Date: 13 Jun 1993 15:24:32 -0600 (MDT) From: Maria Lasaga Subject: Request for Help from Martina Navratilova The following is a copy of a letter from Martina Navratilova, asking for help in the legal battle against Amendment 2. (She writes on behalf of CLIP, the Colorado Legal Initiatives Project.) ======================================================================= MARTINA NAVRATILOVA June 1, 1993 Dear Friend, [paragraph deleted here that was addressed to Colorado volunteers] Today, I am writing to bring you up-to-date on the latest developments in the ongoing legal battle against Amendment 2 and to ask you to renew your commitment to help us keep the struggle moving forward. On Monday, May 24th, legal arguments aimed at overturning Amendment 2 were presented to the Colorado Supreme Court. Former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Jean Dubofsky, who leads the dedicated team of volunteer lawyers and legal professionals working to strike down Amendment 2, told the justices that the initiative promoted "private bias" and represented the worst attack on civil rights since California's ill-fated housing discrim- ination initiative (proposition 14) was struck down by the courts more than 25 years ago. Ms. Dubofsky argued that unless Amendment 2 is overturned, it will create the legal right to discriminate by government at all levels. Rpresenting the other side, Colorado's Republican Attorney General argued that Amendment Two preserves "associational rights," which really means promoting selective civil rights based on her version of what constitutes an acceptable "...family structure..." and lifestyle. The immediate fate of Amendment 2 is now in the hands of the Colorado Supreme Court, the next step in the legal battle. We expect their decision in the next 35 to 60 days. But no matter what they decide-- win or lose _this_ battle--the war will finally be decided on appeal to the United States Supreme Court. When this struggle began, the cost of pursuing the legal challenge to Amendment 2--even with the extraordinary efforts of the volunteer legal team led by former Justice Dubofsky--was estimated to be about $180,000. You've already demonstrated your support for this fight to provide equal rights protection for _all_ Americans. And because of the generosity and commitment of thousands of donors throughout the country like you, we have raised just about half of our financial goal. Now, I am asking you to dig a little deeper. If each person who receives this letter contributes at least $10, we will have the funds necessary to allow this fight to continue, uninterrupted, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. While victory is within our grasp, there is still an important part of the struggle ahead. I urge you to join me and give what you can. EVERY DOLLAR PUTS ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF INJUSTICE AND DISCRIMINATION REPRESENTED BY AMENDMENT 2; and moves all of us closer to the day we can celebrate the defeat of this latest attempt by the extreme right to decide who is entitled to equal protection under the law and who is not. Thank you for your continued support. Sincerely, Martina Navratilova P.S. Please make checks out to CLIP (the organization coordinating and financing the legal challenge). CLIP has appled for 501(c)(3) tax- exempt status. Consult your accountant regarding tax deductability. Thanks again! Mail to: CLIP P.O. Box 44447 Denver, CO 80201 ==============================================================================