Same-Sex Marriage Colorado

On November 7, 2006, Colorado defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman in a constitutional amendment. The new section 31 in Article II of the Colorado state constitution clearly states that the only marriages that are legal in the state are those of opposite sex couples. Coloradans also declined the option of allowing domestic partnerships between same sex couples at this same time in Referendum I. Referendum I would have allowed same sex couples to enjoy the same rights and responsibilities that opposite sex married couples have. 

Defeat after Success

On March 24 of 2011, the issue was addressed again in Colorado’s Senate. The Senate, in March of last year, passed the bill that would give same sex couples the ability to make medical decisions for each other. They would be able to purchase health insurance for each other and they would be able to share in each other’s retirement accounts. The Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, expressed his support for the measure by stating that he would sign it if given the opportunity. This was not to be because the House defeated the bill on March 31, 2011. 

Increasing Support for Same Sex Marriage

Six years after the voters failed to pass the constitutional amendment allowing for the legalization of same sex unions, the Colorado Same-Sex Marriage Amendment was introduced. The sponsor of the amendment, Mark Olmstead, thought it was time to bring this issue up again, but he was unsure whether or not the public was more in favor of the idea of same sex marriages. 

In 2006, the constitutional amendment failed 53 percent to 47 percent. In August of 2011, Coloradans responded to a poll 45 percent for and 45 percent against the idea of legalizing same sex marriages. 10 percent of the respondents were unsure of which would be the best answer. In December of 2011, the number increased with 47 percent of the people polled being in favor of legalizing same sex unions and only 43 percent being opposed. 10 percent are still undecided on this matter. 

Insufficient Support for the Same-Sex Marriage Amendment 

Even though public opinion appears to be shifting toward the acceptance of same sex marriages, it was not enough to help place the latest measure onto the ballot for this year. Lawmakers were hoping that people would be able to vote to recognize same sex marriages on November 6, 2012, but the Colorado Same-Sex Marriage Amendment did not receive enough support to be included on the ballot. 

Civil Unions Are Still Possible

Although the latest effort to legalize same sex marriages has failed, the issue is not completely dead. The chance that legislation allowing civil unions for same sex couples still remains a possibility. Civil unions have a proponent in Senator Mark Udall, who would have supported marriage between two men or two women if he had been given the chance to vote for it. The same sex civil union is where Coloradans will concentrate their efforts from this day forward. 

Colorado Marriage Laws: What the State Constitution says…