A Colorado bill which seeks to
recognize gay and lesbian couples with civil unions will face its
first political hurdle Wednesday.
Senator Pat Steadman, a Democrat from
Denver, is the measure's sponsor in the Senate.
Steadman, who is gay, told 9News that
his Colorado Civil Unions Act (SB 11) will get its first hearing in
the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
It is Steadman's third attempt with the
measure. 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.
Ferrandino has previously said he would
like to have the bill signed into law by Valentine's Day. Governor
John Hickenlooper has endorsed the effort.