A large majority of Coloradans support
either marriage or civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, a poll
has found.
The SurveyUSA poll of 695 likely voters
commissioned by the Denver Post shows 36 percent of
respondents support marriage for gay couples while 32 percent favor
civil unions. Twenty-seven percent oppose any legal recognition of
the relationships of gay couples, while 6 percent refused to answer.
While a larger share of respondents
support marriage over civil unions, a 2006 ballot measure that
amended the Colorado Constitution to define marriage as a
heterosexual union prohibits lawmakers from enacting such a law.
For two years in a row, Republican
leaders in the House have blocked passage of a civil unions bill
after it cleared the Democratic-controlled Senate.
The rights and responsibilities offered
by civil unions vary from state to state, but tend to be fewer than
those offered by marriage.
Several polls in May showed support for
civil unions at slightly above fifty percent when the question was
asked independently. Saturday's poll suggests that as many as 68
percent of Coloradans support passage of a civil unions law, creating
a possible political liability for lawmakers who have worked against
the issue.
(Source: Denver
Post.)