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Colorado LGBT news from Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, High Country, Greeley, Pueblo and the Western Slope
Despite being given a second chance by Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Republican state House committee killed the Colorado Civil Union Act on a party-line vote, 6-5.
Gay and bisexual men face addiction at almost twice the rate as the straight population, said Steve D’Askoli, a project therapist for the Mile High Meth Project.
The MHMP, an organization that provides addiction treatment and prevention services to Coloradans coping with addictive disorders, will co-sponsor a June 9 symposium for gay and bisexual men struggling with stimulant drug use.
Rep. Mark Ferrandino will re-introduce the Colorado Civil Union Act May 14 during a special session of the Colorado General Assembly. But, the bill appears to be headed toward a swift death in the Republican controlled state House of Representatives.
“We are at an empasse at civil unions and that is not going to be resolved tonight,” Speaker of the House Frank McNulty said. “We attempted to work through several different scenarios.”
Past the point of no return: fate of Colorado civil union bill to be decided today by GOP leadership
The Colorado House of Representatives will have exactly 17 hours to either debate the Colorado Civil Union Act or let the clock run out on the bill that would establish legal protections for gay and lesbian Coloradans.
There’s light at the end of the tunnel for supporters of the Colorado Civil Union Act. But is it just the train? The bill that would establish civil unions here is in the hands of Republican leadership who oppose the bill.
In a shocking about-face, a Republican controlled House Judiciary Committee approved a bill to establish civil unions in Colorado Thursday night.
The Commission, which partners with the community to advance social, economic and political equality for GLBT people, came to the meeting with three goals.
Transgender individuals are still banned from service, and the military still does not recognize same-sex marriages – which means that health, housing and death benefits are not afforded to same-sex partners.
Moreover, many servicemembers discharged under DADT are opting to return to service – and some face bureaucratic hurdles upgrading their discharge status so they can re-enlist.
“Those things still have to be corrected,” said Kelly, “and AVER is an organization that’s looking to help advocate for those changes.”
The Colorado Senate today gave its first of two OKs to a bill to establish civil unions. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Pat Steadman, is expected to pass through the Senate tomorrow to the House where its future is uncertain.
