The Colorado Senate on Wednesday took a bold step toward ensuring equality for all Coloradans by approving a bill to allow for civil unions.
The debate on the Senate floor was emotional, with many lawmakers shedding tears as they shared and listened to personal stories of the painful struggles many gays and lesbians face in Colorado.
The debate also was civil, which we appreciate and applaud. Hopefully, the issue will be treated the same way as it heads to the House of Representatives.
Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, said the bill will ensure “very basic, but very important legal protections . . . that no family should be without.
“One of the prime beneficiaries of this bill [is] children,” he said, noting that they would be protected by child support and such if the measure becomes law. “Bear in mind, children do not choose their parents.”
Senate Bill 172, if approved by the House and eventually signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper, would confer a variety of rights to those engaged in a civil union, including the ability to inherit property if the other person dies, and the ability to make medical decisions if one person in the relationship is incapacitated.
Relationship equality is one of the most important civil rights issues of our time. Even though we acknowledge that allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally marry will remain a contentious issue in the coming years, there are few reasons not to allow civil unions. We’re hopeful enough Republicans in the House will agree that it’s a matter of equality.
Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, opposed the measure, saying that “this is a dramatic and radical change to marriage in Colorado.”
We support gay marriage, and have opposed efforts to treat same- sex couples as if they’re inferior to heterosexuals. But this bill, even though it creates a legal relationship that is similar to traditional marriage, does not confer all of the elements of marriage.
Still, it will be difficult to get it through the House, where Republicans have a one-vote advantage.
We continue to urge House Speaker Frank McNulty and House Majority Leader Amy Stephens to give SB 172 the opportunity to get to the House floor so that all members have a chance to cast a vote on it.
It deserves a fair hearing.
