Looks like we "elevation assisted" Democrats are again leading the fight, showing Progressives how to get things done.
Yesterday, the Colorado House of Reps passed House Bill 1344 which would "grant same-sex couples the right to inherit property from a partner, qualify for family leave benefits and make medical decisions, among other provisions." (Rocky Mountain News).
Now this November Coloradans as a people get to put the idea of domestic partnerships for same-sex couples to an up-or-down vote.
Even better, the Dems used their majorities in both the State House and Senate to bypass the need for Republican Gov. Bill Owens signature to take the issue to the voters, making it impossible for Owens to veto it.
This legislation is quite possibly the first of its kind across the United States, and represents Progressive folks trying to neutralize the "gay hate" amendments already passed in more than a handful of states. Conventional Wisdom states it was "gay hate" amendments in 2004 in crucial swing states that helped Bush win (or steal) the '04 election.
Colorado is also going to have a "gay hate" amendment on the ballot this November. Even though by statue marriage is already defined as "between a man and a woman" in the state, the Colorado Springs/Dobsonites want to enshrine their bigotry into the Colorado Constitution.
However, Progressive and GLBT leaders are hoping by giving people something to vote for, we might be able to pull this off. People might split the difference. Voters might think homosexuals should not be "married", but they also might think its right to create domestic partnerships so gays can establish a legal relationship, giving them benefits, hospital visitation rights, etc.
Already talk has been that both ballot measures could pass and NOT cancel each other out. So in Colorado, it could be defined in the Constitution that marriage is "between a man and a woman", but domestic partnerships are available for homosexuals.
The state's big money liberal donors (the Four Horsemen we affectionately call them) and others have lined up behind getting the initiative HB-1344 is putting on the ballot passed. As reported on 4/25, $1.2 Million worth of television ads have been purchased across the state in the first political issue ads of the '06 cycle.
If this works, and we pass the Domestic Partnership Initiative, it could outline a strategy for all 50 states on ways to get homosexuals equal rights under the law.
I'm proud of our State Democrats here in Colorado today. You should be too.
(inspired from a post @ SoapBlox Colorado)