As a long-time resident of Colorado, conservative Catholic, and proud Republican, I was disappointed that the final weeks of our just concluded legislative session looked much more like Washington, D.C. than the Colorado we all know and love.
This dysfunction prevented a full House vote on the civil unions bill not once, but twice. Colorado deserves better. The Democratic leadership introduced the civil unions bill late in the regular session, thereby compressing the time allowed for a full debate, deliberation and vote. However, when given the opportunity to correct this mis-step in the special session, the Republican leadership worked the system to make sure the bill would be assigned to the “kill committee” thereby again denying a full debate.
No matter one’s position on the civil unions legislation, the bill deserved a hearing and vote by the full State House of Representatives. It had been favorably recommended by three committees and had bipartisan support. The first time a vote on civil unions was prevented resulted in over 30 bills dying that would have created jobs and funded projects crucial to moving our state forward.
I am deeply troubled that our General Assembly would kill legislation critical to the business of the state over a simple question of treating all Coloradans — straight or gay — fairly.
Personal responsibility, commitment and stability, freedom and limited government interference are all deeply important to me. But freedom means freedom for everyone. This includes the freedom to decide how you live and whom you love, all without excessive interference of the regulatory force of government. This is what the civil unions bill is all about.
Civil unions has the support of 74 percent of Coloradans and 56 percent of Republicans. Even though the majority of the House Republican caucus opposes civil unions, we should take seriously the overwhelming statewide and bipartisan support. This is reflective of national polling that also shows strong support for civil unions among the general population and Republicans as well.
In fact, top Republican pollsters including the pollster for President George W. Bush’s re-election in 2004, recently found through a majority Republicans support relationship recognition for gays whether it is in the form of same-sex marriage or domestic partnerships. And polling shows only 29 percent of Republicans oppose legal recognition in any form.
This change in attitude cuts across all generations. As throughout this nation’s history, when dealing with important social issues it takes us a while but we Americans are getting to the place we need to be. We are there now and our leaders need to recognize that.
And in the business community, the issue of treating everyone — including gays and lesbians — fairly is a no-brainer. Its good business — but most importantly — it’s the right thing to do.
I am a Catholic with 16 years of Catholic education who supports civil unions, and my journey to supporting fairness and equality for all, no matter their sexual orientation or gender expression, has been like that of many others.
I didn’t think about it much at first, and definitely didn’t take any public positions. But as I got to know gay and lesbians through my work and friendships, I quickly found they are just as much God’s creation as I. They have dreams and aspirations; they believe in love and commitment. They are our friends and neighbors.
I was relieved when Gov. Hickenlooper called a special session of the General Assembly to give our legislators a second chance. A second chance to address critical issues important to the business of the state and a second chance to give the civil unions bill what it deserved, a full house debate and vote. I, like many others in my party believed they would do the right thing when given another opportunity.
Our General Assembly succeeded on the first, and with stunning rhetorical flourishes and a kill-committee assignment, the House of Representatives failed on the second.
As business leaders, we often encounter conflict. We often have to work through differences of opinion to find common ground and move forward.
I believe in our state and will continue to have faith that both Democrats and Republicans in the next session of our General Assembly will get it right.
Greg Stevinson is president and CEO of Denver West Equity Partners and is 50-year resident of Jefferson County.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
