A Most Civil Union: One Colorado’s Pamela Thiele and Lauren Fortmiller

Pamela Thiele and Lauren Fortmiller are two names that are very well-known in the LGBT community of Colorado. ‘Civilly unionized’ in May of 2013, the couple has been champions of LGBT rights — specifically marriage equality and end-of-life care for senior citizens — for decades now.

Thiele and Fortmiller have consistently been on the frontlines for marriage equality. As spokespersons for One Colorado, they participated in the entire evolution of the Colorado Civil Union Act.

“We received our civil union at 12:08 on May 1,” Thiele tells Out Front. Since receiving their civil union, Fortmiller and Thiele agreed that the most positive changes have been the increase in protections and rights, especially when it comes to end-of-life care and family rights in the state where they live.

“It’s better to have some rights than no rights,” says Fortmiller.

Thiele and Fortmiller have received immense support from their church congregation since both their civil union and their holy union, one of the first to be performed in the Methodist sanctuary. “I have to say that our congregation has overwhelmingly supported us,” Thiele admits. “They voted to support equal rights.”

Fortmiller and Thiele now have civil and spiritual unions in Colorado, a civil union recognized in Vermont from 2002, and the two were married in Los Angeles in 2008. Although their relationship is legally recognized in some places, Fortmiller said there’s still an important piece missing. “Until we have marriage equality in all states, we are not living in one nation,” says Fortmiller. “We don’t have freedom when we’re speaking about gay rights.”

Thiele and Fortmiller are both extremely passionate about their activism, and though they are enjoying retirement and working on publishing books, they agree they will continue to “show up” and fight for gay rights wherever they are needed.

“We just show up,” Thiele says. “We’ve done a number of TV interviews, testified in front of state legislature, participated in rallies, you name it. We are specifically advocating for seniors and second LGBT parents.”

Another rights battle the couple has been fighting for some time involves the joint filing of taxes. Thanks to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, their California marriage is now recognized, and the new IRS rule applies to them. While they are now able to file jointly, they cannot receive the same benefits in Colorado. As Fortmiller said, they will continue to fight and advocate for causes they believe in until they have equal rights across the border.

For now, Fortmiller and Thiele are spending a lot of time advocating on behalf of their pastor, Rev. Eric Stader at the Christ Church United Methodist, who believes that civil unions deserve the same sanctity of marriage in the Methodist church.

The couple will undoubtedly continue to be center stage in Colorado’s LGBT community, pushing for gay rights throughout the state and on a national level.