Men in Womens Bathroom: A Reality now in CO

[SDG]

From Denverpost.com

Ritter signs controversial anti-discrimination bill

By John Ingold
The Denver Post

Article Last Updated: 05/29/2008 06:22:44 PM MDT


Gov. Bill Ritter today quietly signed a controversial bill expanding the prohibition of sexual-orientation-based discrimination, over the vocal opposition of conservative Christian groups like Focus on the Family.


The bill bans discrimination based on a person's religious belief or sexual orientation - including transgender people - in places of public accommodation, housing practices, family planning services and 20 other public spheres. Such prohibitions are already in place with regard to race.


"I think it's a step in the right direction for Coloradans and civil rights," said Sen. Jennifer Veiga, a Denver Democrat who sponsored the bill.


Ritter signed Senate Bill 200 this afternoon in his office, without any of the public ceremonies and news releases that came with six other bills he signed today. His spokesman, Evan Dreyer, said the governor was not deliberately trying to keep the signing quiet. In all, Ritter signed 20 bills today, Dreyer said.


"There were hundreds and hundreds of bills that were passed by the legislature this year," Dreyer said. "We do many ceremonies and many announcements, but in reality we do just a fraction."


But no bill this year has seen the kind of heated post-session attacks that SB 200 has. Focus on the Family launched radio ads and a media campaign urging Ritter to veto the bill.


"The state legislature here in Colorado has frankly become just about as radical and extreme as the California Legislature, in an effort that was designed to obviously appease the homosexual community give access to all public restrooms by people of the opposite gender," Focus on the Family founder James Dobson said Wednesday on his regular radio broadcast, according to an online newsletter from the organization sent out later that day.


Opponents said the bill would have serious consequences, such as opening up Colorado public restrooms and locker rooms to all genders and transgender people, exposing children and women to sexual predators.


Dreyer said opponents were running a campaign of misinformation.
"The claims that are made in this campaign are not based in fact. They are based in fear," Dreyer said.


"All this does," Dreyer added, "is it brings across-the-board consistency to existing anti-discrimination laws."


Bruce DeBoskey, the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said the opposition's claims were exaggerated and applauded the signing.


"We think this is another important step in making Colorado safe and inclusive and welcoming to all those who live there," he said.

[SDG]

Unisex restrooms could be in Colorado's future
http://www.9news.com/news/top-articl...?storyid=92754

DENVER - Opponents of a recently-signed anti-discrimination law say it will make all of Colorado's bathrooms unisex.

Senate Bill 200, quietly signed by Gov. Bill Ritter (D-Colorado) with little fanfare on Thursday, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or identity. It protects those who identify themselves as gay, bisexual or transgender from discrimination in areas including housing, business and education.

The law also prohibits discrimination in "public accommodations." That is where the debate took a turn toward the toilet.

"As of right now, in the state of Colorado, we have gender-neutral bathrooms," said Gary Schneeberger of Focus on the Family. "That, to us, is a recipe for danger and disaster."

Focus on the Family launched an ad campaign in an attempt to convince Ritter not to sign the bill. The effort failed.

"It is now legal in the state of Colorado for a grown man to walk into a girl's restroom in an elementary school for whatever purpose, and it is illegal for the school to say you can't do that," said Schneeberger. "What we're really concerned about is sexual predators … who want to prey on young boys or young girls in particular, who would use the confusion caused by this law to victimize our children."

The law's proponents dismiss Focus on the Family's argument as a narrowly-tailored scare tactic that ignores the greater purpose of the law.

"This is an important step forward for the state to make the state's laws of fairness and justice applicable to everyone who lives here," said Bruce DeBoskey, executive director of the Anti-Defamation League's Rocky Mountain chapter.

"It's not controversial. It's not a stretch. It's not an exaggeration," he said.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Jennifer Veiga (D-Denver) was unavailable for comment Friday afternoon.

The governor signed the bill privately. When reached for a comment Friday afternoon, his spokesman said Ritter would be available for a public comment on Monday.

[Rico]

Dan, Dobson is doing what he always does, putting his own brand of spin on this issue.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Rico

Dan, Dobson is doing what he always does, putting his own brand of spin on this issue.

Could be ... Don't forget he does live in the state and so he also has a greater stake in this.

[jezebelslayer]

Originally Posted by Rico

What a bunch of HOGWASH! How many transgenderd children do you know or have heard of?

I agree ... there seems to be some hysteria going on here. Don't be so blind to think that predetors aren't already waiting in or around bathrooms or any public place. Common sense and discernment needs to be used all the time where your safety is concerned. In Europe most restrooms are for both genders... It was a bit strange at first... but you get used to it.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by maaa4546

Ritter signs bill giving gays equal access to accommodations

May 29, 2008 - 7:26PM
By MARK BARNA
THE GAZETTE
Gov. Bill Ritter on Thursday signed a bill that makes it illegal in Colorado to discriminate against gays, bisexuals and transgendered people when buying a home, renting an apartment or using public accommodations.

"The governor felt that this bill, SB200, was about fairness and treating people equally," said Evan Dreyer, spokesman for the governor's office. "It essentially updates anti-discrimination laws that in some cases have not been updated for 50 years."

Bruce DeBoskey, regional director of Denver's Anti-Defamation League, a civil rights organization, said the law is a step forward for Coloradans.

"No one should be denied housing or public accommodations solely because of his or her sexual preference," DeBoskey said.

One aspect of the law enables transgenders - those who were born one gender but identify with the other - to use public restrooms in which they feel most comfortable.

Beginning May 21, Focus on the Family and Colorado Family Action began sponsoring radio advertisements on four radio stations in Colorado Springs and Denver denouncing the bill.

The ads warned that cross-dressing predators could endanger children by using restrooms designated for the opposite sex.

Focus founder James Dobson said Thursday:

"Who would believe that the Colorado state Legislature and its governor would have made it legal for men to enter and use women's restrooms and locker room facilities without notice or explanation?

"Henceforth, every woman and little girl will have to fear that a predator, bisexual, cross-dresser or even a homosexual or heterosexual male might walk in and relieve himself in their presence."

DeBoskey denounced Dobson's view.

"It is unfortunate that they feel they have to exaggerate the dangers and play on people's fears," DeBoskey said. "This law is about fairness and justice for all people living in this state."

Last May, Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, introduced the forerunner to SB200 known as SB25, a bill that prohibits employment discrimination against gays, bisexuals and transgendered people. Ritter signed it into law. SB200, which Veiga also introduced, extends the rights of these people to housing and public accommodations.

"This is a law whose time has come," said Ryan Acker, executive director of the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Colorado Springs.

"The passing of this bill shows that Colorado is a progressive state."


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A transgender agenda has passed in Colorado. Allowing men in women's bathrooms. We are in deep trouble folks!!!!

Social re-engineering now is on the forefront ... Teachers will have to teach kids that it's okay for Joey to be a girl today and allow him to go in the girl's bathroom

Sickening.

I haven't had time to read this thread but the title reminded me of my first exposure to unisex bathrooms.

Back in 1976 when I was 17 years old I went to Europe for five weeks with a group of college students. Most of the time we stayed in inexpensive hotels but in Paris we stayed at the "Internationanl Student Center".

It was a modern building around ten stories high if memory serves me correct. Most of the rooms were like a youth hostel with four or five beds but I lucked out and got one of the few private rooms.

However the first night there when I went to find the bathroom there was only one bathroom per floor and it was a large unisex one!

It had many stalls and a rather open shower area. I freaked out. I set my clock for something like 4:45 am in the morning and went in, locked the main door, and had the giant bathroom / shower room all to myself!

[Encryptus]

Europe has had public unisex restrooms for decades.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Rico

Dan, Dobson is doing what he always does, putting his own brand of spin on this issue.

I don't think so. I think what he is doing is like what most of us do. We look at an idea and look at the possible and dangerous conclusions such a law can bring to our society. This is also why they oppose gay "Marriages". They are not opposed to gay civil unions.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by jezebelslayer

I agree ... there seems to be some hysteria going on here. Don't be so blind to think that predetors aren't already waiting in or around bathrooms or any public place. Common sense and discernment needs to be used all the time where your safety is concerned. In Europe most restrooms are for both genders... It was a bit strange at first... but you get used to it.

They ARE already waiting, but this bill can make it MORE accessable.

A "transgendered" man can walk into a womans bathroom LEGALLY now and nobody can blow the whistle....in the past that would be a red flag. Now it is legally and officially sanctioned....he just might be in there with a camera taking pictures of someone's little girl.

As he walks out, nobody can stop him. No cop can stop him and question him and check his person out for such things as a camera....because he has a legal right as a "transgendered" individual to go into that bathroom

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by CC1

I haven't had time to read this thread but the title reminded me of my first exposure to unisex bathrooms.

Back in 1976 when I was 17 years old I went to Europe for five weeks with a group of college students. Most of the time we stayed in inexpensive hotels but in Paris we stayed at the "Internationanl Student Center".

It was a modern building around ten stories high if memory serves me correct. Most of the rooms were like a youth hostel with four or five beds but I lucked out and got one of the few private rooms.

However the first night there when I went to find the bathroom there was only one bathroom per floor and it was a large unisex one!

It had many stalls and a rather open shower area. I freaked out. I set my clock for something like 4:45 am in the morning and went in, locked the main door, and had the giant bathroom / shower room all to myself!

Back then at that age I was not in the church...I know for a fact bro I would have woke that early and watched to see when the ladies went into shower :-)

Im not surprised though that this is the case in Europe. And I am not surprised that it is or will be happening here. Just like the Muslims invading England and warning about it happening here...as it is...it falls on deaf ears. Instead many here are no longer practicing Christians...like Europe and the many that claim to be practicing are falling to the PC crowd and fear being labeled a "conservative" in the vein of James Dobson.

This is why the gay agenda is over taking our nation, never mind that gays are a small small small voting minority with not enough power to do it otherwise...they rely on activism and activist judges.

Our nation is screwed IMO unless all Christians stop being trampled on and lying down for the enemy