The Colorado House on Tuesday endorsed a plan to let same-sex and other unmarried couples adopt the children of their partners – a direct contradiction, opponents said, of voters who rejected Referendum I in November.
“Referendum I created civil unions. This bill does not,” said House Majority Leader Alice Madden, a Boulder Democrat who sponsored the measure.
“It’s about parental responsibility … the economic and emotional stability of these children.”
The bill faces a final vote in the House before it can go to the Senate.
The debate about the will of voters came right after House members gave preliminary approval to a proposal to let voters clarify the intent of a second November ballot measure, the broad Amendment 41 ethics measure that bans gifts to elected officials and government workers.
Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Monument, suggested lawmakers also send the adoption measure to the voters “if we’re going to continue in the same vein of respect for the people and their vote.”
Referendum I would have legalized civil unions for same-sex couples, giving them the same legal rights as married couples. Under current law, only married couples can adopt each other’s children.
“This is in my mind in direct opposition to the vote of the people on Referendum I,” said Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud.
“The sponsor says this has nothing to do with Referendum I, but I strongly disagree because a direct component of Referendum I was to allow adoption of the children of same-sex couples.”
Lundberg also argued that passage of the bill would change the traditional definition of family in Colorado law.
“Colorado law today encourages marriage,” he said. “Marriage is defined in statute and in the constitution as between one man and one woman.”
“This is a major policy decision for the state of Colorado. … It is saying the family has now changed.”
The bill, by Madden and Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, would let any two unmarried people adopt each other’s children.
Madden defended the proposal as necessary to protect children who are raised by nontraditional couples. In such instances, she said, those children have no protection if the nonlegal parent walks away.
“This provides economic security for a child and increased parental responsibility,” she said. “These families exist whether you like it or not.”
Capitol bureau chief Jeri Clausing can be reached at 303-954-1555 or jclausing@denverpost.com.
