July 22, 2014
The coalition opposing Amendment 67 kicked off its statewide campaign today, vowing to once again defeat efforts to ban all abortions in Colorado, including in cases of rape and incest and when the health of a woman is at risk.
With the Colorado Capitol serving as the backdrop, speakers warned of the dangerous, far-reaching consequences of Amendment 67.
“Amendment 67 truly is an attack on family planning, an attack on a woman’s access to health care, an attack on the privacy of the doctor-patient relationship, and an attack on basic rights of women in Colorado,” said Vicki Cowart, CEO & President of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.
“Amendment 67 would remove a woman's ability to make her own reproductive health care decisions.”
The Vote NO 67 coalition is broad-based, bipartisan coalition of doctors, nurses and other health care advocates, groups working against domestic violence and on behalf of rape survivors, faith and civil rights leaders, and community organizations.
Dr. Ruben Alvero, a Colorado doctor of obstetrics and gynecology, warned of likely outcomes.
Amendment 67 would restrict access to emergency contraception and commonly used forms of birth control -- including the Pill and IUDs. It could impede the use of in-vitro fertilization for infertile couples who are hoping to have a family, Alevero said. And, stem cell research that is being used to fight chronic disease and disabilities could be restricted.
“Amendment 67 is bad medicine for women and for Colorado,” Alvero said. “It would allow the government and the courts to violate the sanctity of doctor/patient privacy, and allow government access to women’s private medical records.
“As an OB/GYN, I opposed this dangerous proposal when it was put before Colorado voters in 2008 and 2010. I oppose it again this year,” he said.
This is the third time proponents of Amendment 67 have attempted to ban all abortions in Colorado. Similar measures were overwhelmingly rejected by voters in 2008 and 2010. This year proponents are calling Amendment 67 the “Brady Amendment.”
If passed, Amendment 67 would expand the term “person” in the Colorado Constitution to include “unborn human being” – which has no established legal or medical definition, speakers noted. Further, the term “unborn human being” is not defined in the amendment – leaving the door wide open.
“We must protect women and their unborn children,” said Cristina Aguilar, executive director of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR). “But Amendment 67 does not address any of that. Amendment 67 is written in language that tries to trick us. It would actually do the opposite – it would criminalize women and outlaw all abortion, including women who are the victims of rape, incest, and when a women’s life is at risk.”
Aguilar highlighted the far-reaching and negative consequences for Latinas and their families. “This amendment would eliminate a Latina’s right to make personal, private decisions about her body and her health,” she said. “It would allow the government access to her private medical records.”
Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, described how Amendment 67 would invite the government into peoples’ personal, private lives.
“Quite simply, it means that the term “unborn human being” would apply to all stages of pregnancy – all the way back to a fertilized egg,” Woodliff-Stanley said. “Amendment 67 would make pregnant women and health care providers criminally liable for any pregnancy that does not result in a live birth, right from the very first moments of a pregnancy.”
“Women need the full range of health care options when it comes to family planning. Every woman is different and every situation is different,” noted Karen Middleton, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado. “Amendment 67 does the opposite of giving women informed choices. It’s dangerous and it limits their freedom to live their own lives.”
The Rev. Jann Halloran, president of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Of Colorado, highlighted concerns from the faith community.
“Decisions about family planning, pregnancy, birth control and emergency contraceptives should be resolved privately, based upon our own faith, our beliefs and values,” Halloran said.
Fofi Mendez, campaign manager for Vote NO 67, said, “Denying women access to medical treatments, and even contraception, does not protect women, their children and families,” Mendez said. “Coloradans saw through this and overwhelmingly voted this down in 2008 and 2010.
“Once again we need to deliver the message in November: No means no.”

July 17, 2014
More than 5,000 Coloradans signed a petition that was delivered today to Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, urging him to stop wasting the state’s resources and allow all loving, committed couples the freedom to marry.
A group of couples and their families, faith leaders, elected officials, and community leaders from Why Marriage Matters Colorado gathered at the Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center over the lunch hour to present the petition signatures and ask Attorney General Suthers to stop his legal appeal and continued defense of Colorado's discriminatory marriage ban.
There have been more than 20 consecutive state and federal court rulings across the country declaring that same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional. Earlier this month, Adams County District Court Judge C. Scott Crabtree declared Colorado’s marriage ban unconstitutional. A federal 10^th Circuit Court decision struck down a similar ban in Utah last month that could ultimately impact Colorado’s ban; a stay on that order will expire next Monday. There is also a pending federal case against Colorado’s marriage ban. Pamela Thiele and Lauren Fortmiller, who have been together for 13 years, said, “Attorney General Suthers is absolutely correct: we do need clarity. Gay families need clarity. The shortest route to clarity is to listen to the judges in Colorado and across the nation who have already said there is no valid opposing argument. Do we need to ask again? Let the judgment stand. Let us be. Let us be married.”
“Why does Attorney General Suthers insist on continuing his one-man crusade against the freedom to marry here in our state?" asked Dave Montez, executive director of statewide LGBT advocacy group One Colorado. "He concedes this ban is likely to be found unconstitutional. You have to wonder if this is more about rumors of his upcoming run for Mayor of Colorado Springs than anything else – and pandering to the right-wing extremists of his party. But Mr. Suthers, if this is really about your personal political ambitions, then thousands of our families should not be asked to pay the price. The people of Colorado deserve better."
“Even Attorney General Suthers has acknowledged that Colorado’s marriage ban is not likely to pass constitutional muster. If he’s looking for legal clarity, he can look to Republican Governors in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Nevada, who all recently decided to stop wasting taxpayer dollars defending similar indefensible bans,” said Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, ACLU of Colorado Executive Director.
The online petition support underscores popular support of freedom to marry – a recent Quinnipiac poll showed 61% of Coloradans now favor marriage equality.
Why Marriage Matters Colorado is broadening the dialogue with Coloradans about why marriage is important to same-sex couples and their families and why it is consistent with the values of liberty and freedom. More information on this statewide initiative – which is being spearheaded by leading statewide LGBT advocacy group One Colorado, ACLU of Colorado, and Freedom to Marry – can be found here: www.whymarriagematterscolorado.org 

7/16/2014
Denver - Today, the Licencias Para Todos Colorado website will launch. This bilingual website is a one-stop shop for Coloradan immigrants who are now eligible to obtain driver’s licenses, instruction permits and identification cards under a state law passed in 2013.  The website, www.licenciasparatodoscolorado.com, is a collaboration between the ACLU of Colorado, The Meyer Law Office, Licencias Para Todos, ProgressNow Colorado, and the Colorado Latino Forum.
The website is available in English and Spanish at www.licenciasparatodoscolorado.com. The goal of this website is to give the applicants the information they need to navigate the process as efficiently as possible.
“Up to this point, there has been a lot of confusion around the process, and that is why we are working with the Department of Revenue on finding ways to better communicate with the public. The website will serve as a fountain of information for the community ” said Denise Maes, Public Policy Director, ACLU of Colorado.
The website lists out detailed information for applicants including all acceptable documents, phone numbers, and a guide of what steps to follow depending on their circumstances.
“There are a lot of nuances in this law, and we want to make sure that when applicants attend their appointment to obtain their license, that they are prepared with all of the necessary documents. We don't want individuals turned away because of misinformation,” said Julie Gonzales, Firm Manager, The Meyer Law Office.
www.licenciasparatodoscolorado.com is not affiliated with the Colorado Department of Revenue, and is sponsored by the ACLU of Colorado, The Meyer Law Office, ProgressNow Colorado, Licencias Para Todos and The Colorado Latino Forum.