Nearly 150 community members braved snowy weather to gather at Citizens Project’s Divine Award Celebration on February 2 to honor Legacy Award recipient Sharon Berthrong; Divine Organization recipient Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado; and 2012 Divine Award recipient Rosemary Harris Lytle. Over 20 community leaders gave tribute to the honorees, and the honorees challenged attendees at the event to keep working to advance equality, freedom, diversity, and civic engagement. Photos courtesy of Glenn:
LGBT Lobby Day 2012 is your chance to tell your legislators what matters to you. Learn about important LGBT legislation, get trained on how to discuss the issues with your elected officials, and head to the Capitol with One Colorado and statewide allies at LGBT Lobby Day 2012!
LGBT Lobby Day 2012 is organized by One Colorado and sponsored by 4cGLAD, 9to5 National Association of Working Women, ACLU of Colorado, Citizen’s Project, Colorado Springs Pride Center, GLBT Center of Colorado, Healthy Colorado Youth Alliance, Inside Out Youth Services, Keshet, NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, Out Boulder, PFLAG Fort Collins, Progress Now, Southern Colorado Equality Alliance, Western Equality, and White House Project.
Newt Gingrich’s flamboyant suggestions that the Executive Branch should merely ignore Supreme Court rulings at will and legally threaten judges who dare to uphold Constitutional freedom7 might be the hottest news in recent weeks. The under-reported truth, however, is that ideas like his are far from unique within the far right today.
Like shady insurance companies looking for every diabolical way to deny claims on what appear to be good indemnity policies, power-hungry politicians and special interest groups have been hatching ingenious schemes to evade or strip away the Constitution’s protection of individual rights almost since the day it was ratified.
Let’s take an extended look at this multi-partite war against the Constitution.
One early tactic that some within today’s far right have resuscitated is the claim that state governments don’t have to honor the Bill of Rights1. Another tactic, championed by presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, is to take away the court’s jurisdiction2 over their pet agenda issues. The Conservative Caucus would combine both tactics4.
A far more dangerous tactic that is rising in popularity is to claim that the federal and Supreme Courts should not have the power to overturn unconstitutional laws at all3. For politicians who claim to care so much about the Constitution, many of them are intent on rendering it mostly or completely toothless and powerless.
The ultimate objective, for most, is the imposition of some degree of theocracy or religion-run government similar to Iran – something that the Constitution expressly forbids.
But there’s another tactic, one which shoplifts the belief in natural law held by many of our nation’s founders, and deviously transforms the concept of natural, inherent, unenumerated rights into an implied or inherent recognition of theocracy.
The founders who played the most influential roles in designing the Constitution did believe in natural, unalienable rights. Admittedly, those rights were honored very imperfectly at that time, such as those of slaves and women, but lofty abstract ideals that are put to paper ahead of their time have a way of not being well put into practice. Concerned nonetheless that the government might someday interpret an itemized Bill of Rights to be a license to step on rights that weren’t explicitly listed, however, they included the Ninth Amendment – the founders’ way of reminding us that, where rights are concerned, what you see are not all the rights we get. Natural rights are covered, too.
To get to the point, I must undertake a thumbnail review of Constitutional concepts and a small but vitally necessary side trip.
The Constitution depends upon implied and inherent powers. Inherent powers are powers that the federal government must have in order to carry out the functions delegated to it by the Constitution. Their existence are unstated but are assumed to be obvious – why would the founders delegate a function to the federal government without granting it the powers to perform that function?
The right to privacy, so violently reviled by many on the far right, is an example of an obvious, natural right that happens to be an inherent Constitutional right. Think for a moment – if no right to privacy existed, why would the Fourth Amendment be necessary? Why all the concern about search warrants and probable cause?
If the founders didn’t believe in a natural and inherent right to privacy, we would have needed no Fourth Amendment to clearly spell out the narrow and specific situations in which government could breach our personal spaces. The government could just say “hey, we can come in your home any time that we want, for any reason, because you have no right to privacy.” Without a right to privacy, the Fourth Amendment makes no sense.
So, how do we get from what looks like a broad interpretation of Ninth Amendment rights to a theocracy?
The trick is hidden in the concept of “natural law.”
Natural law sounds like a secular concept, something that can be discovered by observation and tested by experience and effects. Natural law, as the term implies, is inherent in nature, and therefore would seem to be amenable to scientific investigation and rational inquiry.
But to some, especially in the Religious Right, “natural law” is more of a theological term than a scientific term. The Christian God, it is asserted, created nature and all within it, and He created the laws that govern nature. It follows that any implementation of “natural law” is in fact an implementation of “God’s Law” – as defined by their theological doctrines.
At the Thanksgiving Family Forum, a recent Republican presidential candidate forum held at a Des Moines, Iowa church, this concept appeared in the assertions made by most of the candidates: “we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.”5
They went on to tie the identity of this Creator to the “Judeo-Christian” faith, with candidate Rick Santorum asserting that “the law is a teacher” and “the laws of this country should comport with that moral vision.” He furthermore implied that imposing religious law was a proper role for the federal government. Michele Bachmann said that “government is on [God’s] shoulders,” adding that “He created every aspect of life, and He has something to say about every aspect of life.”
Candidate Ron Paul was the only candidate present who explicitly warned that it wasn’t the job of government to impose religious values or engineer the culture. (Unfortunately, Ron Paul later endorsed one of the other dangerous subversions of the Constitution as a remedy for Roe v. Wade – removing the jurisdiction of the federal courts to overturn unconstitutional laws. In other words, “let’s break the system so that we don’t have to abide by the Constitution if we don’t want to.”)
Candidates Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman did not attend.
This idea of “inherent theocracy” is insidious because those who espouse this view are more likely to appear serious about other Constitutional protections, vigorously opposing attempts by the federal government to track, monitor, and spy on American citizens as a whole. They can be quite serious about the Fourth Amendment, and many oppose the Patriot Act.
By outward appearances, they take most Constitutional rights quite seriously. But in this view, all Constitutional rights, no matter how vigorously proclaimed, must surrender to the higher theocratic law.
For example, Religious Right group Alliance Defense Fund excerpts Sir William Blackstone, and summarizes thusly: “[T]he basis upon which English Common Law sits is a higher law, the law written by God and found in His scriptures. Because of this, man has no authority to write a law that contradicts God’s law.”6
It’s comforting to know that the Creator gave us certain unalienable rights. It’s less comforting to know, however, that this insistence isn’t really about protecting our unalienable rights. It’s more focused upon identifying which rights “our Creator” says we must never be allowed to have, i.e., any rights that go against the theological doctrines of the inherent, unstated official national religion.
A clear example of this concept comes from a web article at Reclaiming America for Christ (formerly Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ): “First, there can be no law contrary to God’s law (the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God).”8 It then proceeds right into a glaring contradiction: “Second, no law can be contrary to the Constitution.” The contradiction goes away, in their minds, because they regard theocratic law to be higher than the Constitution.
The modern far right has conceived a highly diversified battery of tactics aimed at seeing to it that the Constitution’s protections of rights and liberties are somehow not applicable when claimed by people or groups that live outside the religious doctrines of certain political leaders and organizations. Expect several of these tactics to be used together, if that’s what it takes to elevate government power over Constitutionally guaranteed human rights.
In all fairness, the Inherent Theocracy isn’t the most dangerous of the popular anti-Constitutional tactics. Rejected Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork’s one-time idea, that Congress should be able to overturn Supreme Court rulings by simple majority vote, is vastly more dangerous.
But we can certainly trust that the Inherent Theocracy theory would see to it that the rights of minorities and religious “non-conformists” would enjoy no protection by the Constitution when these rights run contrary to religious law. And, as history shows, the definition of “religious non-conformist” would quickly expand to include everyone – including other Christians – whose theological stances differ from those in power.
Citizens Project’s Divine Award Celebration annually honors a member of our community who is dedicated to promote lasting, positive changes related to equality, diversity, and religious freedom. We are proud to present this year’s award to Rosemary Harris Lytle, award-winning journalist, activist, Communications Director for ACLU of Colorado, and President of the local NAACP.
In special recognition of Citizens Project’s 20th anniversary, this year’s celebration will present two additional awards: a Legacy Award to long-time Springs resident and activist Sharon Berthrong, and a Divine Organization Award to the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado.
Join us Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 5-7pm for this unique milestone event at: Stargazers Theater, 10 Parkside Dr., Colorado Springs, CO, 80910. The celebration is free and open to the public, but a $15 donation is recommended. RSVP by January 27 to RoMa Johnson at RoMa@citizensproject.org, or (719) 520-9899. View the invitation
This column by Kristy Milligan appeared in The Gazette on 12/27/11.
Citizens Project, a local organization dedicated to promoting and protecting equality, diversity and religious freedom through the separation of church and state, supports Tim Tebow’s right to celebrate God in the end zone.
That’s the thing about the First Amendment. The free speech and exercise clauses protect every private citizen. Religious freedom means religious freedom.
Citizens Project also has no fundamental objection to students exercising their right to assemble, pray, or “Tebow” in the hallways of their public schools, assuming they comply with conduct codes and safety standards.
Amid all this “Tebowmania,” however, we must draw an important distinction between the First Amendment rights of individuals and the responsibilities of government. Tebow, fans and students enjoy the free exercise of religion, but teachers and coaches must, by virtue of their employment contract, adhere to the restrictions set forth in the clause prohibiting a government establishment of religion. Those who fail to do so risk exposing the institutions they serve to expensive litigation, while simultaneously alienating the students entrusted to their care.
In 2011, Citizens Project received calls from concerned parents, students, and teachers in almost every school district in the Pikes Peak region who wanted more information about how to address issues pertaining to religious expression at their schools. We heard about religious-based bullying, teacher condemnation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students on the basis of biblical teaching, assemblies and ceremonies that integrated religious themes, administrative interference in student club activity, and, most recently, coaches organizing and leading students in Christian prayer.
These aren’t isolated incidents. For every call we get, there are probably ten students who suffer silently to avoid drawing attention to themselves. After all, they just want to succeed in classes, participate in extracurricular activities, and advance through the public education system. Sometimes the people who contact us resist Citizens Project’s help in negotiating the grievance process or initiating an educational outreach to the affected schools. They don’t want to risk becoming pariahs. They just want someone to tell them, “It’s not okay when the person who assigns your grades or decides when you get to play your favorite sport makes prayer obligatory or singles you out.” And it’s not.
Religious formation is not the province of a public school official, and objections to compulsory religion in classrooms transcend political differences.
At Citizens Project, we won’t rest until every student can excel in a religiously neutral academic or athletic environment that neither advances nor denigrates religion. We will continue to monitor our local schools for problems and work with the administration to ensure they’re in compliance with the law. We’ll take calls about church-state issues in schools and we’ll offer our support to all parties involved, because we know that violations are usually unintentional. We’ll continue to educate teachers, administrators, students, parents and community members at our annual Citizens’ Religious Freedom Institute and offer continuing education credit to teachers.
Above all, we will stand with our students to ensure they have every chance at success through an inclusive and affirming academic environment that allows them to be exactly who they are, whether that means abstaining from the pledge or “Tebowing” on their lunch break.
Thanks to Citizens Project’s inspired leadership, our volunteers, interns, collaborators, supporters and activists, 2011 was an incredible year! Below are just a few of the things we were able to accomplish with your help:
Citizens Project events are more than fundraisers or friend-raisers; they’re community in action, bringing together people from across the region and across political and religious lines who share a few key values: equality, separation of church and state, diversity and civic engagement.
– More than 100 community members came out in sub-zero temperatures to honor local activist Mary Ellen McNally at Citizens Project’s 7th annual Divine Award Celebration.
- Four hundred attendees at our annual Creating Community Breakfast joined together to raise $60,000 to increase Citizens Project’s impact in the community.
- Dozens of volunteers attended our twice-annual volunteer open house and staffed the Citizens Project booth at community events such as Everybody Welcome!, Juneteenth, Cinco de Mayo, and Pride Fest.
Collaboration
CP, in close collaboration with the Women’s Resource Agency, Inside/Out Youth Services and many more, worked to re-invigorate the Pikes Peak Equality Coalition, a group of local nonprofits dedicated to opportunity and access for all community members. Through our collective efforts, we made more than 3,000 contacts with voters in the general election cycle, reminding them to cast their ballots. In addition, CP was represented on the Public Affairs and Government Relations Committee of the Colorado Springs Diversity Forum, the Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable, and the Safe Schools Coalition. Citizens Project staff members Kristy Milligan and RoMa Johnson also presented at events and classes statewide, including: Center for Nonprofit Excellence, UCCS, El Pomar, NAACP, and the Denver Mayor’s LGBT Commission. Citizens Project also donated 18 cubic feet of physical archive files to the Pikes Peak Library District’s Special Collections. The archives will be available to the the public and will be preserved for future generations.
Voter Education
2011 was an exciting year in local elections: from the April municipal election and subsequent mayoral runoff election, to the November general election, there were many candidates vying for the votes of Pikes Peak residents. And Citizens Project continued our 19-year tradition of providing nonpartisan election education information for all local elections through well-attended Mayoral and City Council forums, and a School Board Candidate and ballot measure forum. In addition, we published two comprehensive candidate survey Voter Guides, one for the municipal election and one for the general election, which were distributed to more than 100,000 people in the Pikes Peak region through our website, a mailing to our supporters, and inclusion in the Colorado Springs Independent.
Promoting Dialogue & Awareness
Citizens Project distributed our electronic monthly Freedom Watch Online to more than 2,000 subscribers, providing them with in-depth analyses of local and national issues, opportunities to get involved, and more. Through our electronic Action Network, we sent 1,500 activists up-to-the-minute updates about pending legislation and electoral initiatives with information about how to make a positive impact on public policy.
Again this year, Citizens Project deployed an awareness campaign to stimulate conversation and tackle some of the most difficult issues facing our community. The campaign appeared in print, online, and on billboards, and it continues to create robust discussion on our blog.
CP also worked with a coalition of twenty five diverse faith and civic groups to present a special film screening to commemorate 9/11.
Creating Inclusive Learning Communities
Our second annual Citizens’ Religious Freedom Institute, a one-day seminar for teachers, administrators, students and community members on how the courts have interpreted church/state separation in public schools and how to promote religious freedom in the classroom, was well-attended and highly rated by participants. Many attendees received graduate credit or contact hours, and, as one participant said, it was a “very enjoyable, informative day.”
Again in 2011, Citizens Project mailed the Anti-Defamation League’s December Dilemma publication to 200 local schools, which contains information about inclusive holiday practices. This year we also worked with Inside/Out and the Safe @School Coalition to provide a primer on recently-passed HB1254, which expands protection from bullying to LGBT students. Additionally, we followed up with several high schools that held their graduation ceremonies at churches to help ensure future commencement celebrations that honor the unique faith traditions of all students, and comply with legal precedent regarding separation of church and state.
All of this was work to advance religious freedom, diversity, equality and civic engagement in the Pikes Peak region was possible because of the hundreds of active supporters, just like you, who gave time, money, energy and vision to help Citizens Project put our mission into motion. Thank you – and we’ll see you in 2012!
Citizens Project is proud to announce six new members for its board of directors in 2012: William Brown, Frances Gomeztagle, Pete Lee, Barbara Reichert, Brinah Vincent, and Heather Zambrano.
The 2012 Citizens Project officers will be: Erin Hannan, Board Chair; Steve Mack, Treasurer; and Kelley Parker, Secretary. Citizens Project also thanks our 2011 officers: Lynn Young, Board Chair; Karole Campbell, Treasurer, and Kelley Parker, Secretary.
The organization thanks its departing members for their tremendous service to the organization: Sharon Berthrong, J.J. Courtright, Una Ng-Brasch, and Ron Walden.
Thanks to Culture Cast, KRCC and Rocky Mountain PBS for this amazing video tribute to the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado. And, of course, thank you Gay & Lesbian Fund!
Last week, Citizens Project distributed copies of the Anti-Defamation League’s December Dilemma to nearly 200 local schools, urging educators to respect the First Amendment rights of every student and ensure that no child feels left out of or disrespected by holiday celebrations. The organization also included information prepared by the Safe @ School Coalition about recently-passed HB 1254, an anti-bullying measure to keep young people safe at school.
The mailing is intended to raise awareness around the laws and constitutional protections afforded to all students, during the holiday season and beyond. The accompanying packet of information included best practice recommendations for inclusive holiday celebrations, a broad overview of HB 1254, frequently asked questions about the bill, and info about Citizens Project’s upcoming Citizens’ Religious Freedom Institute.
“We believe that students perform best in safe and inclusive academic environments,” said Kristy Milligan, executive director of Citizens Project. “By providing these resources to local teachers and administrators, we hope to support them in their efforts to comply with the law and help all their students achieve academic excellence.”
On November 10, scores of Colorado Springs residents gathered to honor the legacy of the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado and to thank the organization and its staff for the positive difference they’ve made in the Pikes Peak region. Below are some photos of the parade and ensuing celebration, courtesy of Glenn.
The Colorado Springs Diversity Forum has honored Citizens Project with a Steady and Strong Award for Diversity and Inclusion. This prestigious award is given to businesses and organizations in the Pikes Peak region that promote diversity and inclusion in both internal operations and external civic engagement. Citizens Project was chosen as a recipient because of its commitment to diversity training, education, and highly inclusive organizational policies and benefits.
“Receiving a Steady and Strong Award for Diversity and Inclusion award is a huge honor for us,” said Kristy Milligan, executive director of Citizens Project. “It demonstrates our ongoing commitment to best practices, public education and outreach. Diversity is more than a box you check. It’s not something you do once and then move on. It’s an ongoing commitment to ensuring that everyone has a voice.”
Citizens Project has been a voice of diversity and inclusion in Colorado Springs for 20 years. Milligan says the organization is dedicated to continuing to champion these values in the community. “No one is more committed to diversity and inclusion than the Citizens Project staff and board members,” she said. “These are the unsung heroes, the silent and steadfast champions who work tirelessly to ensure that everyone has a seat at the table.”
About Citizens Project: Citizens Project is a local grassroots organization dedicated to defending and promoting equality, religious freedom, and respect for diversity – the principles on which our nation was founded. We educate the community through our newsletter Freedom Watch and nonpartisan voter guides, we monitor local government and public schools to ensure that rights and freedoms are upheld, and we mobilize residents to make their voices heard.
Voting is more than a right; it’s a responsibility. When you make educated choices at the ballot box, you’re investing in your community and holding your leaders accountable.
That’s why, for the last 19 years, Citizens Project has produced nonpartisan publications and events for all local elections: to arm you with the information you need to make educated decisions that shape your community.
Thanks to the Pikes Peak Equality Coalition, collaborators, volunteers, donors, and readers like you, Citizens Project is proud to present our 2011 Freedom Watch Voter Guide for school board elections and city and state ballot measures. We hope you’ll use it to inform your decisions in the 2011 general election.
And if you’re still not sure, or if you haven’t received your ballot, check out our election page for all the information you need to make your voice heard.
You may remember the confusion around active/inactive voter status last spring during the Colorado Springs Municipal Elections. That confusion has gone statewide in this fall’s general election, with Pueblo and Denver Counties wanting to send ballots to voters who have been deemed inactive.
In September, Secretary of State Scott Gessler filed a lawsuit against the Denver County Clerk to stop her from mailing ballots to “inactive fail to vote” voters, or those who did not vote in the last general election in 2010. The case was heard Friday, October 7, and a District Court Judge refused to issue a preliminary injunction, enabling County Clerks to send ballots to “inactive fail to vote” voters, including military personnel serving overseas. This effort to stop eligible voters from accessing the ballot box, and using taxpayer dollars to do it, is deeply concerning to Citizens Project. We will keep you posted as this important issue develops.
To many ardent church-state separation activists, and I am definitely ardent, opposition to tax-funded school vouchers for religious or parochial schools approaches an article of faith. Separationists argue that tax aid to religious schools is a plain, flagrant violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, and may violate state and federal laws by funding institutions that practice religious or other forms of discrimination.
Voucher supporters tend to view such prohibitions as discriminatory against religion or violations of parental rights.
On August 12, Denver District Court Judge Michael Martinez saw the Douglas County Choice Scholarship Program through separationists’ eyes, ruling it unconstitutional. The school district intends to appeal.
These surface issues that typically make the news, however, miss most of the action that raises deeper concern. As is often the case when a political movement that normally tries to limit individual liberty takes sides with a “rights” cause, the explanation for the seemingly conflicting ideals begs an investigation.
School vouchers are often portrayed in the guise of parental rights. The right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children has been the subject of ballot initiatives in several states as well as favorable Supreme Court rulings1, 2 that paved legal precedent for Constitutionally protecting a wide variety of unenumerated rights, including the divisive right to an abortion.
An amendment to the Constitution that reads, in part, “The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental right1” looks like something that I could vigorously support. An amendment that emphatically locks the government out of our family lives would appear to be a powerfully progressive tool.
Yet many of such an amendment’s strongest supporters come from Religious Right groups that openly express legislative goals such as “protecting marriage,” “strengthening the traditional family,” and “policy issues relevant to families from a foundation firmly established in a biblical worldview3” – words that clearly imply a governmental role in shaping and engineering family life.
If that puzzles you, the mystery will begin to disappear when we explore exactly what sort of tool its Religious Right advocates see in it.
A clue appears in a Focus on the Family web article4 that criticizes the American Library Association while downplaying Banned Books Week. A quick guide5 page to parental rights articles at citizenlink.org links to it as well as to other pages, most of which object to various sexual issues.
One of the “parental rights” that it alleges is the right to “challenge,” i.e., request the removal of library books that a parent finds objectionable. Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, echoes this view, implying that public libraries somehow violate parental rights7 when they carry books that some parents find objectionable.
That raises a question. If other parents demand that the library affords their children maximum access to the same kind of information, who wins? Religious Right groups appear to believe that the parents demanding the limitations should win.
In addition, the Focus Citizen Link article4 asserts that parents should use their rights to demand that libraries carry, for example, anti-gay materials to balance out perceived pro-gay books. (That sounds a lot like the old broadcast Fairness Doctrine.) Ironically, the American Civil Liberties Union has recently sued a Missouri school district for censoring gay-supportive Web sites while allowing anti-gay sites13 – a policy supported by many “parental rights” advocates, at least as indicated by comments on accompanying news stories.
Another clue appears in a Parentalrights.org news alert concerning California Senate Bill 48, which involves teaching about the contributions of gay and lesbian Americans. While the organization’s demand for parental opt-out rights appears sincere, it notes that, in the absence of an opt-out right, “there is no lesser recourse available than to change the entire curriculum for all.6”
Citizen Link is more audacious, asserting that “same-sex marriage laws have directly undermined parental rights” by encouraging class discussion of “controversial sexual topics.10” (That’s quite an about-face from Religious Right groups’ stances on teaching Intelligent Design alongside evolution, advocated on the grounds that schools should “teach the controversy.”) Apparently, even other citizens’ marriage choices must step aside to prevent sparking classroom discussions that some parents would rather avoid.
There are, undoubtedly, millions of well-meaning Christian parents who sincerely want nothing more than a right to excuse their children from certain curriculum content. But as evidenced above, some Religious Right groups view parental rights as a tool to deprive everyone’s children access to information that socially conservative parents find objectionable. They envision a world in which the rights of “conservative” parents trump intellectual freedom, and can demand removal of “objectionable” library materials despite the wishes and rights of other parents who want no such limitation8.
But that is a recurring pattern in far right vernacular, where the words “rights” and “freedom” translate more accurately into “power.”
As I already mentioned, a Constitutional parental rights amendment feels very appealing to me. But when you realize that Religious Right groups generally consider Antonin Scalia to be a model Supreme Court judge, and it was that same Antonin Scalia who opined that parents have no court-enforceable right to direct their children’s upbringing12(Troxel v. Granville, 2000)11, I have some doubts whether “conservative” politicians would return me the favor if my parental stances clashed with their government policies.
What raises my suspicions is the fact that most high-profile parental rights advocates appear to assume that their primary beneficiaries are always conservative religious parents.
Parentalrights.org vigorously opposes the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child; one of their specific objections reads, “Children would have the ability to choose their own religion while parents would only have the authority to give their children advice about religion.9”
It is odd that granting this right to a child would be objectionable; what if the child in question wanted to become a Christian, yet had stridently anti-religious parents? Or in this time of fear of “Sharia Law,” what if a child of Muslims wanted to become a Christian? Would they still side with the parents’ rights? Or would the child’s religious freedom suddenly be worth defending? The objection makes sense, however, if it is assumed that the parents who would enjoy these rights are always conservative Christian parents.
It’s also odd that Religious Right groups appear to support near-absolute parental rights, in light of their oft-stated desire to protect children and safeguard their innocence – almost a children’s-rights view in itself. Again, it all makes perfect sense if it is assumed that only religious or social conservatives are morally qualified to be trusted with parental rights and act in the best interest of children.
This brings me back to school vouchers. It’s curious, again, that Religious Right groups that support strong parental rights would also support government vouchers for private or religious schools, since many of these schools require, as a condition of admission, that parents surrender most or all of their rights while children are in the school’s custody. Isn’t that exactly what they were fighting against?
The school voucher and parental rights arguments put forth today are undeveloped, founded in inconsistent and contradictory premises, and are therefore difficult to put together into a coherent ideological or political model. Implementing either vouchers or parental rights amendments now would certainly have many consequences that their proponents never intended – or might even deeply regret.
To the eyes of a fair and impartial federal judge, a Parental Rights Amendment would not deliver what many of its backers think it would. Moreover, parental rights are not, in themselves, adversarial in nature to children’s rights. In the hands of a judge appointed because of his or her sympathy to Religious Right causes, however, the new amendment could likely be applied pursuant to its evident intent which – as often seems to happen – appears to be quite opposite what its enticing words say.
The puzzle pieces, as they seem to fit, tell me that “Parental rights” are apparently intended to mean “special powers for socially conservative parents.” And school vouchers are merely a temporary shelter from public schools that are considered hostile to faith. If unrestricted school vouchers for religious schools became freely available, I doubt that the campaigns to stock public school boards with “conservatives” would stop. Efforts to elect Religious Right majorities to school boards would continue unabated.
On the other hand, if you’re one of the millions who merely want the government to butt out of your parenting, then you might in fact have more in common with me: I share that goal of limiting the government’s involvement in our personal living choices as well.
Alysse ElHage, “The ‘Right’ to Read: Should Intellectual Freedom Trump Parental Rights in Libraries?,” North Carolina Family Policy Council,http://www.ncfpc.org/FNC/0811SF.html
“You can’t legislate morality!” Few colloquial expressions depend more upon connotation than does this short, forceful proclamation of liberty. And because it asserts liberty, few colloquialisms have weathered such a long, sustained, unrelenting campaign to discredit it, refute it and extinguish it from American parlance.
Most everyone knows what the expression means. It means that we don’t, or shouldn’t, legislate moral beliefs based solely in tradition or religious beliefs. Unfortunately, people and groups who wish to do exactly that have been attacking this axiom of freedom ever since. Here I will explore one way that the phrase is attacked, and I will answer that while putting morality and ethics into clearer perspective. I will explain why legislating morality is bad and wrong.
Wrong. Was that a value judgment?
Perhaps the most common counter-claim is “every law legislates morality,” therefore “you must legislate morality.1” Those who argue that we cannot escape legislating morality typically list murder and theft as common examples, but they sometimes go farther, asserting that even speed limits2 and no-smoking areas are legislation of morality.
One’s first reaction to these might be a sharp, involuntary gasp at what looks like an absurd word game meant to cloud the obvious issue, or to make bedroom laws sound as legitimate as homicide laws. It would be a mistake, however, to miss an opportunity to examine morals, ethics, and the purposes of legislation.
Laws against murder, theft, speeding and running red lights exist to protect public safety, and to provide security in one’s person and property. They are not enacted out of a belief that it’s a religious or moral sin to roll through a stop sign.
Though the words “morals” and “ethics” are sometimes used interchangeably, their connotations, i.e., their implied meanings are often different.
The familiar implied definition of “morals” was not lost on Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia when his dissent in Lawrence v. Texas3 forebodingly lamented that overturning Texas’ sodomy laws – and all similar laws – “decrees the end of all morals legislation. If, as the Court asserts, the promotion of majoritarian sexual morality is not even a legitimate state interest, none of the above-mentioned laws can survive rational-basis review.4”
Scalia clearly understood the connotation behind “legislating morality,” legislating citizens’ private consenting behavior, usually related to sexuality. He clearly was not saying that the Lawrence decision would put an end to all laws against murder, theft, rape, or speeding.
Thank you, Mr. Scalia for getting us back on topic. Laws against murder and other public safety concerns are not examples of “legislating morality.”
“Ethics,” on the other hand, connote behavior or conduct as it affects, helps, or harms other people. Murder, theft, fraud, false advertising, willful environmental pollution, and slander are clearly questions of ethics. To a considerable extent, we do legislate ethics because of their relevance to safety and security.
These basic ethical principles are integral to human social nature, and are discovered naturally by most all people who grow up and develop normally. We learn, through empathy and through the bitter experience of having it done to us, that it’s wrong to go around lying, cheating, stealing things or beating people up. A natural sense of right and wrong is the inevitable product of an intelligent social species whose members must at once cooperate, co-exist, and compete.
It is therefore not surprising that these tenets, as well as treating others as we like to be treated, are teachings common to virtually all world religions and philosophies.
The Christian faith describes these ethics as “written on our hearts” (Romans 2:14-15), and notes that to love your neighbor (James 2:8) and not harming them (Romans 13:10) fulfill the spirit of the law. The Affirmations of Humanism state that ethical principles can be discovered5 and tested by observing their consequences. From culture to culture, these universal principles are exalted in words and ideals, if not always in deeds.
I describe these universals as “values that you can explain to someone else’s child, regardless of race or culture.”
It’s interesting that, when political activists talk of promoting moral values, they are rarely referring to these universal ethics. What they strive to legislate instead are, more accurately, social customs — many of which seem, to me, arbitrary and sometimes even harmful, but which have been retained and perpetuated by cultural reinforcement alone, often through the teachings of religions.
You can explain to anyone’s child why murder and stealing are wrong. It’s not so easy, on the other hand, to explain to a child raised in a primitive aboriginal (or advanced northern European) culture that nudity or non-marital sex is wrong. “Why,” the child asks. “Well, it just is! It isn’t proper!” you plead. You soon discover that you’re getting nowhere fast, and the explanation is actually easy:
Such moral beliefs are rooted in inherited cultural customs rather than universal human social nature. It is impossible to communicate these ideas by appealing to universal ethics. They are subjective in my secular view, having little justification apart from habit, convention or tradition. As Antonin Scalia appears to note, they cannot survive rational basis review alone.
I do understand and appreciate that devout religious believers consider their doctrines to be stipulations of fact. But to accept a faith’s teachings as fact, one must first adopt the faith itself – and as anyone experienced in Christian apologetics knows, convincing a person of a different or no religion (or a critical thinker) of the faith’s factual basis is practically impossible. The believer must accept on faith that its teachings are fact.
It is perhaps because of this difficulty of convincing others, by reason alone, of deeply held traditional beliefs that political force is so often sought to enforce these conventions. That feeling of powerlessness to persuade others, rationally, to accept one’s own deeply held moral beliefs, tempts some to resort to legal force — which is, after all, a standing threat of physical force.
It is because legislation amounts to a codified threat of physical force and punishment that makes the legislation of non-universal “opinion morals” ethically wrong. It is little better than threatening your neighbors with violence because you don’t like how they live. It may follow an orderly pattern of due process and appear to inherit the legitimacy lent by state sanctioned authority, but it is base aggression nonetheless – hardly in keeping with the Golden Rule, or with the Christian faith’s teaching to live in peace with those around us.
There’s a more serious reason why legislating these morals is harmful and wrong, however. These moral opinions, particularly sexual opinions, have a curious way of being quickly blown out of proportion, and being so wildly exaggerated, that grave ethical priorities such as public safety and peace get pushed aside – both in the importance that we give to each, and the amount of public resources that we invest in them. Police that could be working the gang unit are deployed to “vice” instead. When being an unwed mother is considered worse than shoplifting, when otherwise rational and sane Americans begin seriously predicting the end of the world, catastrophic disasters, or the collapse of our nation because a few people might skinny-dip co-ed or marry their own gender, then, in my opinion, we have a “proportion and perspective” problem.
One of the most extreme examples of how a culture’s obsession with “sexual morality” can actually corrupt a culture’s ethical compass is given in the stories of Middle Eastern “honor killings” where family members kill their own daughters caught violating “sexual laws.”
We see something similar but milder coming from some members of American culture. We heard, in the hurting days immediately after the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina, certain preachers almost finding satisfaction in the thought that these calamities were “God’s punishment” for our “depravity.” One radical Catholic preacher’s frothing anti-sexual tirade speculates that the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster was perhaps an act of God meant to punish the use of contraceptives7.
The murderous Norway extremist Anders Behring Breivik was reportedly fueled in part by hatred of women, feminism, and women’s sexual freedom6.
In the minds of these beholders, sexual morals become so important, or so singular an obsession, that human life itself is devalued in comparison.
Truly, these are extreme examples of broken ethical compasses. But if American politics reach a point where enough Americans feel that it’s more important to legally punish private non-conformity or recreation than it is to protect human life, or promote the overall physical safety and mental health of our citizens, or lead the world in scientific progress, achievement, and educational excellence, then we have reached a point where our values have become scrambled, distorted and re-ordered enough to do much more harm to America’s ethical foundations than good.
When a politician who campaigns on science and math education, and funding for space or our public colleges and universities, can barely raise enough campaign money for one TV ad, while another candidate who promises to stick it to the gays and step up the war on sex can rake in tens of millions, that is when we as a nation have become lost in a minotaur maze of misplaced values.
At least I own a mirror and use it, for I know that my own foreboding warnings about our nation’s ethical compass sound a bit like the very people whom I criticize. Yet we already see it happening in other parts of the world, where cultures forsake health, education and prosperity in favor of crushing women’s rights and brutal, overarching punishments for perceived sexual misconduct.
If it happens there, it can happen here, if we permit it. We’re all human beings with the potential for misplaced sub-human aggressions. I am doing my part to prevent our culture from resembling the very parts of the world that many Americans fear.
Certainly, people who believe that homosexuality or non-marital sex is wrong are free to continue in their faith. We do have freedom of religion, after all, and there is real beauty in “saving yourself for marriage” if you consider abstinence sacred. Live by your moral values, for they are indeed sacred to those who hold them. Live them well, and Scripture teaches that your exemplary life will be an effective living witness (1 Peter 2:12).
But please, let’s maintain perspective and not let worry over select perceived sins or other people’s sexuality grow so disproportionate that our obsession with “curing” or “correcting” them pushes aside all the values that made America great: freedom of choice and religion, opportunity for prosperity, physical safety, self-determination, education, and science.
We’ll never get back to the moon if most of our resources are busy micromanaging one another and keeping our fellow Americans down.
A simple enough phrase, but apparently it is more complex than it seems. In the early hours of July 2nd a group of five friends, two of whom are Fort Carson soldiers, were brutally assaulted right outside of a local restaurant. Why, you may ask? Because four of the five were gay.
Discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Colorado Springs is nothing new, but the ramifications of intolerance reach new heights when two of your friends have to be rushed to the hospital, one with an eye swollen shut, and another to emergency oral surgery for a shattered jaw. Can you say excessive?!
Fortunately, police have already taken suspects into custody and are filing charges. But what has the city done about this demonstrable hate crime? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Mayor Bach citied that anything further than a cursory comment about intolerance would be “unnecessary”. So its necessary for the two soldiers to risk their lives fighting for this country, to make sure that people are able to live safe and secure lives here, yet it is apparently “unnecessary” to protect our citizens when back home? They should be shown the respect of heroes and not scorned like second class citizens. (Here is a link to a news report with video showing exactly how violent this hate crime was.)
Now as police work to file hate crime charges here is my question: what should be done at the municipal level to ensure nothing like this happens again? Should the city promote LGBT acceptance? Should they make a more publicized denouncement of hate crimes? What should be done to protect ALL of our citizens regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, ability, social class, age, religion, political affiliation, gender identity, and especially sexual orientation?
Written by Ian Adams, Citizens Project Intern and UCCS undergraduate student
When Words Mean the Opposite: The Story of My Awakening
By David Trillo
If a psychic or a Tarot reader had told me in 1985 that, within the next seven years, I would become a gay rights activist, I would have laughed in his face – if he had caught me in a good mood.
I was more than just anti-gay. I was vehemently anti-abortion. The only reason why I didn’t join Operation Rescue or a similar group was youthful ignorance – I didn’t know where to contact them.
I was still an evangelical Christian when I joined as one of Citizens Project’s earliest supporters in 1992. The idea of gay marriage was still hard for me to take, but as I listened to Christian radio and conservative talk beginning around 1990, I began noticing a pattern that disturbed me much more deeply than guys marrying guys.
I began noticing a very systematic, repetitive attack on the concept of church/state separation, and an orchestrated re-introduction of the antiquated idea of “legislating morality.” Not only did that run counter to my core beliefs in Christian free will, but I knew that if I had doctrinal differences with the “Christian authorities” – and I did — it took no rocket science to see that these aspiring theocrats would impose their moral doctrines by legislation, with no regard for my Christian theological disagreement.
I became, on that fateful 1992 day, the most unlikely gay rights activist. As distasteful as I found my admittedly distorted visions of the “gay lifestyle” to be at that time, I knew, deep down, that to protect my rights as a dissenter, I must likewise protect theirs.
It didn’t take long to see that, in the world of far right politics, words aren’t always what they seem.
To average people, “freedom” means that you can live your life much as you choose, as long as you aren’t hurting others. The Constitution, we’d think, sets up a government with internal restraints, and protects important individual rights and freedoms so that no government can take them away.
But in the strange world of Hard Right vernacular, these familiar, appealing words can take on virtually opposite meanings. “Freedom” isn’t what most people would think it is; it means instead either an unlimited “freedom to make laws”1 as former judge Robert Bork puts it, or freedom is a “biblical concept” that “comes with limits set from the very beginning by our Creator,”2 as explained by Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Religious freedom is also turned on its head. To the Hard Right, it merely means the freedom to worship as you choose – “we won’t force you to go to church” — but you would be required to live your life by laws “rooted in Biblical law,” as the dubiously named Constitution Party says it3. To be “free” to worship in your own religion, while being forced to live according to a different, government-imposed religion11, is a hollow freedom.
And “Constitutional rights?” Not as most people understand them. To former Republican leader Tom DeLay, the Supreme Court should never have been given any power to overturn unconstitutional laws4. To Robert Bork, very few rights would be off limits to being trampled by “representative assemblies1.” And to Religious Right attorney Thomas Jipping, “direct forms of democracy”5 such as ballot initiatives would probably be immune to Constitutional challenges, since he objects to the courts’ alleged “power to thwart the will of the people”5.
To theocratic “Constitutionalists,” the Constitution is considered subordinate to “God’s law”11, despite its own statement to the contrary. “Despotic government” is not tyranny in itself – it refers to any government that enacts laws contrary to “God’s law.” An expansion of personal liberty could be deemed “tyrannical” if “God” disapproves. According to advocates such as noted creationist Henry Morris, this higher law that trumps the Constitution is “nothing more nor less than applied Biblical law.”12
Will voting for today’s Religious Right candidate “keep government out of our private lives,” as conservative and Republican advocates claim? Don’t bet on it.
To Religious Right icon Sam Brownback, there exists no right to “sexual privacy”6. To Tom DeLay4, and Vision America’s Rick Scarborough7, Americans have no protected right to privacy at all. Possible presidential contender Rick Santorum disparages the “right to privacy lifestyle”8, particularly as it pertains to sexual choice.
Conservative columnist Jason Adkins, to his credit, pointed out the importance of the courts’ role in enforcing the Constitution9. Unfortunately, he was soon countered by comments that argued that the Bill of Rights doesn’t apply to states!
Indeed, partially or even completely repealing the power of the courts to enforce Constitutional protections is an increasingly popular idea among the far right10, 13. Imagine a future where your state or local government could randomly search your house for contraband books – and the Bill of Rights would afford no recourse.
America is just two or three “conservative” Supreme Court appointments away from possibly realizing such a frightening world. That is what some extremists call “returning to Constitutional government.”
It is anything but.
Wow, what an awakening this was! But the opening of my eyes paved the way for major changes in my soul. I now support same-sex marriage with all of my heart.
I am still a moderate, libertarian Republican. It worries me to see Democrats so eagerly support a wholesale expansion of the Constitution’s Commerce Clause scope to justify the upcoming federal health insurance mandate. They would do well to contemplate such expanded federal power in the hands of the Religious Right.
But if you’re a Republican, Libertarian, new to the Tea Party, or are otherwise concerned about excessive government, don’t fall into the “any conservative is always better than any Democrat” thought habit. Pay very close attention to candidates, and see whether each candidate uses the words “freedom” and “Constitutional liberty” in their normal, commonsense meanings, or whether there might be a bizarre reverse definition concealed inside a Trojan Horse.
If you’re looking for true Constitutional freedom, you might be disappointed, even stunned, that some of the people who most loudly promise “freedom” have in mind something very opposite — the unfettered legislative access to your most personal life.
I know I was stunned. It knocked my eyes wide open.
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References:
1. Robert Bork, “Tradition and Morality in Constitutional Law” p. 9
Citizens Project is a proud member of the Pikes Peak Equality Coalition. The following is a letter in response to the bias-motivated crimes on July 3, written by Rosemary Harris Lytle and Shawna Kemppainen on behalf of PPEC:
The alleged bias-motivated crime that sent two soldiers to the hospital, ironically on Independence Day weekend, has resulted in outrage from the LGBTQ community and their allies in the wider civil-rights community.
Many details of the crime are still unclear and not even a real description of the suspects is yet available. But what happened has resulted in cries for more dialogue, more understanding and more education about diversity, inclusion and public safety.
As representatives of the Pikes Peak Equality Coalition (PPEC), we join our voices with those who recognize that racial and ethnic tension, heterosexism, gender bias, able-ism, and other forms of discrimination still run high in Colorado Springs. Our broad coalition is committed to a strong, vibrant community where the most vulnerable are cared for and responsive leadership values diversity and equality.
Unfortunately, reports of another alleged hate crime mean that our coalition has plenty of work to do — and so does our city has a whole. Marginalized groups, in this instance the LBGTQ community, often wonder whether they stand alone in combating the discrimination.
With our city’s troubled history, it will take a comprehensive strategy, wide community dialogue and support from the highest echelons of leadership, to get to the root causes of our troubles.
If we continue to ignore the obvious need to, as icon Fannie Mae Duncan said, make everybody feel welcome, it will affect everything – from which employers choose to bring jobs here to whether tourists will come to witness our region’s beauty and bounty.
But Colorado Springs can’t continue to be beautiful on the outside and ugly on the inside. The literal bottom line is that the lack of acceptance of those perceived as “different” is a villagewide issue. And it will take our whole village to change it.
— Shawna Rae Kemppainen, Executive Director - Inside Out Youth Services
— Rosemary Harris Lytle, President – Colorado Springs Branch NAACP
The Human Relations Commission in Colorado Springs is back after an absence of almost 17 years. In June of 2010 the Colorado Springs City Council passed Ordinance 10-48. In early 2011, over 35 volunteer candidates were interviewed and on March 8th nine commissioners were selected for 2-4 year service terms along with three alternate Commissioners. This Commission met for the first time in City Hall on April 28th. After a brief orientation, the 12 person Commission selected an Interim Chair, Tom Strand, Interim Vice Chair, Ernest House and Interim Secretary, Teressa Hill. The interim officers are designated to serve until September 2011 when a slate of permanent officers are elected. Since the initial April 28th meeting the Colorado Springs HRC has met on the third Wednesday of each month, as well as on May 21st for a general team building and organizational half -day session.
The mission statement and objectives of the HRC are still under development but are generally set out in the ordinance. The draft mission statement is: ”To promote understanding and respect for all Colorado Springs residents by facilitating constructive communications through referrals, conflict resolution and proactive outreach.” The purpose of the HRC is to help guard against mal-treatment and discrimination in all parts of life for our residents, including housing, transportation, employment and day-to-day activities.
The HRC has created two sub-committees, Education and Structure, in order to accomplish the background work to properly launch the HRC later this fall. These committees have met 2 to 3 times to establish educational and training requirements (such as mediation skills) and to ensure the Commission is fully prepared to assist residents with a myriad of potential issues/problems. The Structure Subcommittee has drafted by-laws and other operating documents which are currently being reviewed and are pending Commission adoption.
The committees are working with members of City Council and other city offices, such as Legal and HR, to start up a program, a website, and public contact information for the HRC.
Stand by for the official announcement of the activation of your new HRC later this year!
More than 400 community members gathered last week to create community and celebrate diversity at Citizens Project’s seventh annual Creating Community Breakfast. The breakfast highlighted the work Citizens Project is doing in the Pikes Peak region to promote equal rights, diversity, religious freedom through separation of church and state, and civic engagement.
The event raised over $50,000 in general operating support for Citizens Project’s many programs including: candidate survey voter guides, its monthly publication Freedom Watch Online, and the Citizens Project Activist Network, which currently serves over 1,500 subscribers. New and increased donations and pledges will be matched up to $10,000 by the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado. Additional corporate and in-kind sponsorship for the event was provided by The Gazette, Colorado Technical University, Colorado College, Colorado Springs Utilities, Memorial Health System, The Colorado Springs Independent and the Picnic Basket.
The Creating Community Breakfast featured a diverse array of speakers including: Una Ng-Brasch, Joey Glick, Lynn Young, Vanessa Roberts, Steve Elder, Shawna Kemppainen and Kristy Milligan, and also featured musical performances by Anthony and RaDonna Bell.
Several weeks ago, the Denver Post ran an article about the Equal Rights Amendment and the fact that it has never been ratified. In the 1970s, I marched in the streets in support of this measure but to date only 35 states ratified the proposed constitutional amendment. To become part of the U.S. Constitution, three more states would need to vote in favor of it.
I mentioned to a young friend that I had not given much thought to the ERA in many years. My 30-something friend’s response? “What is the ERA?” My friend is very politically savvy and more up-to-date than I am on legislation dealing with discrimination. But her response brought home to me that if the ERA is to ever pass, members of the old guard, including me, need to educate a new generation.
The ERA is fairly simple. Here is the proposal in full:
Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
This language would guarantee that the rights affirmed by the U.S. Constitution are held equally by all citizens without regard to sex. Sex would be considered a suspect classification, as race currently is.
The Equal Rights Amendment was written in 1923 by Alice Paul, a leader of the woman suffrage movement and a lawyer. It was introduced in Congress in the same year and subsequently reintroduced in every Congressional session for half a century. In 1972 it was finally sent to the states. The deadline for ratification has long passed but a bill is in Congress now, introduced in March of 2011, which would remove the deadline and allow the amendment to be accepted when three more states pass it.
Women have made great strides in recent decades. Yet women earned just 75 percent of men’s earnings in 2009. As stated in the article in the Denver Post, “In 1920, the 19th Amendment finally gave women the vote. Ninety years later, women still have to fight to prove we deserve the basic rights men simply inherit at birth.”
This was reinforced when U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said in September, 2010 in a speech at the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law that the Constitution does not guarantee equal rights for women.
Colorado has a state ERA and we are one of the states to have ratified the national ERA. An Opinion Research Corporation poll commissioned in 2001 by the ERA Campaign Network shows that nearly all U.S. adults – 96% – believe that male and female citizens should have equal rights. The vast majority – 88% – also believe that the U.S. Constitution should make it clear that these rights are supposed to be equal. However, nearly three-quarters of the respondents – 72% – mistakenly assume that the Constitution already includes such a guarantee.
It is clear that the citizens of the United States overwhelmingly support a constitutional guarantee of equal rights on the basis of sex, and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment will achieve that goal.
After all, this is 2011. Can any reasonable person be against full equal rights for women? It does not seem possible but consider this: recently the Virginia Senate voted to become the 36th state to ratify the ERA. Days later, the bill died in the House of Delegates-in a subcommittee of seven men.
Cynthia Nimerichter is a motivational speaker, author and recovering attorney. She lives in Colorado Springs.
States which have not ratified the Equal Rights Amendment include:
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Utah
Virginia
Citizens Project recognizes that there are many factors at play for schools and districts when selecting graduation ceremony sites. However, just last year, a federal district court in Connecticut determined that holding graduation ceremonies in religious environments violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and there is significant legal precedent to substantiate this finding. (See Does v. Enfield Public Schools; Musgrove v. Brevard County School Board; Lemke v. Black; Spacco v. Bridgewater School Department.)
As your local organization devoted to religious freedom, we believe that every student has a right to a quality, religiously neutral public education spanning from kindergarten to graduation. Citizens Project supports our local schools through our education programs, including our annual Citizens’ Religious Freedom Institute and targeted outreach, such as our December Dilemma mailing about best practices to protect students’ religious freedom around the holidays. These programs help schools, teachers, and administrators create inclusive academic environments and save taxpayer money by decreasing exposure to unnecessary litigation.
In 2010, Colorado Springs voters made history by approving a ballot measure that creates a “strong mayor.” Seven candidates campaigned for your vote in the April 5, 2011 municipal election. As the results were announced, it became obvious that Colorado Springs was headed for a runoff election.
The City Charter requires a runoff election for the top two vote-getters in the event no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote. These candidates are Richard Skorman and Steve Bach, who received 35.85% and 33.41%, respectively.
Voters who received a mail ballot for the April 5 election will also receive a mail ballot for the May 17 runoff. If you did not vote in the November 2010 election and have not updated your registration status with the City Clerk’s office, you are considered inactive and will not receive a mail ballot for the runoff election, unless you follow these simple steps:
Voters with no recent changes of name or address can go to the City Clerk’s Office, 30 S. Nevada Avenue, Suite 101, with identification, to request a mail ballot. An inactive voter ballot request document is also available for download at the City of Colorado Springs website. You may mail or hand-deliver this request at least a week prior to the election (if you’re mailing it, please allow adequate time for processing and mailing).
Voters who have a name or address change must first get an updated Voter Registration form from one of the three El Paso County Election Offices. The downtown office is Centennial Hall, 200 S Cascade Avenue, open M-F 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. You may then go to the City Clerk’s Office to request a mail ballot.
Congratulations, Colorado Springs, on standing up and making your voice heard in the April 5 Municipal Election: more than 91,000 individuals cast their vote before or on election day for an impressive 62.5% turnout. Whether your favorite candidate won or lost, turnout of this magnitude is a definite victory for Colorado Springs!
Citizens Project congratulates all the candidates on successful campaigns! Your newly elected City Council members include (in descending order of votes, then by district):
Jan Martin
Merv Bennett
Val Snider
Brandy Williams
Tim Leigh
Angela Dougan – District 2
Lisa Czelatdko – District 3
Ballot issues 1A and 1B also passed, creating new districts in 2013 and allowing the strong mayor to attend Council meetings.
However, one seat is still up for grabs. Who will be Colorado Springs’ first Strong Mayor in over 80 years? Regulations require a runoff election between the top two candidates in the event neither candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. That means that Colorado Springs will get to choose between candidates Steve Bach and Richard Skorman in another all-mail election on May 17, 2011.
So what’s next? Citizens Project is working on a supplemental voter guide for the runoff election, and we will hold an election forum for the two candidates on April 26, 2011. Details are below.
Decision 2011: Strong Mayor Debate
Presented by Citizens Project, the Colorado Springs Independent, and KRDO
Tuesday, April 26
6:30-8:00pm
Stargazers Theatre, 10 Parkside Dr, 80910
Free and open to the public, simulcast on krdo.com
Citizens Project, along with the Colorado Springs Independent and KRDO, hosted two election forums this week for Colorado Springs Mayoral and City Council candidates. More than 250 community members attended these free events to meet and learn about the candidates before casting their ballots. If you missed the forums, it’s not too late to get the scoop!
Citizens Project thanks our community sponsors and media panel: 9to5, National Association of Working Women – Colorado Chapter; Artemis Women; Colorado Springs Branch NAACP; Colorado Springs Independent; KRCC; League of Women Voters – Pikes Peak Region; Pikes Peak Equality Coalition; Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains; the Pride Center; The Gazette; and the Women’s Resource Agency
This weekend, Citizens Project held its second-annual religious freedom institute, attended by 30 teachers and school officials. Attendees heard presentations from esteemed attorneys Eric Hall and Daniel Lynch, Reverends Roger Butts and Jay Butler, as well as District 11 Board of Education Vice President Janet Tanner!
This year’s class also got a chance to do some presenting of their own throughout the interactive and informational day. It was a great program, and the participation from our attendees was outstanding. Many thanks to all who participated in, presented at, or generally supported this event! We’re already looking forward to next year!
This short video was created by a group of students at Wesleyan in support of Planned Parenthood. Citizens Project is a longtime supporter of science-based, medically accurate, comprehensive sexuality education in our public schools. Because sometimes, teenagers have sex.
When it comes to impacting your local community, Citizens Project believes these are the most important tools you have. That’s why, for the last 18 years, we have produced nonpartisan publications and events for all local elections: to arm you with the information you need to make decisions that shape your community.
Thanks to the Pikes Peak Equality Coalition, community collaborators, volunteers, donors, and readers like you, Citizens Project is proud to present our 2011 Freedom Watch Voter Guide. We hope you’ll use it to increase your knowledge. And then, we hope you’ll vote.
Citizens Project will continue to support LGBT issues, and is very fortunate to work with organizations like the PPGLCC in the fight for equality. Thank you to all of you who voted for us: we were humbled to be nominated, much less win!
Hello! My name is Cory Sabet. I happen to be in the middle of my second year at the Air Force Academy where I am majoring in political science. I enjoy playing soccer and tennis whenever I get the chance and I love to read, travel, and experience as many things which might change my perspective on life. I began volunteering with Citizens Project since about midway through last semester through the Give! Campaign. Thanks to you all, this was a great success.
As I am sure that you are all aware, the Academy differs from a normal university. We spend quite a bit of time working not only on our education, but also enhancing our leadership and athletic skills through a variety of experiences unique to this place.
What I have noticed in my own experience as a cadet is that I tend to work so hard in all of these things I sometimes lose sight of the community. As someone who cares immensely about culture, society, and the roots of its problems and successes, I personally would really like to devote myself to getting out and volunteering as much as possible.
I look forward to getting more involved with the community, but also helping the community become more involved with the Academy, as I feel with have much to offer to each other. For example, I will be working to help bring the Colorado College and USAFA choirs together, as interest was expressed by a member of the community. If there is anything of this nature that you would like to get involved in, I would love to help you in any capacity that I am able; whether that be putting you in contact with someone, rallying volunteers for your cause, or simply coming to help myself! My email is c13cory.sabet@usafa.edu.
Thanks, and I really look forward to working with you to help Colorado Springs be the best that we all can make it!
In May of 2010, Congressional Resolution 274 was introduced into the U.S. House, with its stated purpose being to reaffirm “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States and to encourage the display of this motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions. The resolution garnered more than 100 co-sponsors, including Congressmen Doug Lamborn and Mike Coffman of Colorado. In June it was referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, with no formal action taken. It is almost certain to be reintroduced in the more right-leaning Congress of 2011.
What underlies this resolution? Do its rationales hold up under scrutiny? Might it cause any harm? It bears a closer look.
As with many resolutions, the rationales behind this one are found in its introductory whereas’s. Resolution 274 makes clear its desire to put God front and center. The language goes to great lengths to find support for the proposition both in current practice and in history. This, however, also uncovers the weakness, contradiction and potential harm marking this resolution.
Fudging the History
For example, one whereas states that “the sentiment ‘In God We Trust’ has been an integral part of United States society since its founding.” It had no choice but to use the qualifying term “sentiment” because the motto as currently worded had no formal existence until it appeared on a two-cent coin during the time of the Civil War. This was largely in response to a Pennsylvania minister (Mark Richard Watkinson) who petitioned Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase to add “God” to coins because he (Watkinson) thought the war was God’s punishment for the country failing to recognize the deity in the Constitution. Only in 1908 did a law pass requiring “In God We Trust” on all coins, and it wasn’t required on paper money until 1957, about the time Congress voted to make “In God We Trust” the national motto.
The Blanket Inclusion that Excludes
Another whereas states that “in times of national challenge or tragedy, the people of the United States have turned to God as their source for sustenance, protection, wisdom, strength and direction.” One cannot fail to note that the implicitly all-inclusive “the people” leaves out the millions of citizens who do not turn to God at these same times. They are obviously not included among the “We” in the motto. This does not trouble the resolution’s supporters in the slightest since the motto pledges trust to theirown preferred God. It’s a fine but relevant point of marginalization that perhaps does not register in their minds.
Wherefore the Constitution?
Next comes a whereas citing the Declaration of Independence as recognizing God to be the source of our rights. Tellingly, the resolution does not cite the Constitution as the source of our rights, even though it supersedes the Declaration for this purpose. Why the omission? Because the Constitution is, by conscious intent of its writers, a secular document that doesn’t mention God and it sources our rights in “We the people.” (Interesting side note: the Declaration was signed by only one minister, Rev. John Witherspoon, who went on to play an influential role in church-state separation.) The resolution does mention the Constitution, taking an oblique swipe at it by saying it “rejects the notion that the laws and Constitution of the United States require the exclusion of God from matters of government and public life.” This is a straw man argument because the laws and Constitution do not require such exclusion to begin with; they merely define the acceptable parameters for inclusion so that individual rights and equality are protected. Overall, this failure to mention the Constitution as a source of rights and the accompanying backhanded reference to it lead one to ask why the resolution’s drafters appear to be so uncomfortable with this document that espouses our most revered rights, freedoms, and principles of governance.
Getting it Backwards
There are three distinct uses-in-practice of the motto that are cited in the whereas’ of the resolution. These include the national anthem, the appearance of the motto over the entrance to the Senate Chamber and above the House Speaker’s rostrum, and its inclusion in an oath taken by all federal employees. Clearly, other uses could have been cited, but it matters not because here the logic is flawed in an attempt to reverse engineer the reasoning. The fact of pastmotto usage is hardly a justification for wider future usage any more than the historic existence of racially discriminatory laws would have justified expanding those laws further. The pertinent question at hand is whether expanding government endorsement of this motto is appropriate in the first place. (This will be addressed shortly.)
Finding Supporters from History. Or not.
Lastly the resolution seeks support for itself in the words of former presidents. First up is John Adams, quoted as insisting that religion and morality alone establish the principles upon which freedom stands. Then comes Eisenhower and Ford, quoted as stating that without God there can be no American form of government. Finally, Kennedy is quoted as saying the guiding principle of the nation will always be “In God We Trust.”
A few more interesting side notes come to mind here regarding where these past presidents stood on the intersection of religion and government. John Adams was not a fierce church-state separation advocate in the mold of Jefferson or Madison, but even Adams, in a 1765 dissertation, called the collusion between church and state a “wicked confederacy.” He was himself a Unitarian, a religion that historically stood for church-state separation. When Georgia sent Rev. John Zubly to the Continental Congress, boasting that he’d be the first clergyman to serve there, Adams was reported to have responded: “I cannot but wish he be the last.” As for Eisenhower, he “found religion” for political reasons, having been a member of no church until he was running for president. Upon meeting Rev. Billy Graham, Eisenhower concluded people would not follow anyone who was not a member of a church. So he joined one. He wasn’t actually baptized until after being elected. Kennedy’s stance on church-state separation is, of course, best known from his 1960 speech to the Houston Ministerial Association in which he said: “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute.” In a Lookmagazine article that he authored the preceding year, Kennedy also wrote: “Whatever one’s religion in his private life, nothing takes precedence over the office holder’s oath to uphold the Constitution in all its parts, including the First Amendment requirements of the separation of church and state.”
Conspicuous by Their Absence
But what is particularly curious, and also seems telling, is that in citing the words of prominent leaders of our past, the drafters of Resolution 274 make no mention of either the person who wrote the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, or the chief architect of the Constitution, James Madison. Can it be because one would not find support for a resolution like 274 in the words and actions of these two founders?
If so, and this is important to note, it would not be because either Jefferson or Madison was anti-God. Indeed, both were believers. But Jefferson said religion was a subject on which he remained “scrupulously reserved” because he considered it “a matter between every man and his Maker, in which no other, and far less the public, has a right to intermingle.” “It is error alone which needs the support of government,” he said. “Truth can stand by itself.” As for whether freedom relies on any particular morality, he insisted that “our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions.” In fact he called differences of opinion “advantageous in religion” and was famously quoted as saying “It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god.” His thoughts on a national religious motto might best be inferred by his statement: “It is in our lives and not in our words that our religion must be read.”
Madison’s views are well known from his “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments,” his 15-point rebuttal to a proposal in 1785 to levy a tax for the support of religious teachers. Here he showed keen discernment, for while he alluded to a duty to render homage to the Creator, he said for each man this must always be “such homage, and only such, as he believes acceptable.” This flowed naturally from Madison’s belief that “the religion of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man.” He went so far as to specifically make room for non-believers when he wrote: “While we assert for ourselves a freedom to embrace, to profess, and to observe the religion which we believe to be of divine origin, we cannot deny an equal freedom to those whose minds have not yet yielded to the evidence which has convinced us.”
These two founders, unlike many elected leaders of our current day, had a much deeper appreciation of the nuances involved in keeping religion and government separated as the only way to guarantee genuine religious liberty. They saw this as critical and also as distinct from their own personal faith convictions. They were able and willing to distinguish between what the individual privately believes and what the government should be said to “believe” in a religiously free and pluralistic society. This bright light of discerning sensibility has dimmed considerably in the halls of power over the past 230 years.
“The Erroneous Idea of a National Religion”
More specifically, regarding government recommendations in the arena of religion, Madison in a post-presidency Detached Memorandum, said “the members of a government can in no sense be regarded as possessing an advisory trust from their constituents in their religious capacities. They cannot…issue decrees or injunctions addressed to the faith or the consciences of the people. … [Such actions] seem to imply and certainly nourish the erroneous idea of a national religion.”
This is, in fact, the danger lurking in things like Resolution 274. It nourishes the idea of a national religion by conveying a national trust in God, even though there is no unanimity about this throughout the citizenry. Some might call having such a motto an innocuous ceremonial deism, and in fact courts have used a rationale like that to avoid running afoul of the separation principle in the First Amendment as they give a pass to similar God references that have at least an indirect government endorsement (see footnote below*). But is ceremonial deism what we want religion to be used for? Others might see this motto as an insidious wedge of quasi-theocracy; to this we should ask: Is that what we as a nation want to be about?
It is hard to know the motives of people promoting resolutions like this. Some may do so out of sincere religious devotion, though that sincerity nonetheless does not give them license to impose their devotion on all. Given the unholy mix of religion and politics today, it is certainly likely that some who back such a resolution are simply manipulating religion to serve a political end, engaging in a utilitarian, pandering piety that diminishes the very faith it purports to elevate.
Given all this, the wisest resolution will be to resolve not to promote resolutions like 274. At a minimum, it’s fair to say it is constructed on an uncertain historical foundation. It ignores, even contradicts, core principles known to be held by founders who crafted the rights and freedoms we enjoy today. Its only reference to the Constitution is a negative one. It harbors threats to religious equality, especially in light of what the two most prominent authors of our religious liberties had to say about safeguarding them. These authors, Jefferson and Madison, summed it up about as succinctly as possible in a communication between the two of them, when Madison wrote to Jefferson in January 1786, in an unusual mood of optimism: “I flatter myself [that] this country [has] extinguished forever the ambitious hope of making laws for the human mind.”
Madison’s enthusiasm was far too premature. For when it comes to the mix of government and religion, Resolution 274 reminds us that misguided ventures in dictating what we should believe have not gone away.
(* Final side note: In 2004 Dr. Michael Newdow presented his case to the Supreme Court, arguing that the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance amounted to an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. Citing the precedent of the doctrine of neutrality in religious matters that several of the sitting justices had affirmed in preceding cases of their own over the years, Newdow said: “Members of this court have said that we need neutrality, and here we have the quintessential religious question, does there exist a God? And government comes in [and says] yes, there exists a God. That is not neutrality by any means.” Newdow eventually lost his case on the technicality of not having standing to bring it; the Court as a whole did not decide the constitutional issue. In her concurring opinion, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor did elaborate by saying Newdow had raised a “close question” under the Establishment Clause, but she felt “under God” in this case was a permissible form of “ceremonial deism” that should be “properly understood as employing the idiom for essentially secular purposes,” much like it’s used on coins and in the national motto. Despite losing his case, Newdow was widely praised for his presentation, and after he had finished, a lawyer whose brief had vigorously defended the Pledge came over and shook Newdow’s hand and told him: “Mike, I just want you to know that you made a superb argument.” Yes, even that opposing lawyer, Kenneth Starr, acknowledged that there’s a case to be made for questioning how far we should go in intersecting God with government)
Citizens Project’s Note: Although an identical resolution to 274 has not yet been introduced in 2011, we will remain vigilant to ensure that our supporters are aware of national and local legislation that infringe on the separation of church and state.
Thanks to the more than 125 friends who helped celebrate this year’s Divine Award honoring Mary Ellen McNally! The event was held at Stargazers Theatre and was a huge success.
The Divine Award is given annually to a person whose commitment to diversity, equality and religious freedom has impacted the community in positive and lasting ways. The award simultaneously recognizes the accomplishments of its recipient and honors the legacy of Amy Divine, the founder of Citizens Project, who dedicated her energy to championing traditional American values of equal rights, individual freedoms, separation of church and state, civic engagement and respect for diversity.
About Mary Ellen McNally:
Mary Ellen McNally has been a resident of Colorado Springs for 46 years. For nearly 30 years, McNally has devoted herself to creating a community that honors and nurtures the lives of all who inhabit it. A self-described “professional volunteer,” McNally has worked tirelessly to improve the community, especially in the areas of public policy, education, the arts, health, and civic engagement.
She has held 2 elected positions: District Eleven School Board and Colorado Springs City Council. She has also held numerous leadership positions including President: Cheyenne Village Board, American Red Cross Board, Colorado Springs Symphony and the Junior League. Currently, she serves on the Boards of Memorial Health System, Colorado Springs Leadership Institute, Silver Key, Southern Colorado Aids Project, Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, and American National Bank.
McNally is also a former member of the Citizens Project Board of Directors and a current member of the organization’s Advisory Council.
Citizens Project was honored to be one of several incredible organizations and individuals recognized at the 2010 Advancing Equality Awards. We commend the incredible work of those honored, and all those silent partners in the community, donating time, money and energy to advance causes we all believe in! Thank you, Gay & Lesbian Fund!
We at Citizens Project offer our sincere gratitude to all who gave through the 2010 Give! initiative, and to those who supported or spread the word about the campaign in general. We are proud to say that we exceeded our $5,000 goal and more than doubled the amount we raised during last year’s campaign, bringing in more than $6,000! Citizens Project was proud to accept the Give! check at Tuesday’s awards ceremony, and would like to offer a special thanks to the Colorado Springs Independent for organizing such a fantastic community-building initiative, and for continuously supporting the nonprofits that make Colorado Springs a better place!
Citizens Project is proud to present the second annual Citizens’ Religious Freedom Institute, a one day seminar on how the First Amendment to the US Constitution protects religious freedom in public schools. For teachers, students, parents, administrators, staff, school board members, and open to the public.
Saturday March 12, 2011
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Participants will learn:
How the law defines religious freedom in the public school setting,
Best practices for respecting all students’ religious freedom, and
How to be an advocate for religious freedom in your school.
In-service credit for teachers and graduate credit is available. Lunch, textbook and supplemental materials are provided to all participants.
To receive information about the Citizens’ Religious Freedom Institute, join our email list for Freedom Watch Online, email Kristy Milligan, or call us at (719) 520-9899.
Citizens Project is proud to join the growing coalition of more than 40 organizations in pledging to support and advocate for Civil Unions in the state of Colorado. As we believe that equality is one of the fundamental rights explicitly protected by the United States Constitution, Citizens Project feels that denying equal rights to hardworking LGBT families is a travesty of such principles. We all hope to ensure that our loved ones are protected and cared for, and everyone should be afforded the right to do just that. That’s why CP has taken the time to officially document our support for Civil Unions in Colorado.
Add your voice to the cause: complete and submit the Civil Unions Statement of Support form below to show your individual or organizational endorsement of equal rights and protections for all Colorado families.
Thanks to our supporters and friends, Citizens Project had an incredible 2010! Please take a moment to listen to this special message of gratitude from executive director Kristy Milligan:
What: Citizens Project’s seventh annual Divine Award Celebration, an event that honors an individual in the Pikes Peak region who has worked tirelessly to create a vibrant democracy in which equal rights are protected and differences are respected. This year’s recipient is Mary Ellen McNally, local community activist. Previous recipients are John Weiss, Mary Lou Makepeace, Dr. Jim White, Pam Jones and Juliet Draper (shared award), Lorne Kramer, and Richard Skorman.
Who: The event is open to the public, and a $15 donation is suggested. Please RSVP by January 28 to: bailey@citizensproject.org or (719) 520-9899
When: Thursday, February 3, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stargazers Theater, 10 Parkside Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Why: The Divine Award is given annually to a person whose commitment to diversity, equality and religious freedom has impacted the community in positive and lasting ways. The award simultaneously recognizes the accomplishments of its recipient and honors the legacy of Amy Divine, the founder of Citizens Project, who dedicated her energy to championing traditional American values of equal rights, individual freedoms, separation of church and state, civic engagement and respect for diversity.
About Mary Ellen McNally:
Mary Ellen McNally has been a resident of Colorado Springs for 46 years. For nearly 30 years, McNally has devoted herself to creating a community that honors and nurtures the lives of all who inhabit it. A self-described “professional volunteer,” McNally has worked tirelessly to improve the community, especially in the areas of public policy, education, the arts, health, and civic engagement.
She has held 2 elected positions: District Eleven School Board and Colorado Springs City Council. She has also held numerous leadership positions including President: Cheyenne Village Board, American Red Cross Board, Colorado Springs Symphony and the Junior League. Currently, she serves on the Boards of Memorial Health System, Colorado Springs Leadership Institute, Silver Key, Southern Colorado Aids Project, Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, and American National Bank.
McNally is also a former member of the Citizens Project Board of Directors and a current member of the organization’s Advisory Council.
Citizens Project was fortunate enough to receive an unexpected year-end legacy gift, and announced today a $21,000 contribution from an anonymous donor who supported the organization for nearly 15 years before passing away this year. In an economic climate where many nonprofits are seeing decreases in community support, planned gifts can make a significant impact on an organization’s ability to achieve its mission.
“This generous planned gift is an inspiration and testament to the importance of separation of church and state, diversity, equality and civic engagement in the Pikes Peak region,” said Kristy Milligan, Executive Director. “We are so honored to be the beneficiaries of this amazing gesture, and only wish we could have thanked the donor personally.”
Citizens Project is calling on current supporters who have planned a gift to the organization to notify staff or board members, allowing them to express their gratitude while the donor is still alive. Donors are encouraged to call the office at 719-520-9899 if they have designated a legacy gift to the nonprofit.
Citizens Project is funded primarily through individual contributions to support its mission and work to advance religious freedom, equality, diversity and civic engagement. Since its inception in 1992, the organization has received three significant memorial or legacy contributions totaling $150,000.
Nearly half a century has passed since President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, and our nation has made great progress toward equality since then. It would be easy to think that, in the 21st Century, discrimination is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, that’s just not true. According to a recent FBI report, more than 6,600 hate crimes were reported in the United States in 2009, 90% of which were related to race, religion, or sexual orientation. Hate crimes in Colorado have increased by 25% since 2008.
(Warning: Explicit Language) Sarah Silverman: They Learned it From You
The epidemic of suicides among gay teens as a result of bullying is all the harrowing proof one needs that hate is still alive and well in today’s society. But many believe that bullying in schools isn’t the only thing to blame for the pressure that drove nearly half a dozen teens to take their own lives this fall. With the recent failure of a Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal, the verbal abuse toward LGBT communities by religious groups and public officials, and the failure for those in power to protect the citizens of this country from discrimination, it’s easy to see where those bullies may have learned to hate homosexuals.
In Iowa, the National Organization for marriage funneled nearly one million dollars into a campaign to oust threejustices up for a retention vote, because those justices were part of the unanimous landmark Varnum v. Brien decision which legalized gay marriage in the state. In North Carolina, members of the Westboro Baptist church protested at the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards, holding signs that said things like “God Hates Fags,” and “Thank God for Breast Cancer.”
In Washington, a defense bill that would end the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was killed by Republicans before it even made it to the floor. This is the second time Senate Republicans have blocked the bill, despite an extensive study which showed that an end to the policy would not harm the military, a call from the President and the military’s joint chiefs of staff to repeal it, and the fact that 67% of Americans support the repeal.
In addition, a recent study by Yale University showed that gay and lesbian youth are more frequently and more harshly punished in school and legal systems than their straight counterparts. What are we telling our young people when we allow our own children, educators, public defenders, and elected officials send hateful messages of discrimination and unequal treatment on a regular basis? We cannot continue treating our LGBT neighbors as second-class citizens. This type of behavior is not only immoral and unconstitutional, but it is also putting all of our youth in grave danger by teaching them that it is okay to hate or mistreat those who are different from them.
It’s a terrifying travesty of justice that such inequality and ill-treatment of American Citizens is allowed to continue in the 21st Century. But it isn’t all bad news: there is hope. NOM chose the wrong battle, and though they took away those justices’ jobs, gay marriage is still legal in the state of Iowa. At the Edwards funeral, as with most Westboro protests, the picketers were overwhelmingly outnumbered by counter-protesters with messages of hope and love. The American attitude toward LGBT issues is rapidly shifting toward acceptance and understanding. It’s up to us to continue this positive change.
At Citizens Project, we believe that all men (and women) truly are created equal, and that there is no place in our educational or legal systems for this kind of hatred and discrimination. We call on each of you to remember people like Tyler Clementi, Seth Walsh, Raymond Chase, Asher Brown, Billy Lucas, and other gay teens who may feel so afraid and alone that they’ve considered taking their own lives. We encourage you to stand with gay soldiers and thank them for your service. There are things that you can do to ensure that gay teens and adults alike find help, support, and love this holiday season.
Support equality-based organizations in your community, and help educate others on these types of issues. Tell your school board how important it is to make our schools safe for all of our children. Call your Senators and Congressmen, and ask that those who risk their lives for our safety be allowed to serve openly. Share your understanding with fellow community members. Most importantly, let the children of the world know that they are the future; that they are loved and supported no matter who they are; and that there is hope for a safer, better world for them, if they only stick around long enough to find it.
Citizens Project would like to offer sincere thanks to all of our supporters who took the time to attend our Give!/Holiday Open House Monday evening. A great time was had by all, and it made us all the more enthusiastic about fundraising through the Independent‘s Give! Campaign.
CP has raised more than $2,500 so far through the campaign, and we couldn’t be more excited! We hope to see continued donations to help support our work toward equality, diversity, and religious freedom in the Pikes Peak Region. Plus, the rewards for making a donation are killer this year!
Again, Citizens Project can’t thank all of you enough for your continued efforts to create community in Colorado Springs. Happy Holidays, and best wishes for a fantastic New Year, from your friends at CP.
I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.
Maya Angelou
Update, 12-27-2010: We are now less than $900 away from our $5,000 goal, and we couldn’t be more excited! Citizens Project offers its sincerest gratitude toward all who have gotten us this far. We hope that as 2011 approaches, supporters will consider donating through the Give! campaign in its final week and helping us reach our ambitious goal. You still have 5 days to earn great rewards for supporting a community full of diversity, equality, and religious freedom! From the bottom of our hearts: THANK YOU, and Happy New Year!!!
Don’t forget, the Indy Give! Campaign is under way, and Citizens Project is proud to be one of the lucky nonprofits included again this year! There has never been a better time to give to Citizens Project! Have a family member that’s impossible to buy for this holiday season? You can donate to your favorite organizations in his/her name and get AWESOME rewards that you can give as gifts or enjoy yourself. Everybody wins when you donate through Indy Give! Below is the current spread of donations among community-building organizations. Help Citizens Project to the top and score great rewards like free Bristol beer, haircuts, gift cards, tickets to local events, and SO much more!
Donations of $25 or more automatically receive more than $75 worth of fantastic rewards! It’s the perfect time to Give! where you live!
A HUGE “Thank you!” to all who have already donated to Citizens Project, via Give! or otherwise. We truly couldn’t continue our important work toward voter education, equality, diversity, and separation of church and state without all of you. Happy Holidays!
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
Lao Tzu
Thanks to hundreds of supporters and volunteers just like you, 2010 has been a great year so far for Citizens Project and I’m excited to share the highlights with you:
Election Education
For the 19th consecutive year, Citizens Project published a comprehensive local Freedom Watch Voter Guide that was inserted in the Colorado Springs Independent and reached more than 100,000 voters in the Pikes Peak region with unbiased information about candidates and ballot measure descriptions. Citizens Project also took a position against Colorado Ballot Measures 60, 61, 62 and 101, all of which were soundly defeated.
Together with the Colorado Springs Independent and many community co-sponsors, Citizens Project hosted a primary El Paso County Sheriff debate and produced two Election Education Forums in October for the general 2010 election.
Recently, we worked with a broad coalition to challenge the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s decision to hold 72% of physical polling locations in churches. We found that neighboring counties held 38% or less of polling places in churches and disseminated research that demonstrates a correlation between voting habits and polling place. Citizens Project also coordinated a mailing to over 400 local faith communities with educational materials about electioneering and how churches can comply with IRS guidelines to protect their tax-exempt status.
Separation of Church and State
Next week, Citizens Project will send all local schools The December Dilemma, a practical guide for educators to ensure inclusive holiday celebrations. We also began planning our second annual Citizens’ Religious Freedom Institute to educate teachers, administrators, students, parents and community members about upholding religious freedom in our classrooms. If you’re interested in helping with this important event, please let us know.
Citizens Project also collaborated with faith and business leaders to develop a proposal for a more inclusive municipal policy regarding banners on public property, which City Council will vote on in early 2011.
Diversity and Equality
Citizens Project played a key role in the re-establishment of a Colorado Springs Human Relations Commission, which will educate and protect all members of our community on the importance of diversity and mediate disputes on behalf of the city. Stay tuned for updates!
In early 2010, Citizens Project launched an awareness campaign designed to stimulate conversation and heighten awareness of our issues. More than 100 people signed up on our website, and many of our friends in the community reported having positive conversations as a result of the campaign.
Time, Talent & Money
Citizens Project has always been a grassroots organization that relies heavily on the support of dozens of volunteers and hundreds of supporters! Our accomplishments this year are a testament to the incredible power of our allies in the community.
We held our first-ever Volunteer Open House in July, and we’re planning a Holiday Open House for volunteers on December 13, 2010 at 5pm right here at the CP office. Please let us know if you can join us to see our office space and hear about the incredible impact volunteers and donors have on our programs. We also developed a quarterly Volunteer Connection newsletter. If you’re interested in learning about our amazing volunteers or upcoming opportunities to make a difference, please feel free to contact us.
Again this year, Citizens Project has been invited to participate in the Colorado Springs Give! Initiative, a coordinated effort to elevate awareness of nonprofits in our community and increase philanthropy in the region. If you’re interested in donating time or money, and earning great rewards, please learn more by visiting IndyGive.com.
All this work is possible because of you: thank you for all you do to create community! Please call on us any time with ideas, feedback, problems or questions. You are the citizens of Citizens Project.
The highly anticipated Midterm 2010 elections have come to a close. Regardless of the outcome, we congratulate all candidates on their hard work. Thank you to all who attended our voter education forums, read our voter guide, or otherwise educated yourselves and voted as informed citizens yesterday. We look forward to the coming years and hope that they will be times of progress and a bright future for America.
Find all Colorado election results, and links to national outcomes, on the Denver Post’s website.
Nominations Due November 11, 2010 – Citizens Project’s Seventh Annual
Divine Award!
Citizens Project invites residents to submit nominations for this prestigious award that recognizes a person in the Pikes Peak region who has worked tirelessly to create a vibrant democracy in which equal rights are protected, individual freedoms are secure, differences are respected and people fully participate in civic life.
Tell us in 300 words or fewer why your nominee should be recognized. Please provide specific information about your nominee’s roles in the community – both officially and informally – and how you believe your nominee has made a lasting impact on the community. Please include your name and daytime phone number with your nomination. Email nominations to info@CitizensProject.org by November 11.
Citizens Project is happy to announce that this year’s election forums were a great success! Sincerest thanks to our co-sponsors at the Independent and all those who participated in, attended, and/or helped promote these important events.
On October 6 and October 19 at Stargazers Theatre, residents of the Pikes Peak region were able to hear both sides of many local issues and races. Community members heard from County Commission District 5 Candidates Peggy Littleton and Mike Merrifield, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Candidates Tom Mowle and Wayne Williams, State Legislature Candidates Pete Lee and Karen Cullen, and House District 17 candidate Dennis Apuan. They also witnessed informational debates between either side of Fiscal Measures 60, 61, and 101, the El Paso County Medical Marijuana issue, Ballot Measure 62, and the Colorado Springs strong mayor proposal.
Many community members attended, asked pertinent and important questions, and supported voter education. The candidates and issue debaters were all gracious, and we appreciate their participation. The forums were filmed and aired by News First Now and featured a media panel of representatives from The Gazette, KRCC-FM, The Colorado Springs Business Journal, and the Colorado Springs Independent. Below, you’ll find a few photos from these two great events. Again, thanks to all who make voter education a priority in our community. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Citizens Project believes that your vote is your voice!
We invite you to check out our hot-off-the-presses Voter Guide to learn about the candidates and issues on the 2010 ballot. Get educated, and make your voice heard!
“It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights.” – George Washington
Despite the best efforts of President Obama, gay rights activists, and Lady Gaga Herself, Senate Democrats in support of the Defense Reauthorization Bill failed to enact broad legislation which would, among other things, successfully repeal the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. But Tuesday’s close 56-43 vote, while disappointing, does not mean the end of the modern gay rights movement.
In fact, it seems almost a mere bump in the long but increasingly successful road to equality that supporters have been actively paving for decades. Just within the last year, activists have gained high-status lobbying partners, public officials have begun to show more outward support for equal rights, and there has been a significant shift in public opinion toward LGBT issues.
In 2009, Iowa became a catalyst as the third state in the union to legalize same-sex marriage. Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire quickly followed suit, bringing the count to six states in which same-sex couples can legally wed. The District of Columbia also came on board, and began performing marriages earlier this year. Most of these decisions were followed by a commanding backlash, but while many states were rushing to amend their constitutions to prohibit gay marriage, several others were passing civil union and domestic partnership laws, granting gay couples the same rights provided to straight married couples.
And that’s just the beginning. In 2006, Arizona became the first state in which a constitutional ban on gay marriage failed by popular vote. Though California’s ballot initiative, the infamous Proposition 8, was successfully passed, activists everywhere were celebrating last month when a Reagan/Bush-appointed federal judge struck down the law, declaring it unconstitutional.
Just one month earlier, a different federal judge invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal statute which dictated that only male to female marriages could be legally recognized. Then, a few short weeks ago, yet another federal judge declared the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy an unconstitutional infringement upon the fundamental rights of gay and lesbian soldiers. The momentum from this landmark decision prompted activists across the country to call for a legislative repeal of the policy, even garnering outspoken support from Lady Gaga, one of the world’s most famous celebrities.
All of these steps toward equality have, however, also forced the hand of faith-based organizations and interest groups. In the past several months, coalitions of Catholics and other institutes of faith have poured money into the National Organization for Marriage, which, in turn, has funneled the cash into various efforts to fight back against these marriage decisions. The organization dropped almost a quarter of a million dollars in Iowa alone, producing massive ad campaigns against the justices who handed down the unanimous decision.
These organizations also have allies in many public officials, including hard-liner conservatives like Senator John McCain. Allies who on Tuesday filibustered any chance at a Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal into submission, proving that the gay rights movement is still very much an uphill battle. But while those citizens who oppose gay marriage are still in the majority, studies by the PEW research forum show that the gap is narrowing. Over the last ten years, support for legalization has increased by 10%, and those who support civil unions are in an even larger majority than those who oppose gay marriage. So, while the gay rights movement is still met by serious religious opposition, the growing force behind it and the marked shift in public opinion shows that this fight is not a lost cause. Not even close.
Hello, my name is Elmurad Kasym. I am 29 years old and I am from Kyrgyzstan, a small country north of Afghanistan, south of Russia and west of China. I have traveled to the USA before and this time I am here on a US state-funded scholarship pursuing a master’s degree in international relations in Denver, CO. After arriving here for the third time, I continue to discover the unknown America. This time, I am learning about religious practices and attitudes towards religions the founding fathers did not profess.
One faith tradition that receives a great deal of scrutiny and criticism in the US is Islam; the reportedly fastest growing religion in the world and the USA particularly. This year’s biggest controversy, so far, is the Park51 Islamic Cultural Center project near Ground Zero and the Eid ul-Fitr celebration one or two days before the 11th of September. What a challenge for Muslims in America! But I am sure these issues would have been resolved easily, should there only be more understanding and awareness.
Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr Islam is currently celebrating one of its most sacred times in the year – the month of Ramadan. This is a month when Muslims abstain from meals, sexual intercourse and other acts that would break one’s fast. Ramadan is a month of self reflection, asking for forgiveness from both God and those whom one could’ve somehow hurt, and seeking spiritual and physical cleanness. According to Islamic teachings, rewards for good deeds are multiplied by several times in Ramadan. The blessed month finishes with one of the two most important holidays – Eid ul-Fitr, which any Muslim wishes to celebrate.
Muslims follow the lunar calendar whose months move “backwards” against the solar calendar. Thus, every single month of the lunar calendar starts 10-12 days earlier than in the previous year. Ramadan this year starts on August 8 (as opposed to the last year’s August 18) and concludes, based on the moon sighting, on either 9or 10 September. The conclusion of Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr falling so close to September 11 is creating a stronger impact on American society than, let’s say, the flood in Pakistan.
“How can they be celebrating their feast on the worst day in this country’s history?!” “This is yet another proof the Islamists planned and carried out those attacks, and are now impudently slapping in our faces!” This is the impression I am getting from news and blog posts about Ramadan and Park51 controversy. But is it so in reality? Are “those Moozlems” celebrating the end of Ramadan purposefully on the anniversary of the tragic events?
No! It just happens so this year that the lunar month of Ramadan is concluding close to the 11th of September. This was not planned, just as it was not planned last year when Ramadan’s completion was celebrated a week or so only after the 11th of September.
The religion of Islam: Facts and Misconceptions One of the profound lessons I learned in my life was confronting the difference between what I I thought/was told and reality. The “Learning Other Cultures 101 class” I took in early 2000s in California taught me that Americans were not all about fancy convertible sports cars, half-naked blond women on the beach, machos shooting right and left, and rivers of Coca-Cola and that young Americans were not into either partying or smoking pot.
It is my firm belief that these images were painted in my mind due to a) scarcity of information about the USA and b) Hollywood movies that do not represent all life styles practiced here. Scarce resources coupled with an intensive “attack on brains” off of the TV screen left a wrong impression of the USA which did not encompass the whole of the diverse America.
Now, having arrived here, I can see the religion of Islam is being misrepresented in the same manner: what we know about this religion comes only from TV and/or other mass media outlets. The true image of Islam was hijacked by hate mongers just like the 9-11 planes were hijacked by those who do not represent Islam. I urge my readers not to judge this religion based on some insane individuals’ acts in its name. If so, what kind of conclusion we are expecting people will reach based on the crusades, the Kansas bomber and the KKK? Do these acts, no matter how far apart in history, represent the true Christian religion or the USA? Cleary, no!
Neither do those who flew the planes into the World Trade Center, blow themselves up and innocent civilians, kill non-Muslims and commit other horrendous acts in the name of religion and securing a place in Paradise, represent Islam.
The religion of Islam is not about violence. I realize this line has been uttered hundreds and thousands of times, but have we really thought into it? What do we know about this religion and its “advocacy in favor of violence”?
Islam is the completion of the monotheistic mission the prophets (peace be upon them all) were sent with by God the Almighty. In the Koran, God says He does not want any difficulty for His creations – us, humans – but wants ease. The God of Koran frowns upon any violence – physical or psychological – and encourages good deeds.
God says in the Koran He forbids us from killing ourselves. According to that very Koran, killing an innocent soul equals to killing the whole humankind and saving a soul is equal to saving the whole humankind. Now, how can those “martyrs” blowing themselves up and others convince anyone they are doing an act which will please God? Such a criminal is not getting even close to Paradise, let alone virgin mates. And, according to the “do not kill thyself” command of God, they will be thrown into Hellfire for committing suicide and unjustly inflicting death on other creations of God.
In fact, Islam has a long history of eradicating violence and inequality. For example, in the pre-Islamic times, Arabs used to bury some of their infant and small daughters alive and Islam abolished that tradition. Islam also helped put an end to slavery by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), being first to do so. Is this the same religion that some believe promotes and encourages violence? Clearly not!
As we can see, the image painted about Islam is wrong to the core. The real mission Islam bears is a set of rules and regulations called to make the humankind’s life on earth easy and comfortable. Islam teaches humans to love and be dutiful to parents even if they are not Muslim like the father of Abraham (peace be upon him). Islam teaches us that the humankind was born from Adam and Eve and urges to live in peace and harmony among different races.
I, for one, practice my religion to the best of my knowledge and capabilities and see no single point in the Koran, Sunnah or Shariah which would justify or encourage an act of violence against non-Muslims around me here in the US, or anywhere else. In fact, Koran teaches me to say “for you is your religion, for me is my religion.” I am able to freely practice my religion whether on campus or in mosques. Why should/would I want to hurt any non-Muslim? For letting me to freely exercise my religious views and rights?
Even though it is frequently misunderstood, Islam’s mission is enabling people to live this short life serving the Only Lord and employing every means to please Him; means as little as sharing a meal with your family, keeping oneself clean, not being haughty and being kind to your neighbor. I think we can all agree, no matter our faith tradition, that these are noble and worthy goals.
Citizens Project’s note:
You may contact the author of this post at Elmurad.Kasym@du.edu.
Sunday, August 15, was the Colorado Springs Diversity Forum’s ‘Everybody Welcome’ Festival, where Citizens Project joined many different organizations at America the Beautiful Park to celebrate our city’s diversity.
You can read the Gazette article about it here, and KKTV has a video that you can view here.
Citizens Project is thrilled to welcome Bailey Harris as the new Director of Development and Communications! Bailey recently graduated from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Multimedia Journalism. Bailey will contribute expertise in communications and social media, politics, advocacy, and community organizing and has previously worked for organizations such as Amnesty International and the Democratic Party.
Bailey has relocated from Des Moines, Iowa and is excited to join Citizens Project and get to know the Colorado Springs community. She will be responsible for communication and fundraising projects, community outreach initiatives, and building community relationships, among other tasks.
Please join us in welcoming Bailey to the Citizens Project staff! Congratulate her at bailey@citizensproject.org!
Citizens Project celebrated the recent overturning of Proposition 8, California’s anti-gay marriage law, and it made us wonder; how do California’s LGBT laws stack up to Colorado’s?
Colorado had two items on the 2006 ballot regarding same-sex marriage. Referendum I was a proposed law that would have “legalize[d] domestic partnerships, providing same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain the legal protections and responsibilities granted to married couples under Colorado law.” (CNN)
The other item on the ballot was Amendment 43, which would have defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. Amendment 43 passed with 56% of the vote, and Referendum I, along with LGBT marriage equality, was defeated when 53% voted against it. (CNN)
However, some rights were granted to same-sex couples in 2009. HB 1260, which Governor Bill Ritter signed in April of 2009, legally allows “couples (gay, lesbian, or heterosexual) to enter into ‘designated beneficiary agreements’. Designated beneficiaries would have certain rights, including the right to receive state employee pension benefits, health insurance coverage, the right to medical decision-making for an incapacitated partner and the right to inherit if a partner dies without a will.” (HRC) This bill did more than help same-sex couples; it helped unmarried heterosexual couples as well as people who can’t afford a lawyer to draft a will. (DallasVoice)
California’s laws regarding marriage are more complex. For a few weeks in 2004, the Mayor of San Francisco issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but these were later nullified by California Supreme Court. Then, in 2008, Proposition 8 was introduced and voted on, and passed in the November election with 52% of the vote. This proposition said that, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” (CA Voterguide) However, on August 4, 2010, a California Judge reversed Proposition 8, calling it unconstitutional. This decision will be appealed, and at least for now, same-sex couples in California are not allowed to marry. That could change, depending on the ultimate outcome of this litigation.
Colorado’s 1992 Amendment 2 is an ugly blotch in our state history. Amendment 2 would have prohibited legal protection from discrimination for gays and lesbians. It passed with xx% of the vote. Fortunately, justice prevailed and Amendment 2 was overturned by the Colorado Courts. Given this attempt to legalize discrimination against LGBT people, it may surprise you that California and Colorado have very similar laws in other areas that affect LGBT communities.
Employment: Both Colorado and California have laws that protect people from being discriminated against due to their sexual orientation and gender identity. California put these laws into effect in 1992 and 2003, where Colorado put them into effect in 2007. (HRC)
Housing: Both Colorado and California have laws that prohibit housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. For Colorado, this occurred with the passing of SB 200 in 2008, which, in addition to pre-existing nondiscrimination laws for sexual orientation and gender identity to employment, added housing, public accommodations, credit transactions, jury service, and more to the legally protected areas. (HRC, HRC)
Hate Crimes: Both Colorado (in 2005) and California (in 1999) include sexual orientation and gender identity in their state hate crimes law (HRC)
School discrimination: Both Colorado (in 2008) and California (in 2002) have laws that address discrimination, harassment and/or bullying of students based on sexual orientation and gender identity. (HRC)
Adoption: Both Colorado and California allow second-parent adoptions (adopting the child of one’s partner) as well as same-sex couples jointly petitioning to adopt (adopting from the child’s biological parent(s) or is in the custody of the state) (HRC)
Hospital Visitation: Colorado and California have similar hospital visitation laws, but they are a result of different processes. In California, equal hospital visitation rights are granted to same-sex spouses or partners through marriage equality or statewide relationship recognition. In Colorado, same-sex spouses or partners are extended equal hospital visitation rights through specific provisions as part of a limited relationship recognition statute. (HRC)
Out-of-Jurisdiction Recognition: In order to be eligible for benefits and protections extended by Colorado, couples must re-register with Colorado regardless of their relationship status elsewhere. California, on the other hand, recognizes out-of-jurisdiction marriages that occurred before November 2008 as valid marriages, and all other same-sex marriages and civil unions or domestic partnerships as valid domestic partnerships. (HRC)
We can see that Colorado and California’s past in regard to LGBT issues are very similar. Both states had, or are in the process of having, bad legislation overturned that would have prohibited equal rights from being attained by LGBT communities. Both states are among the top LGBT-friendly states with regards to discrimination laws. And they both, despite all of these positive attributes, have a long way to go before true equality is reached.
July 20 – Around 125 people gathered in the Penrose Library to watch Republican El Paso County Sheriff candidates debate, an event Citizens Project co-sponsored.
KKTV has an article and short video on the debate here, and you can read the Gazette article about it here.
Here are some pictures from the event:
Citizens Project would like to thank the Independent, as well as our other co-sponsors, the League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region, Colorado College, KRCC, FOX21, Inside/Out Youth Services, Artemis, Pride Center, and the NAACP for making this event such a success!
El Paso County voters will have the opportunity to hear from – and ask questions of – republican primary candidates for El Paso County Sheriff at a nonpartisan forum co-sponsored by Citizens Project and the Colorado Springs Independent. The winner of the republican primary election for this office will run unopposed on the general election ballot. Please join us as we hear from EL Paso County candidates Maketa and Shirk.
With the recent developments regarding the United States’ military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, which effectively bans openly gay and lesbian citizens from serving in the military, it is an appropriate time to examine where the policy came from, where it currently stands, and the possibilities for its future.
Leading up to his 1992 presidential election victory, Bill Clinton promised to end the ban on gays and lesbians in the US military. However, once in office President Clinton encountered fierce resistance from Congress. During the Congressional debates, Dr. Gregory Herek, a respected social psychologist with over 15 years of research in topics of sexual orientation, spoke on the potential consequences of lifting the ban on gays and lesbians in the military. His ultimate conclusion was that “the research data show that there is nothing about lesbians and gay men that makes them inherently unfit for military service, and there is nothing about heterosexuals that makes them inherently unable to work and live with gay people in close quarters.” Despite these affirmations, President Clinton was unable to persuade congress, and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was formed as a compromise. This was, at any rate, progress, because it allowed gay and lesbian troops to serve in the military, as long as they kept their sexual orientation a secret.
Every year, a bill is used to decide the budget of the US Department of Defense, and the 2010 version includes an amendment that would eliminate the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law. This was voted on by the House of Representatives on May 27, and it passed on a 234-194 vote. The Senate Armed Forces Committee also voted on the bill, and it passed there with a 16-12 vote.
The biggest argument against passing the bill is that its potential effects on the military are unknown. The Pentagon is currently undergoing a review that was commissioned after President Obama’s State of the Union Address, where he discussed his desire to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The goal of the review is to determine whether or not the repeal would affect the “military’s standards of readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion and recruitment and retention,” and to offer strategies on how to implement the law if it was passed. The results of this review are not due until December, so many Representatives who were not in favor of repeal said that they were reluctant to agree to the bill without first knowing the results of the Pentagon review.
What is known about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is there are many negative consequences. Apart from its obvious discriminatory nature, which can alienate troops and force them to lie, it is very expensive. A 2006 study showed that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has cost the US over $363 million dollars in investigations and training replacements. Over 13,000 people have been kicked out of the military since 1993 due to their sexual orientation, which includes troops with critical skills such as Arabic linguists, fighter pilots and doctors, whose skills are invaluable during a time in which the US is involved in two wars. There are over thirty countries that allow gays and lesbians to serve openly, including Israel, England, Canada, Australia, and Spain.
There are still many obstacles in the way before the repealing of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell can be passed. The next step is that the Senate must vote on the bill, which could occur this summer. If it were to pass in the Senate, the president, the defense secretary and the Joint Chiefs of Staff all must sign off on it as well. This might be a very significant obstacle because President Obama has threatened to veto the bill because it contains money for defense projects he deems wasteful.
Despite these obstacles, there is more hope than ever that the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law will finally be eliminated. As Dr. Herek mentioned, there is absolutely nothing that prevents gays and lesbians from serving as well as heterosexuals. And with numerous examples of countries successfully embracing gays and lesbians into their militaries, isn’t it time that the United States, a self-professed powerful force for good in the world, did so as well? As someone close to me always says, there have always been gay and lesbian troops in the military, and I believe that it is long past due to finally allow them to serve their country openly and freely.
On Saturday, April 17, 2010, Citizens Project hosted the inaugural Citizen’s Religious Freedom Institute, which focused on how the First Amendment to the US Constitution protects religious freedom in public schools. It was a resounding success! Over 30 participants learned how the law defines religious freedom in the public school setting, about best practices for schools to respect all students’ religious freedom, and how to be an advocate for religious freedom in schools.
Attendees included parents, teachers, school board members, as well as students. In their evaluations, participants gave the main legal presentation a score of 4.8 out 5, and most said they would apply what they had learned. Their comments showed how much of an impact the event had:
“This was incredibly insightful and I found this day particularly rewarding.”
“I learned about things I’d only had a very abstract understanding of.”
“My beliefs about religious diversity in public schools have changed, in that I need to think more about what is respectful and inclusive.”
Speakers at the event included Eric Hall, attorney at law with Rothgerber Johnson and Lyons, who presented First Amendment Fundamentals; Lindsey Hodel, a community organizer and consultant for Crossroads Campaign Solutions, presented strategies to organize for social change. The day included group exercises, an interactive panel and activities to advance participants’ knowledge.
For more information on the next Citizens Religious Freedom Institute and other upcoming Citizens Project events, join our email list list, connect with us on Facebook, or visit us at www.citizensproject.com/events.
ay, April 17, 2010, Citizens Project hosted the Citizen’s Religious Freedom Institute, which centered on religion and public school, specifically how the First Amendment to the US Constitution protects religious freedom in public schools.While participants were educated in how the law defines religious freedom in the public school setting, the best practices for respecting all students’ religious freedom, and how to be an advocate for religious freedom in your school, its overarching goal was not just to know the law, but to promote best practices.
Speakers at the event included Eric Hall, who discussed First Amendment Fundamentals, as well as Lindsey Hodel, who discussed what to do if you have a concern.
This was incredibly insightful and I found this day particularly rewarding.
I learned about things I’d only had a very abstract understanding of.
Comments from attendees
For more information on upcoming Citizens Project events, connect with us on Facebook or at www.citizensproject.com
With the excitement of recent successes still fresh in our minds, Citizens Project has another big announcement to share with you – our donors, volunteers and supporters.
Citizens Project’s Executive Director, Barb Van Hoy, who has been a tremendous asset to the organization for seven years, has decided to pursue new adventures, and leave CP to be a full-time mom and a part-time dance teacher. CP is so fortunate that Barb embarks upon
Kristy Milligan
these new endeavors leaving the organization in such a great position, and that Kristy Milligan, our Development Director and Program Manager, has accepted the position of Executive Director. This passing of the baton provides a seamless transition and facilitates the continuation of our great momentum. Kristy’s unique experiences and talents instill confidence in the board for this transition and the future of the organization.
To the Citizens Project community Barb writes,
It has been an extraordinary gift for me to work with so many passionate people in Colorado Springs to make our community a better place. In some ways this was a very difficult decision: I love Citizens Project, and every one of you with whom I’ve
Barb Van Hoy
worked and who have helped magnify our collectivevoice for equality, religious freedom & respect for diversity. It is with both sadness and excitement that I take this leap of faith. I will missworking with you all through CP, but I will continue to be involved in the community. I am also excited for the future of Citizens Project. Though I have been the most visible face of CP, we are blessed with many talented volunteers, supporters, board leadership and of course Kristy Milligan, who will lead Citizens Project to be an even greater advocate for our shared values. I am so grateful for all of your incredible support over the years and for your continued engagement with CP into the future. I won’t be a stranger.
The board has accepted Barb’s intent to resign with sadness for the Citizens Project community, happiness for Barb, and gratitude for her great leadership.
Tempering this regret is our excitement in welcoming Kristy Milligan as our next Executive Director.
Kristy, a native of Colorado Springs who has been involved with the organization for nearly eight years, is ideally positioned to take the helm and will bring exceptional leadership, knowledge and talent to the position of Executive Director. Many of you are very familiar with her enthusiasm and passion for CP’s mission, demonstrated during her three years as CP’s Development Director and Program Manager, which included a stint as Interim Director. Her experience and leadership will ensure a seamless transition. Over the next several weeks, the board and staff will develop a transition time line that honors the organization and ensures continuity for our work in the community.
Citizens Project remains steadfast in our resolve to create a community that values religious freedom through separation of church and state, equality and diversity. We will continue to be a voice for our shared values, and with your help, that voice will only grow.
With sincerest appreciation,
Karole Campbell
Chair, Citizens Project Board of Directors
It is commonly said that history is written by the winners, and that true objectivity is rarely, if ever, attained. The Texas Board of Education might be trying to prove this cliché, based on their recent efforts to change their curriculum to one that is rife with political and religious undertones. The real people who are suffering from this change are the children of Texas, who deserve to learn in an environment that is free from these political and religious influences.
If you were asked to revise a school’s curriculum, how would you go about doing this? You’d probably try to track down experts in the various fields and ask them for their opinions (ask a historian about history, etc) and seek advice by researching other credible sources. Then, with this information, try to make an informed, unbiased (as possible), recommendation. Would you, on your next dentist appointment, let the man looking at your teeth make all of the recommendations based on personal opinion more than on historical fact? Probably not. Unless, of course, you are the Texas Board of Education, whose chair from 2007 until 2009 was a dentist.
The conversation on the idea of historical facts is a difficult one because historians do not always agree on how to interpret historical fact. Taking the Venona papers for example, which “document communication between the Soviet Union and its spies” in America during the Cold War, for every historian saying these are important and justify, to an extent, McCarthyism, there is another that “dispute[s] the extent to which transcripts show Soviet involvement in American government,” (Washington Post). In addition to this, the Texas board of Education is also trying to minimize the efforts of some in the civil rights movements, including an amendment that states “that the movement created ‘unrealistic expectations of equal outcomes’ among minorities,” (NY Times). What can be agreed upon, however, is the absurdity that anyone, let alone an entire state, would be allowed to rewrite history. The members of the Texas Board of Education are making their decisions based not on what history is, but what they want it to be.
One of the recent proposed and accepted changes is related to separation of church and state. The board decided to exclude Thomas Jefferson from “the list of world thinkers who inspired 18th- and 19th-century revolutions,” (NY Times). Thomas Jefferson is well-known for coining the phrase ‘wall of separation between church and state.’ Texas, trying to minimize the significance of this idea, presented an alternative idea about religious freedom, and how that idea is different from Thomas Jefferson’s famous phrase, despite historical evidence to the contrary. Jefferson’s demotion by the Texas Board of Education from being a ‘founding father’ is an attempt to undermine the credibility that anything he said or wrote might have.
Whatever your personal views on history are, it is hard to deny that Texas is trying to rewrite history in their vision, and by doing so brainwashing the young, impressionable children in their state to think like they do. Unfortunately, their influence does not stop there. Texas’ “huge market for textbooks gives Texas a huge influence on education across the country…” (Texas Freedom Network). This is a dangerous slippery slope that can have impacts across the country because Texas is trying to diminish the idea of the separation between church and state, and by doing so use the public schools to promote their beliefs to children. Texas is going down a path that does not celebrate religious diversity, and is trying to take the rest of the country along. Students deserve to learn in an environment that is free from political and religious influence and ideology and focus more on pure academics.
We are delighted to report that this year’s Creating Community Breakfast has helped us raise almost $60,000 (not including the Gay & Lesbian Fund match) to help Citizens Project create the community we imagine. We had roughly 500 guests turn out in support of Citizens Project and the gifts collected yesterday morning exceeded our wildest expectations.
If you are interested in being a table captain at next year’s event, please email Kristy.
Citizens Project is excited to welcome Cameron Lucke as an intern for the summer!
Cameron just finished his junior year at Michigan State University, where he is majoring in Comparative Cultures and Politics. After moving around a lot as a child, he now resides in Colorado Springs, and calls this city ‘home.’
Cameron is thrilled to be working for Citizens Project, and is excited for the many upcoming events during the summer. Cameron will be contributing to Freedom Watch Online, as well as coordinating voter education and outreach, among other things.
Most cities have a Human Relations Commission (HRC) to mediate disputes, help businesses, individuals and agencies resolve issues involving discrimination, and provide city government a greater understanding of how policies and funding affect less vocal minorities. Our city’s HRC was disbanded in the 1990s and it’s time to bring it back.
The HRC is an all-volunteer committee of nine residents, appointed by the City Council, who have diverse backgrounds and skills in mediation, cultural competency, community leadership, and human services.
The HRC requires no funding, does not have regulatory power, and will operate like most other city boards and commissions.
How will the Human Relations Commission benefit our community?
The HRC will hear grievances from any resident or business involving discrimination, and will use mediation and reconciliation to resolve disputes without litigation. Unresolved conflicts may be referred to the Colorado Civil Rights Division.
The HRC will conduct informed advocacy, and educate the business community, nonprofits and the public sector on how to avoid illegal discrimination and work constructively with employees, clients, customers and citizens with diverse backgrounds.
The HRC will be a resource for residents affected by the loss of services from recent budget cuts, connecting people with existing services or identifying new needs that nonprofit agencies could address.
The HRC will promote public-private partnerships to find solutions to community problems and will improve police-community relations by promoting constructive dialogue.
Citizens Project is proud to present the first Citizens’ Religious Freedom Institute, a one day seminar on how the First Amendment to the US Constitution protects religious freedom in public schools. For teachers, students, parents, administrators, staff, school board members, and open to the public.
Saturday April 17, 2010
To be repeated on Sunday April 18 pending sufficient enrollment University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Participants will learn:
How the law defines religious freedom in the public school setting,
Best practices for respecting all students’ religious freedom, and
How to be an advocate for religious freedom in your school.
May provide in-service credit for teachers. Please check back for details.
To receive information about the Citizens’ Religious Freedom Institute, join our email list for Freedom Watch Online, email Barb Van Hoy, or call us at (719) 520-9899.
Special thanks to Citizens Project youth volunteer videographer Isaac and Impact Video Production for this video! Interviews were taped at the 2009 Everybody Welcome Festival of Cultural Diversity in Colorado Springs’ America the Beautiful Park.
It’s been revealed: Citizens Project is the agency behind the subversive ads you may have seen around town. The Gazette ran a nice story about it, and what these crazy messages really represent is our communitywithout Citizens Project:
Now we invite you to join us to make our community a better place. We are creating a louder voice for inclusion, diversity and equal rights by collecting stories, creating conversations, and telling a new, powerful story of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region.
Today, we want to hear more about you.
Tell us your story. Tell us about your personal experiences of diversity, discrimination, inclusion, or isolation. Tell us about a time you felt unwelcome or devalued in our community, and tell us about a time you felt included and respected. Tell us what you wish for Colorado Springs and our region, and how you think Citizens Project can help residents make a difference.
You’ve seen the billboards, the print ads, the bus sides and the websites. Church Equals State, Freedom From Expression, Create Isolation, Celebrate Conformity. And now you know that Citizens Project was the organization behind this provocative campaign.
Learn more about what the campaign is all about by checking out Citizens Project’s recent media coverage and stay tuned to learn how you can join the conversation!
The Gazette is a valued partner and supporter of Citizens Project and now they are offering to donate a portion of new subscriptions to Citizens Project!
To participate, simply click on the link below to subscribe and they will donate $25 to Citizens Project. You can stay up-to-date on your local news, and support us at the same time!
Thanks to Diversity Consultant Jody Alyn and her student for this piece in her newsletter:
Is this a race-based business practice? A race-based buying practice? Or a sign of something else?
Check out the news story about Walmart and watch a video about one news program’s effort to recreate Dr. Kenneth and Mamie Clark’s famous research on doll preference and racial identity.
Reprinted with permission.
The linked news story on ABC’s web site is very thoughtful.
Educators, historians, journalists and commentators all over the country are decrying the decision by the Texas Board of Education to approve highly politicized revisions to public school curriculum.
Historians on Tuesday criticized proposed revisions to the Texas social studies curriculum, saying that many of the changes are historically inaccurate and that they would affect textbooks and classrooms far beyond the state’s borders.
The San Antonio Express-News says the “latest example of SBOE incompetence springs from the same source as other outrages: The inability of social conservatives on the state board to distinguish between ideology and education.”
Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, director of the U.S. Latino & Latina World War II Oral History Project at the University of Texas School of Journalism, says the Texas State Board of Education apparently wasn’t listening as witnesses came from across the state to urge members to consider the inclusion of more Hispanic Americans in social studies curriculum standards.
Citizens Project has been following the dangerous extremism on the Texas Board of Education over the last several months. It exploded in the national press yesterday with this cover story in The New York Times Magazine.
The injection of partisan politics into education went so far that at one point another Republican board member burst out in seemingly embarrassed exasperation, “Guys, you’re rewriting history now!”
Citizens Project will keep monitoring local schools to prevent this from happening here. Please let us know if you hear of any inappropriate politicizing we should be aware of.
When local controversy erupts, we don’t have to take our cues from the partisan, uncivil tone dominating national policy debates. After all, Colorado Springs has learned a thing or two from Amendment 2, the Moo campaign, and the Ted Haggard scandal to name a few. We’ve learned that calling other people intolerant does not “Create Community”.
The “Jesus is Alive!” banners on city-owned light poles in downtown Colorado Springs raise high emotions among residents, whether Christian, Jewish or Atheist. Some people see them as just another example of the city thumbing its nose at anyone who does not subscribe to the majority religion. Others view any objection to the banners as liberal intolerance of a positive Christian message. Are either of these really true? Rather than hunker down into our comfortable, adversarial positions, Citizens Project says let’s focus on finding our common ground. After all, our nation really is the global beacon of religious freedom, so let’s reach for our highest selves.
Surely, you may ask, doesn’t our community have more important issues to tackle right now, such as homelessness and drastic budget cuts? It’s a reasonable question, but don’t forget we are talking about the First Amendment; how our diverse residents share the public space together. And more practically, our city’s land use division is required to adopt a code to define who gets banners in the public right of way, since none currently exists.
As a dedicated local watchdog for religious freedom and separation of church and state, Citizens Project wants to lead the way in working with community members to find our common ground. We are reaching out to leaders representing diverse perspectives. Let’s listen respectfully to each others’ point of view, and try to put aside our preconceptions of each others’ motives. We may still disagree in the end, but we’ll understand one another more, and hopefully create real community. Who knows, we might even become a national model for how to have civil debate on core community values. Let’s bring together our Christian, Jewish, Atheist, and other faith communities to build bridges, and bury our national reputation as the “Gettysburg of the culture wars”.
We welcome your ideas! Please comment here or send an email to Citizens Project’s Executive Director Barb Van Hoy. Let the conversation begin.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters in this community and Give! Campaign partners, Citizens Project raised more than $2,500 in the inaugural Give! Campaign. Congratulations to all participating organizations on a tremendous success, and thank you to all the philanthropists who gave through the campaign!
Photo courtesy of Cayton Photography
Pictured above: Executive Director Barb Van Hoy with Independent publisher John Weiss and a really, really big check!
Citizens Project is working to ensure that the U.S. Constitution’s religious freedom guarantees are upheld in the new city’s code regulating such banners.
Citizens Project is delighted to announce that the recipient of the 2010 Divine Award is John Weiss!
Photo by Cayton Photography
Please join us as we celebrate John’s contributions to the Colorado Springs community at our sixth annual Divine Award event!
Thursday, February 18, 2010 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The Warehouse, 25 W. Cimarron St.,
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Open to the public, $10 suggested donation
About the Divine Award: Citizens Project’s Divine Award is given annually to an individual inthe Pikes Peak region who has worked tirelessly to create a vibrant democracy in which equal rights are protected and differences are respected. The award simultaneously recognizes the accomplishments of its recipient and honors the legacy of Amy Divine, the founder of Citizens Project, who dedicated her energy to championing traditional American values of equal rights, individual freedoms, separation of church and state, civic engagement and respect for diversity. This year’s recipient is activist John Weiss, founder and publisher of the Colorado Springs Independent. Previous recipients are Mary Lou Makepeace, Dr. Jim White, Pam Jones and Juliet Draper (shared award), Lorne Kramer, and Richard Skorman.
Photo by Catyon Photography
About John Weiss: John Weiss is a visionary entrepreneur, collaborator, and community activist whose leadership has created a more diverse, progressive and green Colorado Springs over the last 27 years.
As founder and publisher of the Colorado Springs Independent, John oversees the region’s only free weekly alternative newspaper, which reaches more than 100,000 readers in the region with local news, diverse thought and untold stories. Through this platform, Mr. Weiss has brought nationally renowned creative thinkers to Colorado Springs to build alliances and elevate discourse, co-sponsored more than 50 civic events annually to promote a vibrant democracy, and organized coalitions to bring positive change to the region.
John is an advocate for environmental sustainability who led successful initiatives to increase funding for open space and establish recycling programs. He has organized and supported campaigns to increase City Council pay, extend health benefits to domestic partners of municipal employees, and reform local tax policy. John recently launched the Independent’s Give! initiative which raised more than $150,000 for local nonprofits, and he produces the annual Fort Carson Town Hall meetings. In his spare time, John can be found volunteering at his sons’ schools, hiking with his dog, and vanquishing reptilian invaders when innocents are threatened.
The Human Rights Campaign released the first-ever “Buying for Equality” iPhone application. This guide will allow shoppers to access its guide for equality as they are shopping to see how hundreds of popular American brands are rated based on the businesses’ treatment of their LGBT employees.
Now let’s make the City of Colorado Springs eligible for inclusion on the “good list” by passing Plus One employee health benefits, which includes domestic partners (gay and straight)! Here is the latest Gazette Opinion piece in support.
I always work on the last day of the year. There are plenty of administrative details to see to, and there are usually several active projects for Citizens Project in late December, so there’s enough work to keep me busy. But there’s another reason I work on the last day of the year and I want to share it with you: gratitude.
December 31 always provides a great opportunity for reflecting on the previous year and looking at the things that went well for us: in our personal lives, our professional lives, and our community lives. 2009 went really well for Citizens Project, in lots of ways.
CP sent 12 editions of Freedom Watch Online to more than 1,500 subcribers and 41 Action Alerts to more than 1,000 activists
We moved our office and held an open house
Our fifth annual Divine Award Celebration honored Richard Skorman and our Creating Community Breakfast event rasied $40,000
We published two comprehensive local voter guides and co-sponsored four election forums
We completed a fantastic strategic plan, which will lead Citizens Project boldly into the next decade and maximize our ability to promote our values in the community
Citizens Project mailed information about inclusive and legal practices at graduations and over the holiday season to all local schools
We totally renovated our web site and electronic communications, created this blog, and tapped into the social networking sites Twitter and Facebook
Citizens Project unveiled a proposal to extend Plus One health benefits to family members of City employees and advocated for the policy with elected representatives, the media, and our supporters
We began planning our inaugural Citizens Religious Freedom Institute, a one-day symposium that will educate and empower students, parents, teachers, administrators and community leaders around religious freedom issues
We spoke out when injustices occured in our community, such as the appearance of Jesus Lives banners on city-owned lightpoles
In all truth, I know that these things were possible for only three reasons:
We have the greatest volunteers on the planet.
We have the greatest advocates on the planet.
We have the greatest donors on the planet.
Citizens Project is the perfect name for our scrappy organization, because we truly are by the citizens and for the citizens of the Pikes Peak region. It is your support, whether emotional support, volunteer support, monetary support, or advocacy support, that makes what we do important and possible.
Earlier today, I prepared the last deposit of the year (and by the way, CP exceeded our individual income goals this year, thanks to people like you), and I was struck by the largest donation ($5,000) and the smallest donation ($4). For each person making these gifts, that amount represented a “stretch” for them – a real commitment to our values and our community - and I like to think that they are equal partners in this thing we call Citizens Project. We all do what we can, when we can, but at the end of the day – and the end of the year – one thing is true: we believe in a vibrant community that values diversity, equality and religious freedom.
Hear what Citizens Project executive director Barb Van Hoy has to say about our nation’s founding principles, read about religious freedom in the United States, and catch up on the latest Plus One news! Check out the December edition of Freedom Watch Online!
Our Plus One city employee health benefits proposal is in the news again today and the Gazette has posted an online poll about it. A strong showing of support in the poll and on the letters page of the Gazette could make the difference in showing City Council that there is enough public support to pass the plan. PLEASE ACT NOW!
Vote for Plus One in the Gazette’s online poll (click here and scroll down, in the right-hand column).
Forward this and ask your friends and colleagues to do the same.
Write to the City Council and ask them to pass Plus One. Click here for a list of City Council Members and contact information. You can also email all council members at allcouncil@springsgov.com.
Write a letter to the editor and post on online comment voicing your support for the plan. Send to opinion@gazette.com.
City Council members pay attention to these, so your letters and vote MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
You can find some talking points in Barb Van Hoy’s comment posted in the Gazette’s online comment section, reprinted here:
“The “Plus One” policy being proposed by Citizens Project would allow all city employees to buy into the city’s employee health insurance plan for one family member, if they are not already eligible for benefits for a spouse or dependent children. It is not really accurate to call this a “same-sex benefits” plan because that is only one of several types of qualifying family members. Employees could add an adult dependent child, a dependent parent, a domestic partner, or dependent grandparent. The employee would pay the full premium, rather than be subsidized by the city as current family members are (and as the 2003 policy did for same-sex couples that cost the cit $6,000). That’s one reason it is budget-neutral (the premium covers the full per-participant cost in the health plan.) The other reason it is cost-neutral is that the demographic population as a whole that is projected to buy in is not expected to increase the overall costs (based on the analyses of benefits experts).
Now is the time for Colorado Springs to begin catching up to the private sector, as well as the most successful cities across the country by adopting better, more inclusive employment practices. Whatever your personal opinion on same-sex couples, or single mothers or 35 year-old kids living with mom & dad, the fact is that our society includes a huge diversity of families. Competitive employers do right by their employees by adopting more inclusive plans, and our city should to. Attracting the best employees will get the best use out of our limited tax dollars. In addition, it is not government’s role to enforce a religious view of relationships on its employees, so arguments labeling some people’s families as “immoral” are moot. Government should treat all citizens equally. The Plus One plan doesn’t get all the way there, but it is an improvement, expands access to health care, treats all employees more equally, makes the city a more competitive employer, and won’t cost taxpayers a dime. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.”
Houston became the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor, with voters handing a solid victory to City Controller Annise Parker after a hotly contested runoff.
Teaching Tolerance invites you to watch The People Speak, a documentary film based on the works of social activist and educator Howard Zinn, A People’s History of the United States and Voices of a People’s History of the United States, co-authored with Anthony Arnove and reviewed by Teaching Tolerance magazine.
The People Speak features dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries and speeches of everyday Americans who spoke up for social change, equality and justice throughout U.S. history and helped form and protect the democracy we enjoy today.
The words of suffragists, civil rights leaders, anti-war proponents and labor leaders are brought to life by actors and singers like Matt Damon, Bob Dylan, Danny Glover, Bruce Springsteen, Morgan Freeman, Marisa Tomei and many others.
The film reminds all of us that we must remain active in our communities to promote and preserve social justice and equality. Clips of The People Speak and a classroom study guide for your students are available at History.com.
Sincerely,
Lecia Brooks
Director, Teaching Tolerance
Southern Poverty Law Center
Every year Citizens Project sends The December Dilemma to local public schools. It is a primer on inclusive holiday practices for public schools produced by the Anti-Defamation League.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects religious freedom by not only guaranteeing “the free exercise thereof”, but also by prohibiting our government from endorsing religion (“respecting an establishment of religion”). The December Dilemma provides expert guidance to schools on how the courts have interpreted religious liberty protections for students and staff, to ensure school holiday activities are not only legal, but inclusive and respectful of the great diversity of our country.
“The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a student who complained that high school officials violated her constitutional rights when they turned off her microphone during her religion-tinged graduation speech.”
This ruling makes a very important distinction about how the Constitution protects religious freedom for ALL public school students. When they are a captive audience at an official school function such as graduation, it is not OK to preach to them. An Appeals Court deemed her speech to be “proselytizing.” Everyone, including this student, is free to hold their own beliefs and to preach to others, but not by co-opting a public school function. No one has that right. Taxpayers are funding the school and the graduation, so it is not appropriate or fair to turn it into a church service. This would apply equally to a student attempting to give an Islamic, Buddhist or Atheist sermon at a public school event.
Today we celebrate a victory for the ideals of freedom and equality as promised in our United States Constitution. After a 10-year fight, our nation at last has a hate crimes law that punishes the uniquely heinous nature of hate crimes, which have the chilling effect of creating fear among entire classes of people. Thanks to Bruce DeBoskey of the Mountain States Anti-Defamation League for articulating this in an Op-Ed in Monday’s Gazette:
It has been 11 years since Matthew Shepard was beaten, tied to a lonely Wyoming fence, and left to die because his attackers hated gay men. That same year, James Byrd, Jr., was dragged to his death behind a pickup truck in Jasper, Texas, a victim of a racially motivated crime. One of Byrd’s attackers wore tattoos including the image of a black man hanging from a tree.
Shepard and Byrd were not the only victims of those horrible crimes. In both cases, the murderers were not simply committing a crime against Shepard or Byrd; they were sending a chilling message to everyone who shared the characteristics of the victims — to every American who is gay or black. “You, and anyone like you, are not welcome here,” the perpetrators said through their hateful violence. “You, and anyone like you, are not safe here.” In fact, they were sending that message to all Americans. Read more.
Signing the legislation yesterday, President Obama said,
“You understood that we must stand against crimes that are meant not only to break bones, but to break spirits — not only to inflict harm, but to instill fear,” Mr. Obama said. “You understand that the rights afforded every citizen under our Constitution mean nothing if we do not protect those rights — both from unjust laws and violent acts.” Read more.
This legislation does not punish thoughts, as conservative opponents of the legislation charge. It punishes a distinctive type of crime. Focus on the Family earnestly opposed hate crimes legislation with the baffling claim that the bill would silence religious speech. A July “CitizenLink” email states,
And, pastors who preach against homosexuality could end up prosecuted if they are found to have “induced” a hate-crime against a self-identified homosexual by preaching from the Bible.
It seems surprising that Focus would not understand the difference between preaching a belief and inciting violence. In interpreting the First Amendment, our courts have made careful distinctions in this area. With Neo-Nazis regularly demonstrating publicly without being prosecuted, can Focus really believe pastors will be arrested under this law for preaching that homosexuality is a sin? It sounds far fetched, but such rhetoric is consistent with their shrill denunciations of gay marriage as a threat to heterosexual marriage and their claims that equal rights laws threaten religious freedom (even with religious exemptions). Perhaps their supporters thought Focus went too far with these hate crimes statements, since this was the last such message they sent out. Regardless, in this case reason and fairness have won out.
Citizens Project thanks our elected representatives who supported this important legislation and will continue to fight locally for true religious freedom and equal rights for all.
Focus on the Family is trying again to enforce their interpretation of the bible through public policy. This, from the Gazette:
Last year, Focus on the Family donated nearly $450,000 to support a California proposition outlawing gay marriage.
This year, the Colorado Springs-based organization is setting its sights on Maine, but the outlay is a lot smaller — both because Maine is a lot smaller, and because of the economy.
gives you everything including the kitchen sink about this election in the Pikes Peak region: ballot measures, sample ballot, school board candidates, news articles, election forums, and more.
Last year Colorado turned the tide on opponents of equal opportunity by rejecting a ballot measure that would have banned Affirmative Action. Here’s another bit of good news for equality, from the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights:
Federal District Court Upholds University of Texas Equal Opportunity Admissions Policy
Citizens Project never endorses candidates, but we can’t contain our excitement that Colorado Springs has it’s first openly gay city council candidate! Ryan Acker, executive director of the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center has applied for the District 3 seat being vacated by Councilman Jerry Heimlicher. It’s another sign of the changing climate of inclusiveness in Colorado Springs.
Barb Van Hoy, executive director of Citizens Project, appeared on the Jeff Crank Show on KVOR 740 AM on September 19, 2009 to talk about our school board candidate survey. The survey will be published in the Colorado Springs Independent on October 8th and will feature candidates in School Districts 11, 20, and 49 (with District 2 on the web) answering a questions about broad range of education issues. Join our email list to get it in your in-box the same day.
The momentum toward greater equality is growing! Religious bias against gays and lesbians has been the basis for unjust discrimination for too long. Yes, people must have the right to their religious beliefs, but that does not extend to depriving others of equal treatment. It’s high time for gays and lesbians to realize the promise of our nations founding principles.
In yesterday’s news:
Two openly gay members of Congress on Wednesday urged their colleagues to pass a sweeping job discrimination bill that would — for the first time — protect gays and transsexuals from workplace bias.The testimony from Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., comes as supporters of the measure believe Congress is closer than ever to banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
A Coalition Of Religious And Public Policy Groups Says Legal Memo Threatens Core Civil Rights And Religious Freedom Protections
John J. DiIulio Jr. and Stephen Goldsmith, front left, look on as President George W. Bush announces the faith-based initiative on Jan. 29, 2001.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State today joined a coalition of 58 organizations urging Attorney General Eric Holder to revoke a Bush-era rule regarding “faith-based” funding that the groups say threatens civil rights and religious freedom.
In June of 2007, the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) issued a legal memo asserting that a federal law called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) gives religious organizations a blanket right to discriminate on religious grounds when hiring staff in taxpayer-funded programs.
In a joint letter to Holder today, a broad coalition of organizations said RFRA does no such thing.
“The Bush administration twisted federal law to buttress its misguided policies and allow religious discrimination in taxpayer-funded ‘faith-based’ programs,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “It’s time for the Obama administration to correct this error.”
The Colorado Springs City Council will be selecting a replacement for Council Member Jerry Heimlicher, who is resigning to move home to Tennessee. Jerry has been a dedicated advocate for disenfranchised residents, and a voice for diversity and equality. In choosing a successor, the City Council should honor the voters in District 3 who elected Jerry by picking a replacement who shares Jerry’s passion for making Colorado Springs a welcoming and accessible community for ALL residents.
Let them know you think so! You can send a message to all City Council members by clicking here.
Thanks to generous designated donations, Citizens Project is the sponsor of:
HANNAH FREE
Directed by Wendy Jo Carlton 2009, USA, 90 min.
Sunday September 20, 2009 ~ 7:45 pm
Armstrong Hall on the CC Campus, 14 E Cache La Poudre
Adapted from Claudia Allen’s award winning play, romantic, touching and poignant, Hannah Free eloquently depicts a lifelong love affair between two very different women.
Some social conservatives want to put their heads in the sand and claim that our nation has reached the ideal of pure meritocracy, where people are judged by their abilities and where discrimination does not rob some of equal opportunity. But facts belie that myth. The the research organization Public Agenda has released A Place to Call Home: What Immigrants Say Now About Life in America, the follow-up to their pioneering 2002 survey of immigrants. Among many findings, it contains an important reminder that our society and culture have more work to do in eradicating bigotry and prejudice.
In an interview on NPR, one of the authors of this study, Scott Bittle, said:
Overall, about six in 10 immigrants say that there is at least some discrimination against immigrants in the United States. And that’s very consistent from the last time we surveyed them in 2002. About a quarter say they’ve experienced at least some discrimination personally. But when you look at it by different groups, you get very different results. For example, Mexican immigrants are much more likely to say there’s discrimination against immigrants in the United States, three-quarters say that, but they’re no more likely to experience it personally. Muslim immigrants, by contrast, are less likely to perceive discrimination in the broader society and just as likely to see it – to experience it personally.
Regardless of how much people SAY there is discrimination, it remains a fact of life for many immigrants, and non-immigrants.
If you believe in equal opportunity and want to fight discrimination, there are many ways to get involved. In addition to supporting Citizens Project, here are other local and national organizations fighting to make the promise of America’s founding documents a reality for us all:
This morning’s Gazette featured an article about Council Member Jerry Heimlicher’s resignation from Colorado Springs City Council, in which Mr. Heimlicher asked his interviewer: ”Did you read the blogs on the first story about me leaving? Eighty-nine as of last night, and 86 of them were ‘Glad he’s going,’ ‘About time,’ ‘Jumping rat leaving ship,’ ‘Now it’s time to get the other eight.’”
These events leave me cold, and they make me wonder: where is civil discourse?
I am proud to be involved with Citizens Project because I believe strongly that mutual respect, especially among people with differing views and beliefs, should be the bare-minimum standard for political and civic interaction. And I believe that Citizens Project helps to advance this standard through our programs and by creating a safe space for people to courteously disagree and – hopefully – find things that we can all agree on.
What do you think? How can CP help to create an atmosphere of decorum in the Pikes Peak region?
Momentum is building for Congress to pass the first major civil rights act protecting gays and transsexuals, supporters say, and one of the stars in the debate is a barrier-breaking transgender staffer on Capitol Hill.
A federal appeals court ruled today that officials at an Everett, Wash., school district were within their rights to omit religious music from a graduation ceremony.
February 27, 2012
Citizens Project is proud to join the growing coalition of more than 40 organizations in pledging to support and advocate for Civil Unions in the state of Colorado. As we believe that equality is one of the fundamental rights explicitly protected by the United States Constitution, Citizens Project feels that denying equal rights to hardworking LGBT families is a travesty of such principles. We all hope to ensure that our loved ones are protected and cared for, and everyone should be afforded the right to do just that. That’s why CP has taken the time to officially document our support for Civil Unions in Colorado.
the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. But Tuesday’s close 56-43 vote, while disappointing, 
federal judge declared the military’s 
Citizens Project is thrilled to welcome Bailey Harris as the new Director of Development and Communications! Bailey recently graduated from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Multimedia Journalism. Bailey will contribute expertise in communications and social media, politics, advocacy, and community organizing and has previously worked for organizations such as Amnesty International and the Democratic Party.
Hear what Citizens Project executive director Barb Van Hoy has to say about our nation’s founding principles, read about religious freedom in the United States, and catch up on the latest Plus One news! Check out the December edition of 
poll about it. A strong showing of support in the poll and on the letters page of the Gazette could make the difference in showing City Council that there is enough public support to pass the plan. PLEASE ACT NOW!
Annise Parker after a hotly contested runoff. 
Last year Colorado turned the tide on opponents of equal opportunity by rejecting a ballot measure that would have banned Affirmative Action. Here’s another bit of good news for equality, from the 
![marriage-equality[1]](http://www.citizensproject.dreamhosters.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/marriage-equality11.jpg)
