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Colorado House Passes Civil Unions On Voice Vote, Formal Vote Tuesday

Colorado Civil Unions Gets Initial Approval In House
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Former Denver Associate Editor, HuffPost

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House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, and House Minority leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, talk during debate on the Civil Unions Bill in the House Chamber at the Capitol on Monday, March 11, 2013. The proposal got initial approval with a voice vote in the Democratic-controlled House on Monday. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Civil unions advanced in the Colorado House on a voice vote Monday, and is poised to become law.

The House will take a formal recorded vote on Tuesday before the bill advances to the governor's desk. Democrats control the House 37-28 and Gov. John Hickenlooper has said that he will sign the bill into law when it reaches his desk.

"What this bill is about is personal freedom and individual liberties," said Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen, one of two Republicans supporting Senate Bill 11. "This is a good conservative bill."

The House debated civil unions for the first time in its history Monday. A similar civil unions bill was the most contentious issue at the end of last year's legislative session when it was killed in committee.

Then-Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, ran out the clock and killed the bill along with 30 others during a special session.

"This marks the first day in my time here that the full House will debate civil unions," said bill sponsor, Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.

This year Ferrandino, Colorado's first openly-gay Speaker of the House, pointed out that Colorado has eight gay legislators -- the most per capita and almost the first state with gay legislative leaders in both chambers.

"This bill is about three simple things," Ferrandino said. "It's about love, it's about family, and it's about equality under the law."

This year the bill does not include religious exemptions for adoption agencies, and the bill's sponsors have rejected GOP amendements for religious exemptions.

Republican Rep. Lori Saine, Dacono, however argued that religious beliefs play a central role in her opposition of the bill while additional GOP members kept likening the bill to same-sex marriage.

"What this bill is about, really is the Bible. Is it right or wrong?" Saine asked.

But in his opening speech, Ferrandino reminded the Legislature that civil unions are not marriage, though same-sex marriage is something he personally supports.

In 2006, voters passed Amendment 43, a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

"Until the voters say otherwise, civil unions is the closest we can do as a General Assembly to make sure that all families are provided protections under the law," Ferrandino said.

Colorado will become the 18th state to pass civil unions or gay marriage.

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Before You Go

Colorado Civil Unions Debate
(01 of12)
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Denver Mayor Michael Hancock testifies in favor of the Civil Unions bill before the Senate Judiciary committee at the Capitol in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Democrats are expected to take the first step to grant Colorado gay couples rights similar to marriage with a civil unions bill that's one of the most emotional issues for lawmakers this year. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (credit:AP)
(02 of12)
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Attorney Marie Avery Moses testifies on the Civil Unions bill before the Senate Judiciary committee at the Capitol in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Democrats are expected to take the first step to grant Colorado gay couples rights similar to marriage with a civil unions bill that's one of the most emotional issues for lawmakers this year. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (credit:AP)
(03 of12)
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Marvin Garcia, left, and Kendall Rice hold hands as they listen to testimony on the Civil Unions bill before the Senate Judiciary committee at the Capitol in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Democrats are expected to take the first step to grant Colorado gay couples rights similar to marriage with a civil unions bill that's one of the most emotional issues for lawmakers this year. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (credit:AP)
(04 of12)
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Fran, left, Jeremy and Anna Simon testify on the Civil Unions bill before the Senate Judiciary committee at the Capitol in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Democrats are expected to take the first step to grant Colorado gay couples rights similar to marriage with a civil unions bill that's one of the most emotional issues for lawmakers this year. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (credit:AP)
(05 of12)
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Senators Pat Steadman, left, D-Denver, and Lucia Guzman, D-Denver present their Civil Unions bill before the Senate Judiciary committee at the Capitol in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Democrats are expected to take the first step to grant Colorado gay couples rights similar to marriage with a civil unions bill that's one of the most emotional issues for lawmakers this year. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (credit:AP)
(06 of12)
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Senators Pat Steadman, left, D-Denver, and Lucia Guzman, D-Denver listen as Brad Clark, right, Executive Director of OneColorado testifies on the Civil Unionsbill before the Senate Judiciary committee at the Capitol in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. Democrats are expected to take the first step to grant Colorado gay couples rights similar to marriage with a civil unions bill that's one of the most emotional issues for lawmakers this year. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (credit:AP)
(07 of12)
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An overflow crowd listens to testimony in the House State Affairs Committee, where testimony was being heard, at the state Capitol in Denver on Monday, May 14, 2012. Gov. John Hickenlooper called the special session for lawmakers to vote on Civil Unions and other issues not completed when last week's general session ended. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (credit:AP)
(08 of12)
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FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2012 file photo, Denver Democratic Rep. Mark Ferrandino leaves the House Chamber at the Capitol in Denver. Ferrandino, 35, is poised to become Colorado's next House speaker this week. He would be the first openly gay lawmaker in the state to hold that title. Democrats want to revisit proposals blocked by Republicans when they controlled the House in 2011 and 2012 _ especially civil unions for same-sex couples and a measure giving illegal immigrants who grew up in Colorado a break on tuition at state schools. Democrats could also try again on long-stalled efforts to overhaul Colorado's confusing tax rules and procedures for funding schools. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File) (credit:AP)
(09 of12)
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An overflow crowd listens as House Minority Leader Mark Ferrandino, sponsor of the Civil Unions bill, testifies before the House State Affairs Committee at the state Capitol in Denver on Monday, May 14, 2012. Gov. John Hickenlooper called the special session for lawmakers to vote on Civil Unions and other issues not completed when last weeks general session ended. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (credit:AP)
(10 of12)
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Andy Schmidt and his 10-month-old daughter Nora attend a rally supporting Civil Unions at the state Capitol in Denver on May 14, 2012. Colorado lawmakers were called back into a special session on Monday to vote on several bills including Civil Unions. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (credit:AP)
(11 of12)
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House Speaker Frank McNulty, right, R-Highlands Ranch, talks to journalist during a break in the special session at the Capitol in Denver on May 14, 2012. Gov. John Hickenlooper called the special session for lawmakers to vote on Civil Unions and other issues not completed when last weeks general session ended. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (credit:AP)
(12 of12)
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Openly gay state Senator Pat Steadman, center, speaks at a rally in support of Civil Unions at the Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. The rally pushed for the passage of a Civil Unions bill that must be debated on the House floor before it can be passed on Wednesday the final day of the Legislative session. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (credit:AP)
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