A 17-year-old high school student is
pushing for a referendum to legalize gay marriage in Colorado.
According to the Denver
Post, Zoe Mandelski on Monday filed the proposal with the
nonpartisan Legislative Council.
“I do personally support gay
marriage, but my parents don't,” she said. “But they are
supporting me in this because they do think the issue should be voted
on.”
Voters in 2006 approved a
constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual couples.
Mandelski's proposal, if approved,
would repeal the amendment. It reads: “Be it enacted by the voters
of the State of Colorado: Article II Section 31 of the Constitution
of the State of Colorado is amended to read: A union of one man and
one woman, one man and one man, and one woman and one woman shall be
valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.”
The Legislative Council will hold its
first hearing on the proposal on Monday, February 11.
A similar effort last year promoted by
a college student failed to make the ballot.
(Related: Colorado
student Mark Olmstead quits push to overturn gay marriage ban.)
Colorado lawmakers are expected to
approve civil unions legislation this legislative session.