Background

The City of Colorado Springs’ nondiscrimination policies are critically out of date. A revision of the
city’s current laws is needed to secure equal rights for all Colorado Springs (CS) residents and promote
economic success for the city as a whole. By taking a strong stand against discrimination, the city can
begin reversing our reputation for intolerance. Unfortunately, the lack of adequate nondiscrimination laws
has had a significant negative community impact.

The Objectives:


Gain community support through open discussion, dialogue and input from stakeholders, in addition to receiving support via petitions.

By December 31, 2008, the Equal Opportunity Ordinance shall be implemented.

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The Equal Opportunity Ordinance

Our Goal: To update the City of Colorado Springs’ citywide nondiscrimination policy in order to secure
equal rights for all Colorado Springs residents and promote economic success for residents of CS and the
city as a whole. In order to complete this process, we are seeking community input to help strengthen this
process, and ensure this nondiscrimination policy has broad-based community support.

The Equal Opportunity Ordinance states:

With regard to employment, housing and commercial space, public accommodations, education and
health and welfare services within the City of Colorado Springs, discrimination based on race, creed,
economic condition*, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, resident immigrant status, gender, age,
sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military or veteran status, political affiliation,
organizational membership, or physical or mental disability is prohibited.

*Those in italics are protected classes not covered by state or federal nondiscrimination laws

The Equal Opportunity Ordinance will:

Create an enforcement mechanism by establishing the Office of Equal Opportunity within the city’s
administration, including a Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity who will be responsible for
investigating claims of discrimination and

Ensure broad-based community participation by establishing the Equal Opportunity Commission as
an oversight board for the Office of Equal Opportunity with the power to administer penalties, such as
fines. The EOC will also specifically include representatives of diverse communities, and half will be
appointed by the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, and half by the City Council.
Positive impacts of the Equal Opportunity Ordinance:

Ensure all Colorado Springs residents have equal access to the laws of the city.

Save tax-payer money by creating an enforcement mechanism in which to mediate claims of
discrimination outside of court. This also saves businesses time and money by allowing mediation
instead of going through lengthy and costly court procedures.

Allow the City of Colorado Springs to create a national positive image for itself, thus allowing the
city to attract more businesses and highly skilled workers, and retain its highly developed workforce.
Over time, decreases hate crimes, acts of discrimination and violence.

Over time, increases the overall quality of life for all Colorado Springs residents.

When proper laws are not in place, individuals, groups and businesses are more likely to
wrongfully discriminate and/or commit acts of violence against specific groups.

Only 39% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people say they feel safe being “out”
in CS.

Only 15% of LGBT people say they feel CS is welcoming and accepting of LGBT people.

Only 28% of LGBT people in CS say they have NOT been discriminated against.

23% of LGBT people say they have faced discrimination based on their race, class, gender or
disabilities.

Clients X & Z, both men, decided to rent a hotel room. When the clerk found out they were only
requesting one bed, she refused to allow them to stay at the hotel. They had no recourse.

NOTE: While this study focused primarily on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, it includes
information about discrimination based on race, class, gender and disabilities, and would likely yield similar results
if completed in other diverse and/or marginalized communities.

When cities do not properly codify community values through law, practice and policy, the city’s
economy can be affected, specifically its ability to recruit businesses and specialty workers and to
retain a highly developed workforce.

In 1996, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that Amendment 2 was unconstitutional,
the State of Colorado had already lost more than $40 Million in revenue due to nationwide
boycotts of the state. CS gained an international reputation as the “City of Hate”. Tourism
revenue continues to decrease.

At a city council meeting in 2007, the Economic Development Corporation stated it had great
difficulty bringing businesses to Colorado Springs because of its reputation for intolerance.

Recently, a local health care facility reported that it took nearly three years to hire a qualified
person to fill one of its positions because applicants were unwilling to relocate to Colorado
Springs due to its negative reputation for intolerance. The same company was finally able to
recruit someone, but was required to pay 40% more than what had been budgeted.

When the economy declines, everyone’s quality of life is impacted (this information was retrieved
from Pikes Peak United Way’s 2007 Quality of Life Indicators report):

There is approximately a 7% unemployment rate in Colorado Springs, higher than the national
average.

Colorado Springs and El Paso County continue to fall short of new jobs needed to sustain
employment and the region’s economy.

Foreclosures are on the rise.

The median income in the region continues to decrease, along with the buying power of the
city’s community.

An estimated 20-40% of families live below the “self-sufficiency standard”.

Colorado Springs has a higher rate of alcohol- and drug-related deaths than Colorado averages.