Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper for
the second year in a row mentioned civil unions in his State of the
State address.
“As mentioned earlier, there are
quite a few mountains we ought to climb together before this session
ends in May,” Hickenlooper told colleagues on Thursday. “Some of
us tried very hard, but it didn't get done last year. This year,
let's do it. Let's pass civil unions!”
Hickenlooper also endorsed civil unions
during last year's address.
“It's time to pass civil unions,”
he told lawmakers. “As we strive to make Colorado healthier, we
believe in equal rights for all regardless of race, creed, gender or
sexual orientation. We don't believe we should legislate what
happens inside a church or place of worship, but government should
treat all people equally.”
State Senator Pat Steadman earlier this
week introduced his civil unions bill for a third time. In previous
sessions, Republicans who controlled the House blocked the proposals
from reaching the House floor. Rather than allowing a vote on the
bill last year, Republicans shut down voting altogether, killing
nearly two dozen unrelated measures.
Democrats regained control of the House
in November and elected Mark Ferrandino, an openly gay man who
sponsored the bill in the House last year, as House speaker, nearly
assuring passage in the chamber.