Denver Democrats Support SB 11-172

March 17, 2011
For Immediate Release:

Resolution of the Executive Committee of the
Democratic Party of Denver, March 15, 2011, Supporting Senate Bill 11-172,
The Colorado Civil Unions Act

DENVER - The Democratic Party of Denver Executive Committee on Tuesday, March 15th unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Colorado Civil Unions Act (SB 11-172), brought to the legislature by Sen. Pat Steadman and Rep. Mark Ferrandino.

The resolution, drafted by House District 4B Captain Gino Furzi and Co-Captain Michael Kadovitz, cited the importance of legal protections and equal application of the law, empowering couples to share in the responsibilities and benefits that most Coloradans take for granted.

“This is not a marriage equality issue” said Furzi, “this is a civil rights and fairness issue, allowing same-sex couples the same basic and critical legal protections as married couples. This will also put us in line with what our elected Democratic representatives are putting forth in the state senate. It puts us all on the same page, that our focus must be on what is attainable in order to move forward on this issue."

Kadovitz also added that there is misplaced opposition attempting to couch this as a religious issue. “To the contrary, if we look at the role religion has played in the advancement of civil rights in the this country, we need only to look to the example of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and the Reverend Martin Luther King, who used Scripture to include all Americans in the tapestry of our nation, as opposed to those who use their bibles to deny them. SB 11-172 will bring Colorado in the ranks of other states, and keeping the promise of equality and spirit of liberty as envisioned by the Founders of our great nation."

Of note is that SB 11-172 contains very specific provisions that address Colorado’s constitutional restrictions on the definition of marriage. Parties entering into civil unions would receive the same benefits that spouses receive under Colorado state law, but the bill expressly states that it would not create a legal status similar to a marriage, to include the barring of joint state income tax filings, unless there is a statutory change enacted. It also would not alter the public policy of defining marriage as between a man and a woman, nor would it required anyone to certify a civil union in violation of his or her free exercise of religion. Finally, Colorado would legally recognize any relationship such as a marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership legally entered into in another state.

The bill recently was referred to appropriations, and the Denver Democrats expect to pay close attention to its progress in order to rally around its passage.

Following is the full text of the Resolution passed on Tuesday:

WHEREAS civil unions provide committed couples access to important legal protections and equal application of the law, thus empowering couples to share in the responsibilities and benefits in Colorado law that most families take for granted. This legislation creates the process for forming and dissolving civil unions, and specifies the provisions of existing Colorado law that will apply to those making this commitment. 72% of Coloradan voters support legal recognition for same-sex couples.*

And WHEREAS a civil union is a form of state-level relationship recognition that provides same-sex couples with critical legal protections typically only extended to married couples, including access to medical care information and decision making, the ability to arrange proceedings related to a partner’s death, the right to be placed in the same room in a nursing home, access to health care coverage, inheritance without a will, the ability to change names, and more.

And WHEREAS these couples need the legal protections that civil unions provide as they face the worries of everyday life, including livelihood needs and insurance benefits, civil unions will expand their recognition so that committed couples can be responsible for each another.

And WHEREAS we recognize that the State of Colorado currently does not allow marriage between same-sex couples, we therefore strongly support civil unions in order to provide comprehensive protections to same-sex couples.

BE IT RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Denver therefore supports the passage of Colorado Senate Bill 172 – The Colorado Civil Union Act.

* According to a poll by Greenberg Quilan Rosner in January 2010

Media Contact
Cindy Lowery-Graber, Chair
The Democratic Party of Denver
303-830-8242 | 303-641-6671
chair@denverdemocrats.net

Julie Kronenberger, Secretary
The Democratic Party of Denver
303-830-8242 | 303-937-0660
secretary@denverdemocrats.net

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