DENVER — Gay Denver Democratic state lawmakers Sen. Pat Steadman and Rep. Mark Ferrandino are doing a little spring cleaning.
The duo today introduced a resolution to wipe away provisions from the Colorado Constitution deemed unconstitutional and unenforced but still technically on the books in Colorado — including Amendment 2.
Every year the state reprints the constitution Amendment 2 is included.
Amendment 2 was a citizen initiative passed 20 years ago, in November 1992, forbidding any government in Colorado from passing laws or ordinances protecting gays and lesbians in the workplace. The amendment never took effect and was later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1996.
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The resolution must be approved with a two-thirds majority in both the state House and Senate. It must then be approved by the voters.
“I don’t know why we haven’t done this sooner,” Ferrandino said. “It’s been 20 years, I guess it’s time to clean up.”
The legislature regularly sends questions like this to the ballot, Ferrandino said.
Meanwhile, Colorado voters might also be asked to green-light a new ballot question that harkens back to Amendment 2.
