Tag: civil unions

Openly gay Chairman of the Colorado Federation of College Republicans Troy Ard is lobbying colleagues and friends to support Senator Pat Steadman's same-sex civil unions bill making its way through the state legislature. Ard's support for the bill is personal, political and ideological. He wants to enjoy equal rights under the law as a gay American; he believes the Republican brand would benefit enormously by embracing gay rights; and he believes Americans should always be pushing their government to expand individual liberties.

Four out of five Coloradans under 30 support same-sex civil unions. In four years those young people will cast one of every three votes cast in Colorado. "When we vote, people listen," said one of the speakers from youth-voter group NewEra Colorado at a Wednesday rally at the University of Colorado Denver in support of the civil unions bill introduced in the state legislature by Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, last month. "We want equality and the time is now. We want the next generation to never even have to think about this. They'll just see that everyone is the same."

Surprising news from Maryland Friday, as reports come out that a same-sex marriage bill that looked certain to pass has been withdrawn. It will...

As Colorado's Legislature struggles with the question of whether or not to authorize civil unions, a new poll shows that for the first time ever, a plurality of Americans are in favor of legalizing gay marriage.

It's not exactly a tidal wave. But the three Republican members of the House who have gone on record as supportive of state Senator Pat Steadman's civil unions bill suggests Democratic House sponsor Mark Ferrandino is right to be confident that the bill will pass if it could somehow climb over likely House committee hurdles.

Denver mayoral candidate Chris Romer today voiced his strong support for Colorado’s civil union bill, Senate Bill 172, and his backing of full marriage equity.

Denver legislators Sen. Pat Steadman and Rep. Mark Ferrandino saw their bill challenged by faith-based opponents of same-sex civil unions Monday, with some calling for tough love to bring those who had entered into sin back into the fold.

As Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, presented his civil unions bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee, some Republicans expressed concerns the bill might violate the Colorado Constitution's prohibition against gay marriage.

Laura Latimer and Professor Ellen Paul attend college events in Durango with their 8-month-old son Alexander strapped to one of their chests. They wear Ernie and Burt hats around the house for comic relief. They own four dogs. They plan their days around their son's nap time, just like all new parents do, and they want to be there for each other for the long haul, come what may. They work. They vote. They pay their taxes. Whether they realize it or not or even care, Laura and Ellen and Alexander are an apple pie American family. Because Laura and Ellen are lesbians, however, they pay more money for less civil rights than straight couples do, a fact that could change this year in Colorado as Senate Bill 172 makes its way though the legislature in Denver. The bill, sponsored by Senator Pat Steadman, would create legal domestic-partner civil unions in the state, and it meets its first test at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in the Old Supreme Court Chambers under the dome this afternoon.

In advance of a committee hearing scheduled for Monday on state Senator Pat Steadman's civil unions bill, Colorado faith leaders held a press conference at the capitol Thursday expressing support for the bill. Their presence at the capitol was frank acknowledgment of the way opposition to the legal recognition of rights for gay domestic partners has long been made on the basis of religion. In fact, religion stands on both sides of this issue, they said, and the issue, especially as addressed in Steadman's bill, is about constitutional rights.