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News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyNovember 9th, 2012
Rep Ferrandino testifying to a committee in support of civil unions during the 2012 legislative session. Photo by me.
Last legislative session Republican House Speaker Frank McNulty killed 30+ bills at the end of the session rather than allow a civil unions bill to reach the floor of the House. At the time the Republicans held a one vote majority in the Colorado House.
McNulty covered in political flop-sweat and desperation explaining to the Capitol press pool his decision to kill 30+ bills rather than allow civil unions to reach the floor. Photo by Sean Mullins of OutFront Colorado.
Gay supporters were livid by McNulty’s willingness to allow government to break down in such a way just to stop civil unions and formed a group, Fight Back Colorado dedicated to re-taking the House majority. Fight Back targeted three vulnerable races and on Tuesday night successfully unseated all three GOP Reps. Not only that but Dems won almost every contested seat and now control the House 37-28, in addition to retaining control of the Senate and governorship (which wasn’t up this election).
Outgoing Speaker McNulty congrats Ferrandino on Thursday.
McNulty was replaced yesterday by Mark Ferrandino, who is our first openly gay Speaker Of The House and also happens to represent my district.
The path has been cleared for civil unions to pass in 2013.
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F Young
November 9th, 2012
Why not go all the way, for marriage?
Daniel Gonzales
November 9th, 2012
CO has a voter enacted constitutional amendment that prohibits marriage but says nothing about civil unions. We just don’t have the numbers currently to roll that back.
Once civil unions are in place (and providing some much needed protections in the meantime) work can begin on the next step.
Steve
November 9th, 2012
There is a constitutional amendment preventing that
jerry
November 9th, 2012
The four victories in the other states should give the community a much needed boost of confidence that equality is achievable.
The results of this election for all of the residents of Colorado are good ones. It wasn’t just equality for gays that was important.
Lindoro Almaviv
November 9th, 2012
I think it is not only wonderful news, but one more ecample to anti-equality reps that being an ass just so people are not treated equally under the law is suicidal.
Timothy Kincaid
November 9th, 2012
Daniel,
Thanks for the on-site report.
McNulty/Ferrandino held off fairness for one year and in the process painted their party as extremists and cruel.
I doubt that is a trade off that many Party leaders anticipated or wanted. And it was a foolish concession to a vocal extreme small-minded minority of their own constituents against the wishes of the vast majority of their own party.
Not only did constituents support civil unions but so did some members of their own fellow legislators. At least two Republican house members and three Senators supported the bill. And against all this support they arrogantly said, “not on my watch”.
So they were relieved of their watch.
Some day they’ll learn. Or maybe not, and we’ll just say, “Remember when there used to be a Republican Party?”
JohnAGJ
November 9th, 2012
Good riddance to the old speaker and congrats to the new.
Hyhybt
November 10th, 2012
“Some day they’ll learn. Or maybe not, and we’ll just say, “Remember when there used to be a Republican Party?——It’s been said before; just this week I heard it on an episode of “Lum & Abner” from Truman’s inauguration. Something like this:
“What’s an inauguration?”
“It’s when every four years they swear in a Democratic president.”
“Remember when they used to have those, what were they called, Republicans?”
“No, but then you’re older than I am.”
In all seriousness, this is heartening news.
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