DENVER—Colorado Democrats moved forward Wednesday with a proposal to allow civil unions for same-sex couples after a debate that included emotional pleas from Senate lawmakers to grant equal rights to everyone regardless of sexual orientation.
“I do think there is an arc of history on today’s debate,” said Democratic Sen. Michael Johnston, equating the vote on civil unions to women’s suffrage, the abolishment of slavery and the reversal on bans on interracial marriages. “Those are all moments in history that many of us are probably not proud of now to look back at.”
Most Republicans opposed the proposal in the Senate, saying the bill would go against the wishes of Colorado voters who banned gay marriage in 2006 and also opposed a referendum on domestic partnerships. The bill passed on a voice vote in the Senate, where Democrats have control and unanimously support the measure. It still faces another vote in that chamber before going to the Republican-controlled house, where Democrats concede the proposal’s passage is uncertain.
With civil unions, Colorado same-sex couples would be granted several rights similar to married couples, including the ability to be involved in their partner’s medical decisions. The bill would also enhance inheritance rights and make it easier for couples to list each other as dependents on health insurance.
Denver Sen. Pat Steadman, a gay lawmaker who is sponsoring Senate Bill 172, began the debate by telling lawmakers that he would be among those who would benefit from this legislation.
Steadman’s voice wavered with emotion as he described how his father suffered as stroke while on a business trip in New Jersey that left him unable to speak and grant consent about who could visit him at the hospital. Steadman said his father’s wife was able to stay by his side and speak for him to allow others to visit him.
“I think back to my father’s hospital room and I think, ‘What if it were me? What if that happened to me and I was not able to consent to visitors, to medical care, who would make those decisions for me?'” he said.
Republican Rep. Kevin Lundberg of Larimer County was the only one from his party to voice opposition to the bill during the debate, preceding his comments by saying he was “under no illusion” about what the proposal’s outcome would be in the Senate because of the Democrats’ majority. He said he understands same-sex couples would still not be able to marry, but still he said the proposal would undermine the institution of marriage.
“This is a dramatic, radical change to marriage in the state of Colorado, and I would urge a no vote,” he said.
The Senate Republican leadership issued a statement when the bill was introduced last month, saying they believed Coloradoans want them to focus on jobs, not whether the state should have civil unions.
Seven states have passed civil union legislation or similar legal recognitions for gay couples. Hawaii and Illinois were the most recent to pass civil union laws.
CitizenLink, an advocacy group for the Colorado-based Focus on the Family, opposes the bill, arguing that many of the rights the legislation seeks to provide are already available to same-sex couples.
Steadman said his bill would also address circumstances where children are being raised by two parents but only one is recognized as the legal guardian responsible for child support. Republican Ellen Roberts of Durango said that’s one of the reasons she supports the legislation.
“I support individual liberties and I think this falls in that category,” she added.
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