A Colorado bill which seeks to
recognize gay and lesbian couples with civil unions on Friday
advanced to the full House after clearing a third and final House
panel.
The 9-4 vote in the Colorado House
Appropriations Committee included an affirmative vote from Republican
Rep. Cheri Gerou, a co-sponsor of the measure.
The Colorado Senate last month gave the
proposed legislation an overwhelming 21-14 vote of approval.
Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper has also championed the bill.
It is the third year in a row that
Colorado lawmakers have considered civil unions. The bill suddenly
died last year in the GOP-controlled House after passage in the
Senate.
However, after two failed attempts in
the House, passage appears to be a foregone conclusion now that
Democrats control both chambers.
Colorado voters in 2006 approved a
constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual unions.
Marriage equality advocates would need to repeal the amendment before
Colorado could join the 9 states where gay couples can legally marry.
Currently, five states offer civil
unions: Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Hawaii.