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发帖数: 19713 | 1 Colorado Senate approves civil unions bill with final vote
Read more: Colorado Senate approves civil unions bill with final vote - The
Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22564850/colorado-senate-take-official-vote-civil-unions-bill#ixzz2KcVGh9LC
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A bill allowing gay couples to form civil unions passed the Senate this
morning on a 21-14 with Sen. Ellen Roberts of Durango providing the lone
Republican "yes" vote.
The Senate on Friday gave initial approval to the bill, which is sponsored
by two gay Denver Democrats, Sens. Pat Steadman and Lucia Guzman.
"Senate passing #civilunions 2day!" Guzman tweeted. "Can't say exactly how
long we've waited 4 this, but it feels like justice rolling down the
mountain #coleg."
Democrats control the Senate 20-1,5 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.
"I was ready," Steadman said.
There was a mini debate in 2011, the first year Steadman introduced his
civil unions bill.
Lawmakers knew that Sen. Jean White, R-Hayden, was a "yes" vote on the
measure, but she didn't come to the microphone during the debate. She did
before the official vote, and what White told her Senate colleagues left
some in tears.
She said she had been inspired by what she heard in the debate, including
remarks by Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, who said her brother Bill "lived
in the shadows." He didn't acknowledge he was gay until after he was 50
years old. Newell said her vote was for him.
"It occurred to me," White said, "that if I did not come to the mic in
support of this bill today, that I would be voting quietly for it but not
having the courage to stand up for what is right, not having the courage for
me to step out of the shadows and tell my story."
White told her colleagues she has a gay niece and a gay nephew "whom I have
loved from the moment they were born."
"My vote today is for love and respect and commitment," White said. "My vote
today is for my niece and my nephew."
But social conservatives used her support for civil unions against her in
her primary race in June, and she lost to Randy Baumgardner, R-Cowdrey, who
is expected to vote against the bill today.
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.
Read more: Colorado Senate approves civil unions bill with final vote - The
Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22564850/colorado-senate-take-official-vote-civil-unions-bill#ixzz2KcVSSfZc
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse | D**S
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