Pat Steadman
Colorado State Senator Sen. Pat Steadman
This November, Coloradans will play a critical role in which way direction our nation progresses – or as we see it, possibly regresses.
Colorado has eight out state legislative candidates on the ballot this year – five new faces and three incumbents. Colorado’s other out legislator, Sen. Lucia Guzman, D-Denver, is not up for re-election this year. Two of the candidates, Democratic Sen. Pat Steadman, the incumbent, and Republican Michael Car, in a race for the first time, are running against each other. If 7 of the 8 candidates win, 8 of Colorado’s 100 seats in the General Assembly will be held by out LGBT candidates, giving Colorado one of the top 3 most LGBT-inclusive legislatures in the U.S.
Mourning his late partner, state Sen. Pat Steadman, told a standing room only audience he’s mission to pass a civil union bill is urgent.
Misner was often in attendance while Steadman fought for the bill, and elsewhere Misner appeared regularly at Steadman’s side – a familiar face for many at the Capitol and in the community – warm, caring, funny and down-to-earth. Hard to spot without a smile, Misner’s demeanor was contagious. Whenever Dave showed up unannounced, Pat was smiling too. Everybody was.
When I first heard Michael Carr was being courted by the Republican Party to run against state Sen. Pat Steadman, I asked him, ‘are you sure you can handle the backlash? You do know what the gay mafia did to poor Brian Carroll, and he’s one of their own.’
No matter which major political party claims Colorado Senate District 31 in the November election, a gay man will represent those voters.
A group hoping to strip Speaker of the House Frank McNulty of his power raised $55,000 before going public with its intentions, campaign finance reports show.
Financed by a network of donors from across the country, leaders of the community coupled with a progressive coalition — including statewide LGBT advocacy organization One Colorado — will zero in on a handful of races they plan to win, giving the Democratic Party at least 36 seats in the House, according to multiple sources.
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.
In a shocking about-face, a Republican controlled House Judiciary Committee approved a bill to establish civil unions in Colorado Thursday night.
