Colorado: Civil Unions bill stalls

Colorado's civil unions bill stalled tonight due to the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee, who refused to approve the bill for consideration by the full chamber.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper had urged the committee to advance the bill, which was approved by the state Senate last week.

One Colorado reports via press release: “Today’s vote was out of touch with everyday Colorado voters. With 72% of Coloradans in support of civil unions, House Republicans are out of the mainstream,” said Brad Clark, Executive Director of One Colorado, a statewide LGBT advocacy organization. “Once again, they have turned their backs on Colorado families and kids.”

According to polls, support for civil unions is high. A February 2011 poll by Public Policy Polling found that 72% of Colorado voters support legal recognition of gay and lesbian couples.

Additionally, a Greenberg Quinlan Rosner poll conducted in 2010 found support for civil unions across political parties and religious affiliations, including 61% of Republicans, 84% of independents, 70% of Catholics, 67% of Protestants, and 55% of “born again Christians.”

Earlier today, a group of anti-gay Christians gathered at the state capitol building for a prayer vigil opposing the bill while pro-gay supporters held their own rally nearby.

The coalition advocating for civil unions includes more than 100 organizations representing nearly 1 million Coloradans.

All 5 Democrats on the Committee voted for the bill, while all 6 Republicans on the committee voted against the it. Republican Representatives Brian DelGrosso, Jerry Sonnenberg and B.J. Nikkel, considered moderates on the committee, took long pauses before submitting their "no" votes Thursday night.

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UGH!