Colorado House Republicans on Thursday voted against allowing a bill that would grant civil unions to same-sex couples to go before the full House, effectively killing the bill, according to 9news.com. Even though the measure passed the Colorado Senate by a vote of 23-12 last week, House Judiciary Committee members decided not to let the bill advance by a vote of 6-5.
Rep. Mark Ferrandino, the bill’s openly gay sponsor, has not lost hope at securing the right for gays and lesbians in Colorado to enter into civil unions. Ferrandino told supporters, “In my mind this issue is simple. Everyone should have civil rights. Whatever the outcome is, know this: Civil unions are not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when,” according to 9news.
Further west, The Seattle Times reported on Wednesday that the Washington State legislature approved House Bill 1649, which will recognize legal same-sex unions, including marriages, performed in other jurisdictions as domestic partnerships under Washington law.
The fate of the bill now rests with Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire.
