Below are brief explanations of Rocky Mountain Equality Action Fund's support or opposition to select ballot initiatives.
SUPPORT
Amendment J: Repeal of the Colorado Constitution’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban to align the state constitution with Obergefell, federal laws, state court decisions, and state laws. The Colorado Constitution currently has a provision that “only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state." Voting "YES" on this measure would remove that definition to provide protection to same-sex couples if the Supreme Court ever overturns Obergefell, the case that legalized same-sex marriage across the country. Also endorsed by Rocky Mountain Equality.
Amendment 79: Addition to the Colorado Constitution ensuring the right to an abortion. Colorado currently has no protections for abortion codified in law. Voting "YES" on this measure would add protections to our state constitution protecting the right to an abortion and remove our state’s discriminatory ban on abortion being a covered service under state healthcare insurance plans. Also endorsed by Rocky Mountain Equality.
OPPOSE
Amendment 80: Addition to the Colorado Constitution a parent’s right to direct the education of their children for school age (K-12), and that school choice includes neighborhood, charter, private, and home schools, and open enrollment in education. This would raise significant concerns about the safety and inclusivity of educational environments for LGBTQ+ students, teachers, and staff. Voting "NO" on this measure would reject codifying significant risks to the well-being and educational outcomes of LGBTQ+ students. Also opposed by Rocky Mountain Equality.
Initiatives we oppose but did not get enough signatures to be on on this year's ballot:
Requirement that any administrator, teacher, nurse, contractor, volunteer, or any other person associated with a school (public, charter, and private schools that receive state or federal funds) to forcibly out a child to their parents, against the child’s will, regardless of danger or abusive history, if their child is experiencing “gender incongruence,” meaning a difference between their biological sex and their perceived gender [#142]. Additionally, it would codify government overreach in our schools, placing additional administrative burden on our already-overworked teachers and school administrators and expose them to frivolous and costly lawsuits. This initiative did not get enough signatures and will not be on the ballot.
Prohibit on all kindergarten through twelfth-grade (K-12) transgender girls and nonbinary students assigned male at birth from participating in club, intramural, or interscholastic sports or athletic events designated for girls [#160]. This initiative would be detrimental to students’ mental health and create a hostile environment through exclusionary policies that single out certain individuals. This initiative did not get enough signatures and will not be on the ballot.