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Hickenlooper Signs Civil Unions Bill

by KREX News Room
by Kristina Kuestner

Story Created: Mar 21, 2013 at 5:02 PM MDT

Story Updated: Mar 21, 2013 at 5:02 PM MDT

DENVER (AP)- Civil unions for gay couples has been signed into law in Colorado in a dramatic turnaround for the state, where voters banned same-sex marriage in 2006 and restricted protections for gays 21 years ago.

Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper signed the bill as dozens of gay couples looked on and cheered during a ceremony Thursday near the state Capitol.

The law takes effect May 1.

Colorado joins eight states that have civil unions or similar laws. Nine states and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage.

The passage in Colorado is particularly remarkable because of its gay-marriage ban, and because voters approved a ban on municipal anti discrimination laws to protect gays in 1992.

Some branded Colorado a ``hate state'' at the time, and the U.S. Supreme Court found the law unconstitutional four years later.

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GJ Native said on Saturday, Mar 23 at 4:04 PM

Well said DV

DV said on Saturday, Mar 23 at 8:16 AM

I believe this is about being "forced" to accept and agree with something that I don't support or agree with (in other words, breaking the law if I don't agree with that choice of lifestyle), not about being forced to marry someone of the same sex. It's about a certain group of people who want to force everyone to accept and agree with their lifestyle and if you don't, then like GJ Native said, you're labeled a "biggot", and this seems to be how the majority of homosexuals feel about those of us who don't agree with their lifestyle. I say "most" because I do know a few (very few) who do respect others' choice of not agreeing with their choice of lifestyle. God bless EVERYONE

Disgusted said on Friday, Mar 22 at 10:55 PM

History is a good indicator of where this is heading and with humans, past performance is a good indicator of future results.

Scott said on Friday, Mar 22 at 10:04 PM

Right. So nothing is actually happening yet, its always "it's going to happen". No one is actually being forced to do anything they don't want to do. People are just learning about other lifestyles and finding out they're people too. The horror. Sheesh.

GJ Native said on Friday, Mar 22 at 9:43 PM

It's coming Scott, one this is the norm, nothing will stop it. It is forced it's in every movie, T.V. show, it's being taught in schools with the new sex ed agenda, the repel of Don't ask Don't tell, and if you don't agree 100% with it your labeled a bigot. It's horrible and it's destroying our country, and culture.

Scott said on Friday, Mar 22 at 7:56 PM

If you aren't gay, then this bill doesn't affect you in the slightest. Or does someone else getting married have some effect on you? I'd really like an explanation. The whole "force their lifestyle on everyone else" gets thrown around a lot, but no one can ever point to any instance of someone actually being forced to marry someone of the same sex.

DV said on Friday, Mar 22 at 6:13 PM

I don't hate anyone who chooses that kind of lifestyle, but I do not support it and I am not gay. This is not about "equality", it's about a group of certain people who want to FORCE their beliefs and lifestyle on the rest of us, especially those of us who don't support it.

GJ Native said on Friday, Mar 22 at 3:20 PM

I wonder how long it will take before we are San Francisco. Where it's not safe to take your children outside, because the gays are having sex in public.

Bye said on Friday, Mar 22 at 1:17 PM

Welcome to Colorado, if you don't like it here you are free to leave, and take your 1955 mentality w/ you.:) Times they are a changing. Yes!

GJ Native said on Friday, Mar 22 at 11:36 AM

Welcome to Colorado, we will take away your 2nd Amendment rights, give you dope, and let you marry your buddy! Sounds like a new tourism slogan to me. We are actually worse than California. Gotta love the new left wing toilet we have become!

Scott said on Friday, Mar 22 at 11:07 AM

Right, because there are SO many gay people in Colorado that the increase in paperwork is going to cause budget shortfalls. How much of an increase do you seriously think this is going to cause? Isn't the party line that there aren't enough gay people for this to matter even allowing?

Fugg said on Friday, Mar 22 at 9:45 AM

Now we can look forward to tax increases and price increases to pay for the benefits.

Bye said on Friday, Mar 22 at 5:37 AM

DV---You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.:)

GJ Native said on Thursday, Mar 21 at 11:41 PM

Time to fire Hickenlooper and the rest of the liberal whack jobs! These people are dangerous!

GJ Native said on Thursday, Mar 21 at 11:34 PM

Gross gross gross. Truly a sad day in Colorado.

Dillard Jenkins said on Thursday, Mar 21 at 8:20 PM

If someone wants to have sex with a plant it would raise a few questions about their knowledge of biology. Perhaps DV can explain to us how that is done. Never mind, I don't care to think about that, I haven't reached that level of perversion.

Scott said on Thursday, Mar 21 at 7:44 PM

DV - Are you gay? Then why do you care whether two consenting adults can enter into a civil contract or not?

BN said on Thursday, Mar 21 at 7:14 PM

What a great day. Equality is finally coming for all.

DV said on Thursday, Mar 21 at 6:38 PM

Truly a sad day in Colorado. So what's next? "civil unions" for family members? Those who want to have relations with animals? Heck why don't we just have a civil union for those who want to have relations with their plants.

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