Source: Denver Post, KRDO-TV
Right-wing groups in Colorado are waging an all-out lobbying effort to convince Gov. Bill Ritter to veto a non-discrimination bill that passed both houses of the legislature on May 2.
A radio ad sponsored by the groups uses "fear mongering" and "scare tactics," according to supporters of the anti-discrimination bill, to scare up calls to the governor's office urging Ritter to reject the measure.
Senate Bill 200 would ban discrimination based on a person's religious belief or sexual orientation -- including transgendered people -- in places of public accommodation, housing practices, family planning services and 20 other public spheres.
Ritter has until June 5 to sign or veto the bill. With no action by the governor, the bill automatically becomes law.
Ritter has not yet indicated whether he will sign the bill law, spokesman Evan Dreyer said Thursday.
Dreyer did, however, tell KRDO-TV that the office had received several calls responding to the radio ad.
Dreyer said, "It appears Focus on the Family is misconstruing this bill and waging a campaign based on fear and that's disappointing. It seems to represent the politics of yesterday."
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Jennifer Veiga (D-Denver), told the Denver Post she expects Ritter to sign it.
An arm of Colorado Springs-based Focus on Family called "Focus on Family Action" and "Colorado Family Action" launched the one-minute radio ad yesterday that encourages phone calls to Ritter's office from opponents of the anti-discrimination measure.
The lobby groups claim the bill would have serious consequences, such as opening up Colorado public restrooms and locker rooms to all genders and transgendered people, exposing children and women to sexual predators.
"The ... disingenuous media attack campaign (utilizes) bigoted, unfounded and hate-inspiring scare tactics," said the El Paso County Stonewall Democrats in a statement.
"They spin the whole intent of the bill in a negative light just to cloak their claims for a bogus right to discriminate against gays, lesbians and transgender individuals," the statement said.
National Stonewall Democrats is a grassroots network connecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Democrats, according to the Colorado Springs (El Paso County) chapter.
The radio ad mentions the word "predator" twice. Focus on the Family Action claimed it's not a reference to anyone gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
"Predator, a sexual predator, I have to define sexual predator?" Focus on the Family Action Judicial Analyst Bruce Hausknecht said to KRDO-TV.
"This is a pretty clear attack on the transgender community," said Colorado Springs Pride Center Executive Director Ryan Acker. "Those kind of protections are already in place that allow for there to be women's restrooms and men's restrooms and that would not be changing with this law. We're pretty disappointed that Focus on the Family would engage in such really harsh fear mongering."
The ad's spiel concludes with, "Our children must be protected from predators, but if Governor Ritter won't veto Senate Bill 200, all public restrooms, including those in our public schools, will be open to anyone of any sex."
Focus on the Family spokesman Tom Minnery claimed to Denver Post that the bill is so broadly drawn it violates common sense and invades privacy.
Jim Pfaff, president of Colorado Family Action, asserted the measure could also mean that a wedding photographer would have to shoot the commitment ceremony of a gay couple regardless of the photographer's religious beliefs about homosexuality.
"These are just scare tactics," said Viega. "These kinds of problems just don't materialize because of this kind of legislation."
Full article: Focus on the Family lobbies against anti-bias bill | Denver Post
Radio Ad Causes Anti-Discrimination Controversy | KRDO