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Gay rights advocates rally in Denver, say marriage equality is coming to Colorado

Gay rights advocates rally in Denver, say marriage equality is coming to Colorado
OneColoradoHouse Speaker Mark Ferrandino, who is openly gay, addresses marriage equality adovcates at the Colorado state capitol in Denver on Mondya, March 3, 2014.
OneColorado
House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, who is openly gay, addresses marriage equality advocates at the Colorado state capitol in Denver on Monday, March 3, 2014.

DENVER — Gay rights advocates promise that marriage equality is coming to Colorado, either through the courts or the ballot box.

They pledged at a rally Monday to pursue a ballot measure in 2016 to legalize gay marriage unless courts strike down Colorado’s ban on the practice first. Two lawsuits are making their way through state court to do just that.

Judges have struck down gay marriage bans in several conservative states recently. The appeals of those rulings will be heard in a federal court in Denver.

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But gay marriage supporters say if they lose in court they will go to the ballot box to overturn the gay marriage ban Colorado voters passed in 2006.

The rally was part of One Colorado’s annual LGBT Lobby Day, in which gay right advocates met with lawmakers to call for full LGBT equality.

Dave Montez, One Colorado’s Executive Director, said Colorado’s LGBT Caucus, which includes House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, is the largest delegation of LGBT elected officials in the nation.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.
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