I’m always very proud of our wonderful state of Colorado. We have a great many very cool people - gay and straight - who understand the concept of equality, and do what they can to further that goal.

This week THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS featured an article about a new petition drive being started to change the state constitution to recognize marriage as a union between two consenting adults. The wonderful thing is this drive is being spearheaded by a straight man - Stu Allen - and a friend of his - Hallie Atencio. When I read about it I felt such a surge of pride in the quality of people we have here that my heart just about jumped out of my chest. They are more motivated than me in this regard.

Stu frames the issue in very simple terms. He said he thinks gays should have the same rights he and his girlfriend of 7 years have. They may want to get married, and he thinks it’s wrong for them to be able to do that and not gay couples. I deeply admire these two young people.

But, I have to make one observation that isn’t relative to gay rights. I think our state constitution makes it far too easy for amendments to go through with a simple popular vote. I dislike petition drives because of it. Sometimes you can’t swing a chorizo sausage without hitting someone asking you to sign this petition or that, and I’m a firm believer in representational government. I didn’t like it when Amendment 2 passed on a ballot initiative, and it would be hypocritical of me to say this one is ok because it’s an issue I agree with. I can’t say right now if I’ll sign the petition or not at this point.

As proud as I am of Colorado, I’m also frequently saddened by others who call Colorado home. This week it was revealed that FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, those reprehensible gay bashing folks who have their headquarters in Colorado Springs, donated $657,000.00 to the Proposition 8 drive in California last year. It’s clear they think that amount of money was better spent in an attempt to deny equal rights to others, but I’m left wondering how many poor people might have been helped by that amount of money. I wonder how many sick people might have received treatment with that large dollar amount. I wonder how many in prison might have been offered solace and comfort if FOTF had chosen to follow the teachings of Christ as I understand them instead of their own selfish desires.

Finally, The Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court on behalf of some students of Yulee High School in Jacksonville, Florida who say they were denied the right to form a club that advocates tolerance for the GLBT community. I agree with them that this is a violation of the First Amendment and the Federal Equal Access Act, and I hope they prevail.

~ SamSez