In Governor John Hickenlooper's (Democrat of course) state of the state speech given yesterday at the Colorado capitol building, the governor put his support behind efforts to create same-sex civil unions in Colorado.
According to his speech:
As we strive to make Colorado healthier, we believe in equal rights for all regardless of race, creed, gender or sexual orientation.
We don’t believe we should legislate what happens inside a church or place of worship, but government should treat all people equally.
It’s time to pass civil unions.
During last year's legislative session, Democrats in the state senate passed a civil unions bill, but it was blocked in state house panel on a party line vote.
Hickelooper mostly stayed mum on the issue last year, but perhaps his endorsement this year will be a game changer. We saw how important Governor Cuomo was to bringing same-sex marriages to New York. Certainly Hickenlooper's popularity (59% approve with only 17% disapproval according to one local pollster), gives him the political capital to push for this bill that would give gay and lesbian couples the same legal rights as straight married couples.
And yes Colorado is unfortunately one of many states with a constitutional amendment that defines marriage between a man and a woman. We voted on this in 2006, and we could theoretically overturn it, but that would require another state-wide vote. The civil unions bill would give same-sex couples the same legal rights as straight couples and is the best the Colorado legislature can do right now with the constitutional amendment still in place. If the civil union bill passes, it is still great progress towards equality in Colorado.
Please take your time and contact Gov. Hickenlooper and tell him you support his efforts to pass a civil unions bill in Colorado: http://www.colorado.gov/...