One of two
Colorado proposals that would allow same-sex couples to
register as domestic partners was withdrawn from the
November ballot Tuesday because backers said the other
proposal would accomplish the same goal. Coloradans
for Fairness pulled Amendment 45, which would have
changed the state constitution to give registered domestic
partners some of the same rights as married couples.
Still on the ballot is Referendum I, which would
put domestic partnerships into state law rather than
into the constitution. It was placed on the ballot by
the legislature.
Coloradans for Fairness gathered signatures to
place their proposal on the ballot partly to counter
another measure that would have barred any government
in Colorado from recognizing any relationship similar to
marriage. Backers of the anti-domestic partnership
proposal failed to gather enough signatures to win a
spot on the ballot.
"The simple question before voters this fall is
whether we will provide basic legal rights for such
things as hospital visitation, end-of-life decisions,
inheritance of property," said Sean Duffy, executive
director of Coloradans for Fairness, which gathered more
than 140,000 signatures for its proposal. "That's the
choice Referendum I gives us."
He said Coloradans for Fairness offered its
proposal to show that Referendum I would not allow
same-sex marriage but provide committed gay couples
with legal rights they lack now. The move leaves seven
initiatives and seven referenda on the November ballot,
including two dealing with same-sex relationships:
Referendum I and Amendment 43, which would amend the
state constitution to define marriage as a union between
one man and one woman. (AP)