Colorado: State senate passes civil unions bill for gay couples

The Colorado Senate passed its civil unions bill today by a vote of 21-14.

Yay!  Happy dance!

The Denver Post reports:

Democrats control the Senate 20-15 so there was no doubt about the outcome of Senate Bill 11.

Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, said he couldn't support the bill because a civil-unions like measure on the 2006 ballot failed in his county 75-25 percent.

Lawmakers often are silent during the official vote, simply voting "yes" or "no," but often on high-profile bills there is another round of debate before the vote. But there was no further debate today, perhaps because it was the third time in three years the Senate has debated the measure.

The bill in 2011 and 2012 died in the Republican-controlled House, last year after a dramatic night with only one day left in the session. With Democrats now in the majority in the House, the bill is expected to pass, be signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper in March and become effective in May.