Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper on
Thursday endorsed a bill that would recognize gay and lesbian couples
with civil unions during his State of the Sate address, the AP
reported.
“It's time to pass civil unions,”
the 59-year-old Democratic Hickenlooper told lawmakers.
“As we strive to make Colorado
healthier, we believe in equal rights for all regardless of race,
creed, gender or sexual orientation,” he said.
“We don't believe we should legislate
what happens inside a church or place of worship, but government
should treat all people equally,” Hickenlooper added in his
strongest endorsement yet.
On Wednesday, Democratic Senator Pat
Steadman reintroduced the civil unions bill that died last year in a
Republican-controlled House committee after the Senate approved the
measure. Supporters in the House are looking for a Republican
co-sponsor before introducing the bill there.
A 2006 voter-approved constitutional
amendment that defines marriage as a heterosexual union bars
lawmakers from pursuing gay marriage.
(Related: Bishop
James Conley calls Colorado civil unions bill “dangerous.”)