Colorado State Senator Pat Steadman has
said he will introduce a bill that recognizes gay and lesbian couples
with civil unions, the Denver Post reported.
The openly gay Steadman, 46, who has
been partnered for over ten years says he believes Coloradans will
support civil unions.
The lawmaker said he expects the
Democrat-controlled Senate to approve the measure. But passage in
the Republican-controlled House appears less likely.
“I think that kind of bill would be
of concern with the vast majority of the members of our caucus,”
House Speaker-elect Frank McNulty, a Republican, told the paper.
Colorado voters in 2006 approved a
constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
Social conservatives say they'll oppose
the bill.
“We could not support a law that
undermines marriage, and that's exactly what civil unions do,”
Jenny Tyree of Citizen Link, a group affiliated with Focus on the
Family, said.
“This is a steppingstone to one thing
only, and that's redefining marriage, and that has happened in other
states.”
Vermont, the first state to approve
civil unions, has since legalized gay marriage.
If approved, Colorado would join New
Jersey and Illinois in offering the union. Illinois
lawmakers recently approved a similar law and Governor Pat Quinn has
promised he'll sign it into law. Hawaii
lawmakers are also expected to debate the issue next year.