Following a nasty
debate on the floor of the Colorado house, state
lawmakers on Friday passed a proposal to give same-sex
partners many of the benefits of marriage, reports
The Rocky Mountain News. The vote was split
largely along party lines, with Republicans arguing
that the measure erodes marriage and is bad for
children, and Democrats saying it's about fairness.
House Bill 1344,
known as the domestic-partnership bill, is sponsored by
Democratic representative Tom Plant. It would allow
registered same-sex partners to receive many of the
benefits, protections, and responsibilities that
Colorado grants to spouses, including adoption of a
partner's child, responsibility for financial support of a
partner, and inheritance rights.
If the bill wins
formal approval by a simple majority in the house and
senate, which are both controlled by Democrats, it would go
on the November ballot. It would not require the
signature of GOP governor Bill Owens, who leaves
office this year because of term limits.
In related news,
on Thursday a group that wants to pass a constitutional
amendment banning same-sex marriage in Colorado was cleared
to collect signatures to place the issue on November's
ballot. Wayne Munster, acting director of state
elections, said the petition forms submitted by
Coloradans for Marriage have been approved. The group now
needs to gather about 68,000 valid voter signatures to
get on the ballot.
"We'll be working
within churches a lot, we'll be working in the
communities," said Jon Paul, the group's executive director.
"Anywhere where there's a lot of people, we'll be there."
(The Advocate)
