Source: KMGH TV, Denver Post, Associated Press via Denver Post, KJCT TV

Col. anti-bias law

Senate Bill 200 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.

The bill also extends bans on discrimination, where previously unwritten, for things like race, creed, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status and national origin or ancestry.

Right-wing groups in the state, led by Colorado Springs-based Focus on 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.

The right wing groups claimed that the law could let sexual predators go into women's bathrooms.

"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," Dobson said in a written statement.

Veiga called Dobson's comments offensive and said she was frustrated with his "scare tactics."

"There's absolutely nothing in the bill that would allow sexual predators to thrive," she said.

Ritter's spokesman Evan 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."

The bill initially outlines requirements for the Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

Danielle Stomberg with the Mesa State Cultural Diversity Board told Grand Junction's KJCT-TV,"I have a couple of friends who based on the school they go to or what they do for a profession, they can't say anything at all, in fear of who might find out and the consequences of losing their job."

She said she's ecstatic the bill was signed. "I'm very glad this passed, it's a giant step forward in the fight for equal rights."

Full article: Ritter Signs Controversial Bill Concerning Sexual Orientation  | KMGH TV
Ritter signs controversial anti-discrimination bill | Denver Post
Focus on the Family: Law allows men to use women's bathrooms | Denver Post (AP)
Bill signed into law, bans discrimation of sexual orientation | KJCT TV

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