DENVER — A proposal to allow civil unions for gay couples is set to breeze through the Democratic controlled Colorado state legislature.
Senate Democrats stand poised to give initial approval to a civil unions bill Wednesday as the plan comes before a legislative committee for the first time this session. The measure has been turned back in past years, but with Democrats controlling the state House, Senate and governor’s office it is expected to pass easily.
Debate over the proposal has been contentious and emotional the last two years. In each of those sessions civil union plans were defeated by House Republicans.
Democrats, though, are guarded about the possibility of marriage for gay couples because the state constitution bans it, and lawmakers take an oath to uphold those laws.
Regardless, opponents of civil unions in Colorado — such as Focus on the Family’s CitizenLink — say they’re concerned that same-sex marriage is the lawmakers’ ultimate goal.
“Laws like civil unions and domestic partnerships have been used in other states to challenge marriage and usher in same-sex marriage” said Carrie Gordon Earll, spokeswoman for CitizenLink.
She said with civil unions all but a certainty in Colorado, her group will be watching to see what the Supreme Court does.
The high court is scheduled to hear arguments in March on California’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, and that decision could affect other states.Should California’s ban be overturned, similar bans — including Colorado’s — also would likely be upended and marriage equality supporters could make a new legislative push.
More than a dozen states allow civil unions, domestic partnerships, or same-sex marriage. Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut allowed civil unions before eventually legalizing same-sex marriage.
If approved, Gov. John Hickenlooper has pledged to sign the bill at once.
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civil union is not equality…
John, for Colorado it is as good as it gets, for now. We have a DOMA here that would take the public to overturn in a vote.
this is the best CO can do for now, as they already have a voter approved constitutional ban on ss-marriage. This will have to do until SCOTUS takes up the issue.
I guess this will do for the next few months until SCOTUS kicks it into a dusty history book.
For everyone hoping the SCOTUS decision on Federal DOMA or CA Prop 8 will defeat the DOMAs of each individual state, I am sorry to break the bad the news. It probably will not. Prop 8 is very narrow in the question being asked (taking away rights once given) and the DOMA one is very specific to the Federal Government, not the States. Hopefully one or two State cases that are not as specific will find their way up, but it will take some time.
Anne Newcombe: i hear ya on the MICHIGAN thing…..which is WHY, it should NOT be left up to the states to DECIDE….ans people’s CIVIL RIGHTS, should NEVER be put to the popular vote.
I am 50/50 on Prop 8, but I am 100% sure that DOMA is done by mid June.
The optimist in me says both will be defeated, but I am with you James. Toss up on Prop 8 but fairly certain Federal DOMA will be gone.
We can only HOPE for Colorado!
It is a first sep but does not give full eqality
thumbs up and lots of prayers…
homophobes need to get the fuck over themselves
i like, but would prefer marriage