Deep disappointment in Colorado voters
I’m deeply saddened by the defeat of referendum I which attempted to give some basic legal rights to gay people. The stories of long time couples having to carry legal documentation around in case one member has a life threatening emergency are heart breaking and there is plenty more to the referendum. Even the Colorado Council of Churches (the largest christian coalition in the state) backed referendum I!
As a bonus disappointment, Amendment 43 passed as well defining marriage as between a single man and a single woman. My personal opinion is that you should be able to marry anyone you like but I can certainly see that marriage has centuries old meanings that dont include gay couples. Of course, the overt gay couple is a recent thing and hey - if the catholic church can evolve, then so can marriage.
So, now I must reconsider my stance that Colorado is basically open minded. Its an easy mistake to make living in a major metropolitan city and forgetting that most of Colorado is rural.
Other disappointments: funding for preschool was denied. Preschool has been closely linked to helping inner city children get a better chance at graduating from high school and not joining gangs. Also Marilyn Musgrave won district 4 which is basically the rural plains of colorado. Her negative ads were by far the most offensive and egrerious in an election where they estimate that 94% of ads were negative.