Newsletter: 6/29/2014

Statement

Dear Friend,

On Wednesday, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals made history by ruling Utah's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. This decision brings us one step closer to achieving long-overdue marriage equality in Colorado and across the country. The court's finding that: "The Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental right to marry, establish a family, raise children, and enjoy the full protection of a state's marital laws" provides as strong a legal justification as possible for equality.

Personally, I am eager to dust off my Universal Life Church minister's credential.

Fighting to Protect Patient's Safety and Privacy
When I served in the Colorado State House, I authored a law to protect patients from threats or intimidation outside healthcare facilities. It establishes a buffer that prohibits protestors from getting within eight feet of anyone entering a healthcare clinic if that person is within 100 feet of the facility entrance. Colorado's law -- upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000 -- strikes an important balance that protects the privacy and safety of patients while ensuring First Amendment rights.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court announced a decision that upholds the legality of buffer zones outside of healthcare facilities while striking down a Massachusetts buffer law over specific issues. No one should have to face threats or intimidation while seeking constitutionally protected healthcare, and the Supreme Court has restricted some of those protections available to patients. Following this decision, Colorado's law offers a constitution model for states to protect the safety and privacy of women. I hope Massachusetts and other states look to our efforts here to guide them.

As always, I encourage you to follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest news from Washington and in Colorado. While you're there, be sure to visit the "Contact" page and send me an email about what matters most to you and your family. Finally, be sure to share this email with your friends, family, and neighbors so that they too can be a part of this important dialogue.

Sincerely,

Diana DeGette
Member of Congress

Source