DENVER – In its ongoing work to demonstrate that the broad majority of Coloradans support the freedom to marry, today Why Marriage Matters Colorado, a coalition of state and national organizations, released a 30-second television spot featuring a group of local veterans standing up for their gay comrade in arms.
The ad, launched on television statewide this morning, will air tonight during NBC’s “The Voice.” The spot features three military veterans who, together with their friend, U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant T. Ashley Metcalf – who is still actively serving his country – represent 45 years of military service. Sgt. Metcalf is gay, and his band of brothers – former Army Staff Sgt. Izzy Abbass, retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Mont’Ros, and former Marine Sgt. Will Glenn – talk about the importance of the freedom to marry for everyone.
Highlighting their years in military service where Sgt. Metcalf served in Iraq and Afghanistan, former Staff Sgt. Abbass says, “He should have the same freedoms we have, and that includes the freedom to marry.”
“Gay and lesbian Coloradans have long served their country in the military, as first responders in our cities and towns, and as valued members of our communities. We chose to tell just one of those many stories – this story of a military band of brothers who know firsthand what it means to stand up for freedom and equality,” said Dave Montez, Executive Director of One Colorado, one of the lead organizations of Why Marriage Matters Colorado, along with the ACLU of Colorado and Freedom to Marry.
“We were proud and honored to be asked to stand up for our friend and his freedoms and liberties,” said Sgt. Abbass. “But we chose to do this ad not only for Ash, but for all Coloradans who deserve the freedom to marry. We didn’t serve to protect freedom for some of us, but for all of us.”
Watch the ad and read bios of the veterans featured at: http://marriageCO.org/Ad

Text of the ad:
Sergeant Mont’Ros:     Together the four of us have over 45 years of military service.
Sergeant Abbass:          The word “veteran” encapsulates so much.
Sergeant Glenn:            Loyalty and respect.  We have each other’s back.
Sergeant Metcalf:         I served in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I’m gay, these guys are straight.  But we’re all veterans and we’ve all served our country.
Sergeant Abbass:          I’ve been married for 8 years, going on 9, happily married.  And why shouldn’t Ash, a good friend of mine, be afforded that same opportunity?
Sergeant Glenn:            Sergeant Metcalf is serving his country, same as the rest of us did.
Sergeant Abbass:          He should have the same freedoms we have, and that includes the freedom to marry. 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

The Senate Judiciary committee will be hearing testimony on HB14-1061 this afternoon. The bill would force Colorado municipalities to comply with existing Constitutional and Colorado laws requiring courts to determine whether a person is too poor to pay their court fines and fees before throwing them in jail for failing to pay.
The bill, sponsored by Thornton Rep. Joe Salazar, is the result of a two-year statewide ACLU investigation into the use of these practices by municipal courts.
UPDATE: The bill passed out of committee on a unanimous 5-0 vote.
Read the testimony given by our Public Policy Director, Denise Maes, during the House committee hearing on February 25

Original ACLU press release on results of investigation into Colorado debtors’ prisons

Denver Post article: “Colorado cities jail poor who can’t pay fines for minor offenses”

AP article: “Jail for fines? Colo. lawmaker wants to end policy”

On eve of oral arguments for Oklahoma’s marriage case before the Denver-based 10^th Circuit Court of Appeals, coalition of 215 faith leaders say they support marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples

DENVER – Why Marriage Matters Colorado, the broad coalition working to remove discrimination from Colorado’s constitution and secure the freedom to marry for all committed couples, today announced that a coalition of 215 clergy and faith leaders in Colorado support marriage equality. The announcement comes in between two weeks of oral arguments for the Utah and Oklahoma marriage cases before the 10^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Denver.
“I support the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples because, as a Christian, I believe in the power of covenanted, loving relationships, no less for same-sex couples,” said the Rev. Dr. Benjamin J. Broadbent, minister of First Congregational Church of Colorado Springs. “Many of my friends and congregants are lesbian or gay, and I want them to have the same rights and recognition I enjoy in my own marriage.”
The coalition – Faithful Voices for Strong Families – is composed of ministers, pastors, rabbis, chaplains, non-profit directors, and seminary professors from a range of different faith traditions. This group includes faith leaders in Colorado Springs, Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Pueblo, Grand Junction, Buena Vista, Gunnison, and the Denver metropolitan area.
“As people of faith, we believe in practicing the Golden Rule, treating others as we would want to be treated,” said Jeremy Shaver, spokesperson for the Faithful Voices Coalition. “All loving and committed couples deserve to be treated with respect, and the freedom to marry gives them that respect. As faith leaders, we also support religious freedom. No clergyperson, house of worship or religious organization will ever be forced to perform a wedding that violates their religious beliefs. We can have marriage equality and protect religious freedom at the same time.”
Additional representatives of the Faithful Voices Coalition have shared their own reasons for supporting the freedom to marry:
Rev. Jessica Rooks, Pastor, Cameron United Methodist Church, Denver:
“I believe we are all created in the image of God; an image of goodness and love. We live into the fullness of who we are when we are empowered to enter into loving, mutually beneficial relationships. We live into the fullness of who we can be when our inherent worth is recognized, honored and upheld. We begin to live into the fullness of what our community can be, grounded in God's love, with marriage equality.”
Rev. Bonnie Sarah Spencer, Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fort Collins:
“As a Christian and a clergyperson in the Episcopal Church, I support marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples in Colorado. God’s love and embrace reach to all people, and LGBT folks are certainly included in that embrace. I believe these committed couples should be able to participate fully in their faith communities and in our society by having the freedom to marry.
Rabbi Benjamin (Jamie) Arnold, Congregation Beth Evergreen, Evergreen:
“I see no legal, rational, social, spiritual, or Biblical basis for denying same-sex couples the rights and responsibilities of marriage. As a member of a minority faith, and a rabbinic leader of a religious movement that not only tolerates, but fully celebrates the sacred covenant of marriage between same-sex couples, I regard state and federal bans on such marriages as an infringement upon my community’s constitutional right to freedom of religious expression.”
Rev. Rebecca Kemper Poos, Pastor, Congregational United Church of Christ, Buena Vista:
“As people of faith living in Christian community, we believe that ‘every good and perfect gift comes from God, our Creator.’ Every person is sacred, and every relationship based on love, commitment and faithfulness is holy in God's sight. Marriage equality for all God's children is our faithful response to the fullness of God's gifts. The time for marriage equality is now.”
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