By Political Reporter Marshall Zelinger
m.zelinger@krdo.com
COLORADO SPRINGS - An arm of Focus on the Family is fighting an anti-discrimination bill ready for Governor Bill Ritter's signature. Senate Bill 200 will make discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal. It passed through both the House and the Senate earlier this year.
Focus on the Family Action and Colorado Family Action have produced a one-minute radio ad encouraging you to call the Governor and tell him to veto the bill.
This is a transcript of the radio ad:
"Mom..."
If the Colorado legislature has its way...
"A man in a dress came into the girl's restroom at school today."
We could all be dealing with a new type of predator.
"Honey, there was a man in the women's showers at the gym today, and the management said it was, it was Colorado law."
And instead of our kids worrying about class work, they'll be worrying about who might be in the restroom with them.
"No way I'm going in there (school bell), I'd rather wait all day if a guy's in there."
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.
Colorado's Democrat-controlled legislature has already passed this bill, but Governor Ritter still has time to veto it. Call him now and ask him to protect our kids and veto SB 200. Call 303-866-2471. 303-866-2471.
Brought to by Focus on the Family Action and Colorado Family Action.
"We're concerned that it will open up bathrooms to any type sexual orientation," says Focus on the Family Action Judicial Analyst Bruce Hausknecht. "Cross-dressing would be part of the protected categories under the new definitions of sexual orientation."
Focus on the Family Action produced the radio spot because part of the bill protects against discrimination at "places of public accommodations." Focus of the Family Action feels that term is too broad.
"Restrooms, locker rooms are all public accommodations and are covered by that law," says Hausknecht. "You're creating a situation where school officials can't question the people that are using the various bathrooms without violating the statute. You're going to have the possibility of men using women's restrooms and using cross-dressing as an excuse to get at women in a vulnerable situation."
The radio ad mentions the word "predator" twice. Focus on the Family Action says it's not a reference to anyone gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
"Predator, a sexual predator, I have to define sexual predator?" says Hausknecht.
"This is a pretty clear attack on the transgender community," says 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."
Acker says the bill is about bringing equality to another group of people.
"They've taken information and twisted it around, this bill has nothing really to do with restrooms," says Acker. "Every single person should have access to employment, to having a roof over their head and to be able to go to the grocery store and buy groceries."
NEWSCHANNEL 13 contacted Governor Ritter's office for response. We were told a few people had already called because of the ad. Governor Ritter's Spokesman Evan Dreyer also gave us this statement:
"The intent of this particular anti-discrimination bill is to update existing laws and bring consistency across the board to a whole host of areas, including age, race, marital status, religion and sexual orientation. 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."
According to Dreyer, Governor Ritter hasn't yet taken a public position on the bill. He has until June 5th to sign the bill, veto it, or do nothing and let it become law anyway.
Focus on the Family Action says it would support anti-discrimination legislation that includes sexual orientation, if the terminology was more specific.
"We are not in favor of discrimination against homosexuals in public accommodations," says Hausknecht. "We don't believe that people should be discriminated against in restaurants, hotels, trains on the basis of their sexual orientation."
Focus on the Family Action is also against the bill because its concerned it will also affect small business owners with strong religious beliefs.
"If they can't use those faith-based principals to run their business, they're out of business or they compromise their beliefs, those are their choices," says Hausknecht.
The term "places of public accommodation" does have some exemptions. Churches, synagogues and mosques and other places that are used for religious purposes can still discriminate based on sexual orientation.
