05/20/2026
Thirty years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Romer v. Evans, the landmark case that struck down Colorado's Amendment 2 as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Following tireless work and expert strategy from attorney Jean Dubofsky and her team, the Court ruled that our country's laws could not carve out people from fundamental civil rights protections.
This decision marked a sea change. In the decades that followed, Romer v. Evans would serve as a basis for rulings that struck down so**my laws and the Defense of Marriage Act—and ultimately secured the to marry nationwide.
It also started conversations. "People were less afraid," Tim Gill said. "Politicians were less afraid of discussing the issue and expressing positive opinions. So the real legacy is the change it made in people’s minds."
But that work is far from over. As Tim put it, "I don’t think you’re ever finished.” Read more from The Colorado Sun on the living legacy of Romer v. Evans and the ongoing work to defend treatment for LGBTQ people in Colorado and across the country:
Thirty years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Romer v. Evans overturned Colorado's Amendment 2 and ended its "Hate State" reputation.