorado.EDU
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 06:07:33 GMT

By Michael Booth, Denver Post Staff Writer
December 10, 1992

Pat Robertson group takes up challenge

Colorado for Family Values has turned over its amendment 2 legacy to the 
National Legal Foundation, a Virginia-based conservative organization founded 
by fundamentalist minister Pat Robertson.

Representatives of Colorado for Family Values, which sponsored the 
controversial measure, now refer all questions about the initiative to the 
foundation, which specializes in advising religious groups on constitutional 
issues.

Calls not returned
Some obervers say the legal foundation may wish to join Colorado as a defendant 
in the lawsuit challenging Amendment 2, in order to ensure a vigorous defense 
of the law that bans state and local laws to protect gays from discrimination.

Colorado for Family Values spokesman Will Perkins declined to say whether the 
foundation would join the suit, referring all calls to the Virginia Beach, Va., 
foundation office.  Foundation officials didn't return phone calls.

Correspondence between the foundation and Colorado for Family Values shows that 
the two groups consulted in 1991--long before Amendment 2 made the ballot--to 
iron out ballot language that would survive legal and political challenges.

One letter from the foundation, for example, provides a remarkably prescient 
opinion on how the Colorado campaign would be run:

"If language denying special privileges to homosexuals is in the amendment, it 
could possibly allow homosexuals ro argue that they are not asking for any 
special privileges, just those granted to everyone else," wrote staff counsel 
Brian McCormick.  "I believe that 'No Special Privileges' is a good motto for 
the amendment's public campaign, but I fear the possible legal ramifications if 
it is included in the amendment itself."

The word "special" was left out of the amendment but was used heavily by 
Colorado for Family Values in its campaign and statements.  The group had 
maintained adamantly that its strategy was not coordinated by national 
religious or political groups.

Consulted with foundation
Perkins said his group has consulted with the foundation off and on, even as 
far back as the campaign to kill a proposed city gay rights ordinance in 
Colorado Springs early last year.

If it chose to enter the fray, the National Legal Foundation would become a 
player in a lawsuit filed in Denver District Court by a coalition opposing 
Amendment 2.

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