President Clinton should reverse himself and veto congressional legislation to ban federal recognition of same-sex marriages because it’s “clear discrimination,” Gov. Mike Lowry said Tuesday.

Lowry usually mentions Clinton, a fellow Democrat, as an ally and friend. But in this case, the governor called a news conference to denounce the legislation and to say Clinton has thrown in with “demagogues” bent on stirring up the public with misinformation about a minority group.

Lowry said he told the president of his objections during a recent White House visit. He said he intends to write the president a letter urging him to reconsider.

“I probably won’t be invited back (to the White House),” he said, drawing laughter from reporters.

Clinton “is a much better person than” somebody who would support the legislation, Lowry said.

Clinton has said he would sign legislation passed by the U.S. House and pending in the U.S. Senate.

The House voted 342-67 for the bill Friday. The Senate may not act on its version until September.

Lowry said Republican backers of the measure “are people reading political polls.” The polls, he said, are based on misinformation, fear and hatred “spread by demagogues.”

He said the sole reason for the legislation is to give politicians a forum for political gain.

“If you will discriminate against people because of what the polls tell you … that is scary,” he said.

Lowry said he told Clinton during a recent meeting in Washington that “I thought he was very wrong,” and the president should oppose the legislation.

Lowry, rolling his eyes, said Clinton’s response was: “I hear you.”

He quoted Clinton as saying he had agreed to sign the legislation only to “head off worse legislation” aimed at restricting the rights of gays and lesbians.

“I don’t buy that,” he said. “I’m voting for Bill Clinton … but I just don’t buy that.”

xxxx? GAY MARRIAGE BAN Federal legislation would: Define marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. Allow states to reject gay and lesbian marriages performed outside their boundaries. Refuse federal recognition of gay marriages performed in states that legalize them.