Ballot measure seeking to ban domestic partnerships moves forward in Colorado

Gay-rights advocates in Colorado have failed to block a ballot measure that aims to prohibit domestic partnerships, after a state board approved the ballot measure’s language on Thursday. The measure asks voters to forbid legal recognition of a union that is “similar to that of marriage.” It’s a counter-attack on a domestic-partnership measure already on the ballot.

Gay-rights lawyers made a case that the language is “purposefully obscure” and voters may wonder how it would apply to common-law marriage. The same lawyers successfully fought the anti-gay rights Amendment 2 a decade ago but failed in this attempt.

The measure’s co-sponsor, state representative Kevin Lundberg, called their arguments “absurd.” He plans to start collecting the required signatures to place the measure on the ballot, even though gay-rights advocates plan to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

This could be the start of protracted legal battles in Colorado. Two other measures dealing with same-sex marriage—one for and one against—are also expected to land on the ballot this fall. (Sirius OutQ News)

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