COLORADO: Ballot Measure Seeks To Limit Same-Sex Marriages As Civil Unions

Via the Denver Post:

A proposed ballot initiative filed Thursday would redefine same-sex marriages in Colorado as civil unions. A second initiative would allow wedding-related businesses opposed to gay marriage to hire a contractor to serve the couples. Keeping gay marriage out of Colorado could be difficult, if not impossible, since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 26 that same-sex couples have a right to marry nationwide. Both ballot questions were filed by Gene Straub and D'Arcy Straub, both of Littleton. D'Arcy Straub is a lawyer. He could not be reached Friday, and his voice message said he was on a mountain-climbing trip. Gene Straub did not immediately return a phone call. Each measure would need at least 98,492 verified signatures from registered voters to get on the ballot. State Rep. Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, said the point of the gay marriage amendment is moot.

The proposed amendment declares: "A marriage is recognized as a form of religious expression of the people of Colorado that shall not be abridged through the state prescribing or recognizing any law that implicitly or explicitly defines a marriage in opposition or agreement with any particular religious belief."

COLORADO: State GOP Invites Log Cabin To Share Booth At Right Wing Convention

Via the Denver Post:

The Colorado Republican Party has invited a gay GOP group that wasn't allowed to set up a table at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver to share its booth. Party Chairman Steve House, who took over in March, made the announcement Thursday afternoon, one day after a firestorm over the snub by summit organizers to the Log Cabin Republicans. "We're fine with the Colorado Republicans sharing some table space at the summit with all their affiliated groups. We're not fine with the shaming and bullying pressure tactics of Log Cabin Republicans' national office," said summit chairman John Andrews. The summit, which has become a must-attend for some of nation's best-known conservatives, will be at the Colorado Convention Center June 26 to 28. Speakers including several presidential hopefuls. It is put on by Colorado Christian University and its think tank, the Centennial Institute.

I'll update this post when Log Cabin issues a reaction. (Tipped by JMG reader TJ)

Right Wing Convention Bans Log Cabin

Via the Associated Press:

Organizers of a conservative conference in Denver this summer have told a gay Republican group it cannot have a booth at the event. The Western Conservative Summit is scheduled for June in Denver, where thousands of conservative activists will gather to hear Republican presidential hopefuls like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Pennsylvania Sen Rick Santorum speak. The event is organized by The Centennial Institute, a think tank affiliated with Colorado Christian University.

On Wednesday, the president of the Centennial Institute, John Andrews, said his group had returned a $250 registration fee that the Log Cabin Republicans had sent in to secure a booth at the three-day summit. Because the group advocates for gay marriage, it cannot have an official presence at an event that promotes traditional family structure, he said. "We'd love to have them attend the summit and be in the discussion. But we have to draw the line at a formal relationship between two organizations with diametrically opposed policy beliefs," Andrews said.

Log Cabin says they are "stunned" to be rejected. More from the Denver Post:

The summit is sponsored by Colorado Christian University in Lakewood and its think tank, the Centennial Institute. Summit chairman and institute director John Andrews said Wednesday that the Log Cabin Republicans "advocate contrary to our agenda and our core beliefs." "The Log Cabin Republicans exists to redefine the family," he said. "Log Cabin Republicans think gay marriage should be the law of the land, and Colorado Christian University doesn't believe it should be." Log Cabin Republican members have been told they can still purchase tickets and attend the summit, scheduled for June 26- 28 at the Colorado Convention Center. "It is a pretty common issue we face. They'll take our money but want us in the closet," said Denver resident Michael Carr, a former state Senate candidate and secretary of the state chapter of Log Cabin Republicans.

The Human Rights Campaign is calling on Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to pull out of the convention unless Log Cabin is allowed to have a booth.

TSA Agents Fired For "Groping" Scheme

The wingnuts are going to have a field day.

Two Transportation Security Administration officials at Denver International Airport (DIA) have been fired for conducting a scam on male passengers. A male and female agent collaborated so the male could fondle the genitals of men he found attractive. At some point in 2014, the male TSA agent told a female coworker that he “gropes” male passengers he finds attractive, and he asked her for help manipulating the system, according to law enforcement documents obtained by KCNC. “He related that when a male he finds attractive comes to be screened by the scanning machine he will alert another TSA screener to indicate to the scanning computer that the party being screened is a female. When the screener does this, the scanning machine will indicate an anomaly in the genital area and this allows [the male TSA screener] to conduct a pat-down search of that area,” the documents said.

(Tipped by JMG ready Jaime)

COLORADO: State Senate Committee Rejects "Ex-Gay" Torture Ban Bill

Via the Associated Press:

A bill to ban gay-conversion therapy for kids has been rejected by Republicans that control the state Senate. The bill would have banned therapists from trying to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of children. It was rejected 3-2 on a party-line vote in a Senate committee Wednesday. The bill earlier passed in the House, which is controlled by Democrats. The measure would have forbidden therapists from trying to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a person under 18. Therapists who do not follow the rule would face disciplinary action from their licensing board. A Republican who voted against the ban said it would have limited choice by people who want gay conversion therapy.

The vote in the House last month was 35-29.

COLORADO: State Dismisses Complaint Against Bakery That Refused To Make "Homosexuality Is Detestable" Cake

Via the Washington Post:

Owners of a Denver bakery did not discriminate against a customer by refusing to fulfill an order requesting two cakes with ant-gay imagery and wording on them. That’s the message from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, which ruled that the Azucar Bakery was within its rights when employees refused to carry out an order from customer William Jack in March 2014, according to the Denver Post. Jack, a Christian who originally told reporters that he believes Azucar Bakery “discriminated” against him “based on my creed,” had asked the bakery to bake him two Bible-shaped cakes, ABC affiliate 7 News Denver reported.

The first cake would include disdainful words about gays and a second cake would include two men holding hands and an X on top of them. Jack asked that the cake be decorated with the biblical verses “God hates sin. Psalm 45:7″ and “Homosexuality is a detestable sin. Leviticus 18:2,” the decision by the department’s Civil Rights Division said, according to 7 News Denver. Marjorie Silva, the bakery’s owner, agreed to make the cakes but refused to put the ant-gay imagery on them, according to the AP. “It’s just horrible. It doesn’t matter if, you know, if you’re Catholic, or Jewish, or Christian, if I’m gay or not gay or whatever,” Silva, 40, told the Associated Press. “We should all be loving each other. I mean there’s no reason to discriminate.”

The agency ruled that the baker was justified in refusing to create a product with "derogatory language and imagery."

COLORADO: House Passes "Ex-Gay" Ban

The battle in the state Senate is expected to be tough.

COLORADO: "Ex-Gay" Torture Ban Advances In State House Committee

From the Associated Press:

Colorado mental health professionals would be barred from practicing gay conversation therapy with minors under a bill given initial approval Friday by the state House. The House advanced the bill on an unrecorded voice vote. A final vote this week could send the proposal to the more conservative Senate, where its chances were less clear. The measure would forbid therapists from trying to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a person under 18. Therapists who do not follow the rule would face disciplinary action from their licensing board. Republicans worry that therapists could be punished for merely being perceived as trying to change someone’s sexual orientation. Rep. Brian DelGrosso, the Republican House leader, said he’s concerned about unintended consequences. He asked what would happen in situations when a youth is confused about sexual orientation.

Bans have already been enacted in California, New Jersey, and Washington DC.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: When the DC City Council unanimously passed its ban, "ex-gay" activist Christopher Doyle called the action "a victory for gay pedophiles everywhere." DC Mayor Vincent Gray signed the bill into law in January, prompting the Liberty Counsel to declare that "an assault on almighty God" had been committed. Tony Perkins bleated that DC City Council members had "opened a frightening chapter" on the recruiting of children into homosexuality. The Liberty Counsel has lost every single legal battle to overturn statewide bans on "ex-gay" torture in California and New Jersey, including before the US Supreme Court. Doyle's group is planning to sue for the overturn of DC's ban.

VIDEO: Trans Activists Storm Stage At Task Force's Creating Change Convention

I reported on this early today and this afternoon the Task Force posted video. The audio cuts in and out early in the clip but returns after few minutes.

DENVER: Mayor Cancels Speech To Task Force After Trans Advocates Storm Stage

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock canceled his planned welcoming address at the Task Force's annual  Creating Change conference last night after a large group of transgender advocates stormed the stage in protest of the recent killing of a Latina teen by Denver police. Michelle Garcia reports at the Advocate:

Task Force deputy executive director Russell Roybal and Creating Change director Sue Hyde welcomed thousands of attendees at this year's conference in Denver Thursday evening, and both showed emotion as they remarked upon the death of queer Latina Jessie Hernandez. Last week, Hernandez was fatally shot by police fire in Denver in a car authorities report was stolen. After Hyde and Roybal introduced the evening's emcee, comedian Kate Clinton, a group of trans activists and allies, led by Bamby Salcedo, stormed the stage with dozens of handmade signs as the chant "Jessie Presente!" filled the ballroom. Shortly after the demonstration, an activist told The Advocate that Creating Change organizers were not told about the action, in case the trans activists would not be allowed into the ballroom of the Sheraton in downtown Denver. Not only did Salcedo demand better accountability on the part of police and the criminal justice system, she also called for LGBTQ organizations to include transgender people on their boards and staffs as decision makers. "If you serve us, you need to include us," Salcedo said to a crowd cheering and raising their fists in solidarity.

After the stage was cleared, Roybal announced that Hancock would not be making his speech. Learn more about the Hernandez shooting at this Feministing post. Follow Creating Change on Twitter at this hashtag.

COLORADO: Pro-Gay Bakery Launches Legal Defense Crowdfunding Campaign

From Azucar Bakery's GoFundMe page:

As many of you know some time ago a person came into my bakery asking to make a Bible shaped cake with discriminatory and hateful words against the LGBT community. I did not feel comfortable writing said message. I would gladly make the cake but would give him the tools to write the message himself. Now that person has filed a complaint with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies against Azucar Bakery for discrimination. At the moment I never thought this story would get so big, just that I was doing the right thing. For better or for worse the story has blown up and in order not to stick my foot in my mouth and say something that would get me into trouble, I have decided to seek legal advice. Many of you have already offered to help; that is why this campaign was started. I will use the funds to help me and the bakery with legal expenses. I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for your support. With love, Marjorie Silva

(Tipped by JMG reader Sean)

COLORADO: Media Names Man Who Filed Complaint Against Pro-Gay Bakery

Last week a complaint was filed against a Colorado bakery after its owner declined a customer's demand for a cake that would have featured anti-gay slurs. The complainant has now been identified. Via Denver's Fox affiliate:

The man who filed a discrimination complaint against a Denver baker after she refused to make him a cake with an anti-gay cake message is a Christian educator who lives in Castle Rock, FOX31 Denver has learned. Bill Jack was not home when we attempted to contact him on Monday, but his wife confirmed that he had indeed filed a complaint with the Civil Rights division of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) last year against Azcuar Bakery, which is located at 1886 South Broadway. His wife also provided us with the following statement from Jack: “I believe I was discriminated against by the bakery based on my creed. As a result, I filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights division. Out of respect for the process, I will wait for the director to release his findings before making further comments.”

Jack is the co-founder of Worldview Academy, which claims locations in 19 states. Among its listed affinity organizations are Kentucky's Answers In Genesis and more than a dozen Christian colleges.

COLORADO: Wingnut Files Discrimination Complaint Against Pro-Gay Bakery

A Denver bakery has been hit with a discrimination complaint after declining to make a wedding cake that would have featured anti-gay slurs. Here's how the incident went down, via Out Front:

The gentleman took a seat at one of the tables as the team served him free samples and began building his order. He swiped through pics of Bible cakes on the iPad they presented him, and it appeared he’d found the perfect fit. It was only when he produced a leaf of paper from his pocket — careful not to release it to any of the attending employees, but simply brandishing it for them to read before returning it to his pocket — that the order “got a little uncomfortable,” says Lindsay.

“He wanted us to write God hates …” she trails. “Just really radical stuff against gays.” “He wouldn’t allow me to make a copy of the message, but it was really hateful,” Marjorie adds. “I remember the words detestable, disgrace, homosexuality, and sinners.” However uncomfortable the request made the pair, both maintain that he was never refused service. “I told him that I would bake the cake in the shape of a Bible,” says Marjorie. “Then I told him I’d sell him a [decorating] bag with the right tip and the right icing so he could write those things himself.”

She adds that naturally the cake wouldn’t have her handwriting expertise, but she would be devastated to release a cake via the bakery with such a hateful message fashioned by her own hands. Table-side negotiations quickly broke down. “He told me I needed to talk to my attorney about this,” Marjorie says. Then, he left. A few hours later, however, he was back, asking Marjorie if she’d conferred with her lawyer over the matter. She hadn’t. “I was busy,” she says. “I have a business to run here.”

After the man returned for the third time that day and attempted to make a scene, he was asked to leave. The bakery's owner later received a formal complaint from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. She has 30 days to respond. Hit the link and read the full account.

COLORADO: Church Cancels Funeral For Lesbian Minutes After Scheduled Start

Via Denver's NBC affiliate:

A "Dignity in Death" rally will be held Tuesday afternoon for a lesbian woman who was denied a funeral at New Hope Ministries in Lakewood, Colo. last week. Vanessa Collier's friends say the funeral was canceled by the church 15 minutes after the service was supposed to start because the church would not allow a picture to be shown of Collier proposing to her wife. The open casket and flowers were in place and about 170 people were in attendance.

According to Chaplain Greg Rolando, who would later preside over the funeral across the street at Newcomer Funeral Home, the New Hope Ministry is very community oriented. He says pastors there welcome those who are gay but ask that alternative lifestyles be censored in the church. New Hope Ministries is not commenting on the decision.

He says moments prior to the funeral service, a video that was supposed to be played during the funeral was reviewed by church officials. The church asked the video to be edited in order to proceed. Rolando says the family refused to take the picture of Collier's proposal out of the video, and the funeral had to be moved to the mortuary across the street.

Collier reportedly died from an accidental gun shot while cleaning her weapon.

FLORIDA: Pete Coors, Head Of MillerCoors, To Speak At Anti-Gay Catholic Convention

The virulently anti-gay Catholic group Legatus, which counts Brian Brown among its members, will hold its annual convention in Naples, Florida at the end of the month. Among the speakers are Fox News anchor Bret Baier and failed 2004 US Senate candidate Pete Coors, the chairman of brewing giant MillerCoors. Over at Good As You, Jeremy Hooper points us to some of the group's positions on homosexuality. An example:

There are many reasons why people suffer from SSA disorder. Some “discover” this tendency within them. Others grow into it through pursuits of pleasure or experimentation. Some use it to punish themselves or others. Whether the disorder has some deep, unknown roots over which one has virtually no control, or whether it’s a developed disorder resulting from bad choices, it leaves an individual disposed toward activities and a lifestyle that are dangerous — physically, emotionally and spiritually. Fortunately there is hope for those who suffer from the disorder. The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality [NARTH] reports that significant numbers of homosexual persons have undergone treatment and had their sexual drives properly ordered. These findings are a beacon of hope to those suffering from SSA, as well as for their family and friends who desire their happiness and good health.

In an update to the above-linked post, Hooper notes that the publicist for actor Gary Sinise has already emailed him with Sinese's statement of withdrawal:

For me, faith has been a catalyst for my mission to honor the men and women who serve in our nation’s military. When I accepted the invitation to speak at the Legatus conference on Veterans issues and share my story, I was unaware of the controversy surrounding some of the participants, and their views on personal matters. I don’t want my mission—which is designed to be unifying—to be disrupted by these, or any controversies, and therefore have decided to withdraw.

As for Pete Coors, some of you will recall that Coors Brewing was the target of a nationwide boycott in the late 70s due to their support of anti-gay groups. In the early 90s Coors Brewing encouraged the formation of an LGBT employees support group and hired Mary Cheney as its liaison to the community, effectively ending the boycott. During his 2004 Senate bid, Pete Coors was attacked by his GOP primary opponent over the company's LGBT-inclusive benefits policy. Coors defended himself by pointing out his support for Colorado's ban on same-sex marriage.

Coors Brewing merged with Miller Brewing in 2008. MillerCoors brands include Molson, Mickey's, Keystone, Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Coors, Coors Lite, Grolsch, and Blue Moon.

CORRECTION: An earlier draft of the this post misstated the location of the event. The Indianapolis chapter of Legatus is the host of the event, which will be held at the Naples Ritz Carlton in Florida.

David Pakman Interviews New Colorado Lawmaker & Exorcist Of Gay Demons

Clip recap: "Gordon Klingenschmitt, former Navy Chaplain and recent Colorado State Representative-elect, joins David to discuss his 70-30 victory, his legislative goals, and whether lesbian exorcism will be part of his legislative platform."

COLORADO: Dem Gov. John Hickenlooper Squeaks Out Reelection Win

COLORADO: Teabagger Cory Gardner Unseats Democratic Sen. Mark Udall

As a member of the state legislature, Gardner opposed a bill requiring hospitals to notify rape victims about the availability of emergency contraception. Another Senate pickup for the GOP.

COLORADO: State Supreme Court Clears Way For Marriages To Commence

Via Law Week Colorado:

This morning, the Colorado Supreme Court removed the remaining legal obstacles to same-sex marriages in Colorado. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said in a press release, “Beginning today, Colorado’s 64 county clerks are legally required to issue licenses to same-sex couples who request them. In addition, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is required to register such marriages in the records of the State of Colorado.” Yesterday, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, the Governor’s Office and the clerks of Adams, Boulder, Denver and Jefferson counties filed joint motions to lift stays in the 10th Circuit and Colorado Supreme Court. The parties also moved to dismiss appeals of lower-court decisions in federal court as well as in Adams and Boulder counties.

The issuing of licenses has begun. (Tipped by JMG reader LuLu)

Colorado AG Concedes Defeat, State To Begin Issuing Marriage Licenses

Via press release from Colorado Attorney General John Suthers:

The United States Supreme Court this morning denied review of all seven of the petitions from the lower Federal Circuit Courts that arose from challenges to state bans on same-sex marriage. Because the 10th Circuit Court, which has jurisdiction over Colorado, struck down Utah and Oklahoma’s ban, today’s decision by the high court clears the way for same-sex couples to legally wed in Colorado once stay orders have been lifted. The following statement is to be attributed to Colorado Attorney General John Suthers: “We have consistently maintained that we will abide by the Supreme Court's determination on the constitutionality of marriage laws. By choosing not to take up the matter, the court has left the 10th Circuit ruling in place. We expect the 10th Circuit will issue a final order governing Colorado very shortly. Once the formalities are resolved, clerks across the state must begin issuing marriage licenses to all same-sex couples. We will file motions to expedite the lifting of the stays in the federal and state courts and will advise the clerks when to issue licenses.”

Dominoes, bitches. Dominoes.