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Loading ...Colorado partner bill advances
02.17.2009 4:21pm EST
(Denver, Colorado) A bill making it easier for unmarried couples, including gays and lesbians, to make medical decision for incapacitated partners and leave property to their partners is headed to a vote on the state house floor.
The measure passed the state house judiciary committee despite stiff Republican opposition.Rep. Mark Ferrandino (D), the bill’s sponsor, said that he had wished he could have brought in legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, but admitted to the committee this was the best he could currently hope for.
“We’re looking at making sure people can take care of one another,” Ferrandino said.
But for more than an hour, Rep. Bob Gardner (R) blasted the measure, calling it a danger to traditional marriage.
“What we’re doing with this bill is creating de facto civil unions in Colorado,” Gardner told the committee. “It is a sea change.”
Despite his hammering, the committee passed the bill 7-3 and sent it to the full house for debate.
Under the plan, couples would be able to go to their county clerk’s office and designate each other as legal beneficiaries.
In 2006, voters passed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The same year they rejected another ballot issue that would have given same-sex couples many of the rights of marriage, including property inheritance rights and the power to make medical and funeral arrangements.
As Ferrandino’s bill works its way through the legislature, a move is underway to overturn the marriage ban.
Stu Allen, 23, is promoting a measure to ask voters in 2010 to repeal the ban on same-sex marriage.
Allen, who is straight, said that gay couples should have the same rights that he and his girlfriend of seven years would have if they got married.
,” Rep. Bob Gardner (R) blasted the measure, calling it a danger to traditional marriage.”
These guys are mentally ill, or dumber then dumb, due to their church. Marriage is falling apart due to Heterosexuals. while in eg England or MA the gay divorce rate is a small fraction of the str8 divorce rate, now 50%.
The religious shitheads just don’t want to admit they have been using hatred and ignorance to sell their superstitions. For the love of Money and power- that is what they are married to.
Just like that really freaky thing where Catholic Priests are “married to the church”. That is a hell of a lot wierder then gay marriage.
Hey above posters – get over it! I’m in Colorado… They tried to do more and it failed. We now have a constitutional amendment prohibiting marriage and a domestic parntership proposal was voted down in ‘06. But since then they’ve managed to squeeze in statewide protections for jobs, housing, etc…, second parent adoption, and now this. It may not come as fast as you want it, but in Colorado at least it moving in the right direction.
ALL THE STATES ARE GOING TO TOSS US A COOKIE OVER THE GUILT OF PROP 8 BUT ALL WE ARE GOING TO GET ARE CRUMBS !!!!!!!!!!!!!GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS–IT ISNT MARRIAGE !! AND THEY WANT US TO SETTLE FOR THIS TO KEEP US QUIET FOR AWHILE–IT ISNT GOING TO WORK !!!!
Great so what about the other 1136 civil rights that are different for this couple from a het married one? Why can’t they have ALL of the EQUAL RIGHTS, hets have?
The only real danger to “traditional marriage” are str8 people who make a mockery of the very institution that serves them. A mass murderer in jail can get married in a moments notice, and so do again and again, but a long-term loving and committed same-sex couple cannot – which is pathetic and an embarssment to our country.