🚀 go-pugleaf

tmayer@isis.cgd.ucar.edu (Thomas Mayer) wrote:
>In article <mj3XxQ9ytxPH089yn@csn.net> ThadSmith@acm.org writes:
>>
>>Let's put this in perspective.  Amendment 2 prohibits passage of laws
>>which establishes sexual preference as a protected class with regard
>>to discrimination for employment, and probably other social
>>interactions such as housing (I can't remember the details now).  That
>>means simply that cities, such as Boulder, cannot give special
>>consideration to sexual orientation in terms of enforcement.
>>
>      I believe the phrase was sexual orientation.  What Amendemnt 2
>      did was guarantee that descrimination in terms of sexual 
>      orientation would be allowed across the state, and that 
>      citizens would be prohibited from altering that situation.
>      I believe amendemnt 2 was the first law in the country since
>      Jim Crow laws that guaratees that a particular group may be
>      discrimanted against because of who they are.
> 
> 
>>I recall that Boulder and maybe Aspen had such laws on the books prior
>>to Ammendment 2 passage.  The rest of the state did not and thus the
>>passage caused no change.  What about communities in other states?
>>How many of them actually have laws that would be struct down by
>>Colorado Ammendment 2?  Very few, I assume.  
>>
>      Actually Denver has the same type of anti-descrimination law
>      on its books.  So these type of laws would affect almost
>      20% of the people in Colorado.  I wouldn't call that 
>      call that minor.   There are hundreds of communities and counties
>      across the country that have similar laws (including a number 
>      of large cities).  While this covers a minoroity of the population,
>      the number is not insignificant.


Actually I believe Aspen put something similar on its books also if I am 
not mistaken.

My interpretation of Amendment 2 was a bit different than yours.  I think 
what it actually did was, while still recognizing that discrimination is 
not allowed - sexual orientation, specifically homosexuality could NOT be 
used in any claim of discrimination - however, you could still claim 
discrimination for a host of other reasons.

This is where the amendment failed in the eyes of the courts so far, it 
specifically targeted "homosexuals"  Now, had it gone on to say something 
like - any sexual orientation "other" than heterosexual, it would have 
covered a myriad of groups and it would have had a harder time getting 
defeated in the courts.  It also would have raised a host of questions 
about women who claim sexual discrimination just because they are female.

The fact is, this amendment was written BY homophobes as their way of 
shaking their self supposed superior dicks in the faces of the citizens 
of the state.  When you look at the mentality of those who were 
originally behind the amendment, a lot of questions were answered.  There 
were definately some inferiority complexes being dealt with on the part 
of the supporters as well as the founders of Amendment 2's Colorado for 
Family Values.

The Amendment was great for bumper sticker business (Celebrate Diversity 
- Hate is NOT a Family Value, etc etc) but it was lousy for Chrysler!

My curiosity will be piqued if the Amendment is shot down by the Supreme 
Court - to see how many people try to jump on the "homosexual" benefits 
and bandwagon when they are not entitled to it.  The last thing any 
gay/bi/lesbian person wants to hear is - "You're fired faggot" or "your 
lease is cancelled..get out faggot" or the worst yet...."sorry, we do not 
provide medical services to faggots"

Ever since the civil rights bills, America has been screaming for a group 
of people to discriminate against.  Like I heard on one of those tabloid 
talk shows, - a nice southern gentleman when asked about the topic of 
discrimination clearly stated..."they took away the niggers, the fags 
'is' all we got left!" sic.

If homosexuals were clearly taken out as a group that we condone others 
discriminating against....what group will replace them?  Where will 
America vent her hate next?

RT