 Republican Colorado state Rep. B.J. Nikkel |
Marriage equality could be headed to Colorado, thanks to a Republican-controlled state House, Instinct Magazine reports. The state’s House Judiciary Committee passed the Civil Union Act.
Openly gay state Sen. Pat Steadman and Minority Leader Mark Ferrandino-sponsored Senate Bill 2, passed by a 6-5 vote following hours of testimony from gay and lesbian couples. One Colorado, a gay rights organization, stressed their voices’ importance to the process on its website. “Our stories, our families, and our community won over [state Rep.] B.J. Nikkel. And her vote underscores an incredible evolution in the Republican Party,” it reads.
Although vote fell along party lines, Nikkel, a Republican, cast the deciding ballot. She said she wanted the legislation to receive a fair vote by the entire House.
“I’ve said all along that I would make sure that we would give the bill a fair hearing. It’s a good thing for all of my colleagues to have the opportunity to have a say on this. They represent all of Colorado and I believe that the correct way to do this is through the representative form of government that we have right here,” Nikkel said.
The legislation’s next imminent hurdles are House Finance and House Appropriations hearings. Co-sponsor Ferradino was obviously pleased by the turn of events.
“Today was a huge step forward, where we saw that in this chamber, in this House, we now can say we have bipartisan support,” Ferradino said.
One Colorado Executive Director Brad Clark praised the committee’s move, heaping most praise on Nikkel.
“Today’s bipartisan vote is a tremendous victory for gay and lesbian couples across the state. We applaud Rep. Nikkel’s courageous vote for all families. She is the new face of the Republican Party,” Clark said.
Photo: weldgop.com
