Regarding Colorado Senate Bill 08-200.
Dear Governor Ritter,
I am shocked to see that you have signed into law such a sweeping, extreme proclamation of so-called "tolerance". You have awarded special status a small group of people and given them special rights above and beyond the majority of citizens based solely on their aberrant behavior. Instead of helping people who suffer gender confusion, you have created a special class of citizens based, not on measurable standard, but on self identification. Do you realize that the term "trans-gendered" is neither defined in the law you signed nor in a dictionary? Could you have signed a more ambiguous and dangerous law?
Section 8 of your law actually restricts free speech, a right guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution! How could you be so reckless as to sign such a bill into law? While there are many hateful things said and published that I would like to see restricted (how about foul language during prime time television), the United States of America forbids the restriction of free speech, dialog, and the exchange of ideas. This law is clearly unconstitutional.
Prior to this SB 08-200, I was astonished by your emphasis on state funded "rehabilitation" for convicted drug dealers/users. How many unrepentant criminals seek rehab to avoid prison? Although some addicts find healing through rehabilitation programs, using rehab as an alternative to prison does not bring addicts to rehab who have made the internal commitment to change based on hitting rock bottom. Instead, these guys just go to rehab because is will be easier than jail. Each failed rehab shows your repeated disregard for public safety at the cost of $10,000 each to taxpayers. You are setting quite a standard as the runner up for worst Governor of the new millennium.
SB 200 is yet another example of your flagrant disregard for the safety and security of your constituent citizens. For example, let's look at the issue of "public accommodations" and discrimination in section 6 of the bill.
Regarding the issue of "Trans-gender", two questions are glaring:
1. Does Colorado have a large population of citizens suffering from discrimination based on their "sex" or "sexual orientation"? Do a significant number of trans-gendered citizens suffer for not being able to shower in a public locker room designated for individuals with different genitalia?
The issue of restrooms is simple and does not need to be complicated by law. Preserve modesty based on present genitalia. People with a penis should use the restroom designed with standing urinals. People without a penis should use the restroom with sitting room only.
2. The criteria for trans-gendered is "self-identification." How will you ensure that a supposed "victim" of discrimination (based on his or her self identified sexual orientation) is actually a victim and not a sexual predator using this provision of the law to take advantage of women, children, or men who use the gender appropriate bathroom or locker room to preserve modesty?
Speaking of which, how thoroughly do you define "sexual orientation"? Most citizens might assume you mean heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bi-sexuality; but does it also include pedophilia, bestiality, necrophilia, and rapists? This law literally opens the door of public restrooms and locker rooms in all manner of government buildings and businesses to sexual predators.
Are people with gender confusion to be classified as molesters and predators? Not so. At least I have not seen evidence of such. Rather, since trans-gender is self-identified, opportunistic sexual predators are sure to use the law as an excuse to fuel their criminal tendencies.
After acts as "mild" as voyeurism and exhibitionism (and these are not truly mild) or as extreme as molestation or rape, the predator can claim "victim status" and sue a business that might try to assist or otherwise protect the real victim, that of the rape or molestation. At the same time, you can bet that the true victim (the innocent woman, child, or man who is molested) will sue the business, and the state of Colorado for exposing them to unnecessary risk; and rightly so. Why create this unnecessary liability? This does nothing to help the gender confused. Additionally, it adds fuel to the fire of "hate crimes".
The only people who benefit from this provision of the law (section 6) are a very small number of self-diagnosed trans-genders, a slightly larger group of sexual predators, and women at sporting events.
As a husband and father, I am concerned for the safety of my wife and child. The concern is not just for women and girls who might suffer the trauma of being "peeped-at" in a bathroom or flashed by a man, but also for young boys who, of late, are more frequently assaulted by middle-school teachers with twisted values. Now, female predators (on the rise) have an open door to assault and seduce little boys in the one place they were previously not allowed to go.
Governor Ritter, the blood of these victims will be on your head and the heads of the Senators and Representatives who put this special-interest law in place. Although you were elected as a moderate, this bill is anything but centrist. It is extreme and offensive to most Colorado families. It even has a provision to prevent public opposition by petition. . . this is not a law reflective of a representative democracy!
While I have plenty of moral arguments against this law, in this letter I appeal to you and urge you to repeal the law on the basis that it is poorly written, poorly crafted, unconstitutional, and unbelievably obtuse.
V/R
Steve Williams
For more information, check this very well informed and well written report by Barbara Scott.
