The Colorado Senate on Monday gave
final approval to a civil unions bill following an initial nod on
Friday.
The measure seeks to recognize gay and
lesbian couples with civil unions in a state where marriage is not an
option due to its 2006 voter-approved constitutional amendment
limiting marriage to heterosexual couples.
Without debate, the chamber voted in
favor of the measure 21-14, with one Republican, Senator Ellen
Roberts of Durango, joining all Democrats.
It is the second year in a row the
Senate has approved Democratic Senator Pat Steadman's civil unions
bill. Last year's bill died in the GOP-controlled House.
However, after two failed attempts in
the House, passage appears to be a foregone conclusion now that
Democrats control both chambers.
Christian conservative groups which
oppose the measure, such as the Alliance Defending Freedom and
CitizenLink, the political arm of Focus on the Family, have
previously said that the measure threatens religious freedom.
If the bill is approved, Colorado would
join 5 other states – Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island
and Hawaii – which offer the union. However, all 5 of those
states, along with Minnesota, are expected to consider legalizing gay
marriage this year.
(Related: Hawaii
House committee says it won't hear gay marriage bill.)