State senators' comments on HIV, homosexuality stir strong emotions

DENVER - Two Republican state senators have provoked outrage among Senate Democrats for comments made during a bill debates this week.

Wednesday, Sen. Dave Schultheis (R-Colorado Springs) voted against a bill requiring pregnant women to be tested for HIV because, he said, it would inappropriately protect women from the consequences of "sexual promiscuity."

"Sexual promiscuity, we know, causes a lot of problems in our state, one of which, obviously, is the contraction of HIV," Schultheis said during the debate.

That comment infuriated bill sponsor Lois Tochtrop (D-Thornton), who firmly rebutted Schultheis' remarks.

"HIV does not just come from sexual promiscuity," she said. "It comes from many other things, contaminated blood for one."

Tochtrop said the bill is important because, if caught early enough, the spread of HIV from mother to baby can be prevented. The bill contains an option for women who are uncomfortable with being tested to opt out.

When he spoke with 9NEWS, Schultheis defended his statements.

"I don't believe it's government's role to shield individuals from the consequences of their poor behavior. That was kind of the overriding view that I have," he said.

He says HIV and AIDS are partially consequences of poor behavior.

"If you found most people in monogamous relationships, you would not have that problem. I don't think you have that problem at all," he said.

"I strongly disagree with the comments made about the HIV infant bill. As a co-sponsor of the bill, I believe HIV screening for at-risk infants is responsible and humane public policy. These children are, after all, innocent human lives," Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry (R-Grand Junction) told 9NEWS in an e-mail. "I'm a proud conservative with traditional beliefs on issues like marriage, but it's essential that elected leader don't lose sight of the fundamental humanity and dignity of people who see the world and these issues differently."

"The comments make me sad," President Pro Tem Sen. Betty Boyd (D-Lakewood) said. "They were very hurtful to a lot of people, particularly when you talk about a woman who might be infected with HIV to give birth to a child who would have AIDS when they were born. That was, I thought, appalling."

The Schultheis firestorm came just two days after Sen. Scott Renfroe (R-Greeley) made a comment that some have interpreted as comparing homosexuality to murder during a debate over a bill to extend state health care benefits to the partners of gay and lesbian state employees.

"My eloquence could've been better. What I was trying to say was it doesn't matter what sin you have, it's all the same in God's eyes," Renfroe told 9NEWS. "I don't equate someone who is a homosexual to a murder. We shouldn't be making laws to condone sin. I wasn't trying to hurt or anger anybody. I was trying to express my personal views on morality and religion and I feel like the critics want to shut me down. I was speaking from my heart and what I feel. Criticism is a part of being a public figure. The big part of my motivation to speak was our founding fathers' position on religion and morality, namely George Washington's words in his farewell address concerning religion and morality as the foundations for political prosperity."

"It was shocking that a debate about health care for the partners of state employees got turned by Senator Renfroe into a diatribe about his old testament religious beliefs," Bobby Clark, director of Progress Now Colorado, said. "It was shocking that he actually was so explicit in equating homosexuality with murder, and he even noted, he was careful not to say that he endorsed the idea. He even noted that the appropriate punishment in Leviticus for homosexuality is have to be put to death."

Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) said a number of Democrats have expressed outrage over the Republicans' comments.

"We can't tell people not to speak their mind at the microphone," Shaffer said. "They're expressing themselves, and they're representing their constituents as they think they best can. That being said, we encourage people to be as civil and diplomatic as possible. I don't think Sen. Schultheis or Sen. Renfroe intended to offend anyone with their comments. But I think their filter as to what is offensive and what is not is not very well adjusted."

"Comments like the ones that were made ultimately go into the record for the Senate. These are comments our future generations will see," Boyd said.