Senator Mark Udall (D. CO) praised the state legislature for passing the Colorado civil unions bill today:
http://www.markudall.senate.gov/...
Following the Colorado House's passage today of legislation to establish civil unions, Mark Udall praised the state legislature and pledged to redouble his efforts to ensure that all Americans — regardless of whom they love — are treated equally under law.
"The Colorado Legislature proclaimed that all couples should be allowed to affirm to their communities their commitment to each other by entering into a legal union," Udall said. "I commend Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino, Sen. Pat Steadman, Sen. Lucia Guzman and Rep. Sue Schafer for their work to pass this bill. We are a stronger country when all committed couples are able to take responsibility for each other and their families under our laws." - udall.senate.gov, 3/12/13
Udall has a terrific record on gay rights. He recently signed onto a legal argument calling for the repeal of the Defense of marriage Act (DOMA):
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Colorado's two Democratic Senators are signing onto a legal challenge against the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet are among 212 members of congress who signed the argument that the law unconstitutionally prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex married couples. The legal brief was filed Friday with the U.S. Supreme Court.
The challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act is one of two major gay marriage cases on the Supreme Court's agenda this year. - Denver Post, 3/1/13
Udall is also a co-signer of Senator Jeff Merkley's (D. OR) letter calling on President Obama to make an executive decision regarding the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA):
A chorus of 37 U.S. senators is calling on President Obama to sign an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT workers amid increased pressure for him to issue the directive.
In a letter dated Feb. 14, first made public by the Washington Post’s Greg Sergeant, the group of 37 senators — led by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) — identifies themselves as supporters of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and ask Obama to take administrative action against anti-LGBT workplace discrimination.
“Issuing an Executive Order that includes sexual orientation and gender identity is a critical step that you can take today toward ending discrimination in the workplace,” the senators write. “By expanding protections for LGBT employees of federal contractors, you would be helping to ensure that all Americans get an equal opportunity to succeed and that federal taxpayer dollars are used to support companies with the best employment practices.” - Washington Blade, 2/14/13
The other co-signers are Tom Harkin (D-IA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Al Franken (D-MN), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Carl Levin (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), William Cowan (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mark Begich (D-AK), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jack Reed (D-RI), Robert Casey (D-PA), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ).
Udall was also one of the lead Senators to push the efforts to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) and came out for marriage equality in 2011:
Udall's colleague, Senator Michael Bennet (D. CO), who is also the Chairman of the DSCC, has been spreading a petition for congress to overturn DOMA:
Colorado just made history. Both the state Senate and House have passed civil unions and now the bill is on its way to Governor Hickenlooper's desk for his signature!
This is a great day for equality and anyone who believes that, gay or straight, all couples want to be together for the same reasons. They want to make lifetime commitments to love and care for each other. The civil unions bill will give all Colorado families the legal and economic protections needed to care for one another and it will help build stronger communities.
But there's still more to do. At the national level, our government still upholds the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA is outdated and does not keep with Colorado values.
Now we have an opportunity to overturn it. There is a case before the Supreme Court challenging the law.
I've joined with 212 members of Congress who have signed an Amicus brief to the Court calling DOMA unconstitutional and a denial of equal protection. Will you join me to overturn DOMA and support full marriage equality?
http://action.bennetforcolorado.com/...
Today, Colorado made clear that we will no longer tolerate discrimination in our laws against any Coloradan based on sexual orientation. It's time the rest of the country followed suit.
A majority of people in America believe that the time has come for marriage equality. Please add your name to my petition to overturn DOMA and support full marriage equality.
http://action.bennetforcolorado.com/...
Sincerely,
Michael Bennet
U.S. Senator
You can sign Bennet's petition here:
http://action.bennetforcolorado.com/...
And if you would like to donate to Udall's re-election campaign so he can continue to fight for gay rights and marriage equality in the Senate, you can do so here:
https://secure.actblue.com/...