Equity (and Equality)

Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.

Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities.

ACTIONS:

Colorado Attorney General, Phil Weiser (term ending Jan. 2027, coag.gov)

Attorney General Legal Opinion: Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts remain legal under federal law

Oct. 4, 2023 (DENVER) – Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that employers implement to ensure individuals from all backgrounds are offered equal opportunities in the workplace are not illegal according to a formal legal opinion Attorney General Phil Weiser issued today.

Weiser issued the legal opinion to respond to questions and concerns about the constitutionality of DEI programs in the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina. In the opinion, the Court ruled that race-conscious admissions programs at colleges and universities are unlawful and violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act as it pertains to college admissions processes.

The Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions did not, however, address the legality of DEI programs in workplaces, Weiser said, which are governed by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. DEI efforts therefore remain legal under federal law.

“In the wake of the Students for Fair Admissions opinion, incorrect assertions have been made that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision ruled or otherwise implied that DEI programs in all contexts, specifically workplaces, are unconstitutional and illegal. These assertions have no basis in the Students for Fair Admissions case, which was limited to addressing college admissions; these claims, moreover, misrepresent the Court’s decision, which did not address employment law,” Weiser said. “Programs that seek to promote workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion—and that do not consider protected class status in decision making—remain legal. And employers may continue to use DEI efforts to afford equal opportunity to all workers and to reap the benefits of a diverse workplace.”

It is widely acknowledged that discrimination has resulted in multigenerational economic and societal harm. These inequities are well documented and continue to manifest themselves in numerous ways in the workplace. Unemployment, for example, is higher among Black and Hispanic workers according to a 2023 by the Economic Policy Institute. Median earnings for women in 2022 were 83% of the median men, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows, and women, particularly women of color, are less likely to hold executive positions. And a 2021 Gallup survey revealed that 24% of Black and Hispanic employees reported discrimination at work.

To combat these persistent inequities and achieve the benefits of a diverse workforce, public and private employers of all types have adopted DEI programs, recognizing that past denials of opportunities can have lasting impacts. These programs include a range of tools to achieve the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion, including mentoring and career development opportunities, conducting recruiting and outreach to diverse communities, and establishing employee resource groups—voluntary internal communities of employees with shared interests—that can help employees feel a sense of belonging, community, and worth in the workplace.

Weiser concluded by saying: “Research demonstrates compelling reasons for why public and private employers would be interested in better meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse world. Organizations with diverse teams are more profitable and companies with diversity across the board are more innovative. The law permits DEI efforts to achieve these benefits of diversity, and employers should periodically review their policies to ensure they are in compliance with the law.”

U.S. Representative, District 6, Jason Crow (term ending Jan. 2027, jasoncrowforcongress.com)

Helping our Immigrant Communities: In Colorado, diversity is our strength. In Congress, I’ve restored oversight of Aurora’s ICE detention center and fought to end private, for-profit detention facilities. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect — I’ll continue pushing for comprehensive immigration reform.

POSITIONS:

Arapahoe District Attorney, 18th Judicial District, Amy Padden (term ending Jan. 2029, amypadden.com)

Go to Amy’s website as shown here to Issues to see “Addressing Systemic Inequities”.

CU Board of Regents at large Elliott Hood (term ending Jan. 2011, hoodforcolorado.com)

Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion

We must build a more diverse body of students, faculty, and staff and address lingering gaps in recruiting, achievement, and graduation. We also must build a welcoming environment for everyone to share perspectives and learn from differences. That is what DEI is all about.

The Regents recently enacted a policy that commits the university system to promoting DEI and directs our campuses to set ambitious and measurable goals for DEI. I celebrate this policy, but now the hard work begins to give it some teeth.

As Regent, I will work with our administrators, faculty, and students to make strides in diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially in areas where the data shows we need to do better, such as improving our retention rates for students and faculty of color and increasing geographic diversity among students.

State House of Representatives, District 37 (HD37), Chad Clifford (term ending 2027,, chadforcolorado.com)

Women's Rights, Abortion Rights, LGBTQ+ Rights, Accessibility Rights, Worker's Rights – these are all massively important issues that focus on the core of humanity.  I feel that it's our responsibility to ensure that people have what they need and it's our job in society to allow people equal access and provide freedom to thrive.

Protecting rights to exist, function, and choose our own paths are for me the reason for governing.  We form laws to support a communal society that works.

Women, as well as gay, trans, and disabled people have come late to the game for politics in this country, and we're still playing catch-up in many areas.  All people should be treated equally in our workplaces, schools, and communities.  Likewise, people with disabilities deserve equal access.  So while my view about human rights is fundamentally the same across various issues, I recognize that underserved and under-represented communities need priority in order to balance the scales.  If elected, I promise to keep a primary sponsorship available every session to deal with important social issues and accessibility.

I'm also a serious advocate for criminal justice reforms that address issues related to systemic inequalities.