"As expected, Senate committee passes Colorado civil unions bill" (fit in, sales)

[dittoCO]

I am thrilled with the progress that is being made in Colorado. I wonder about what the actual benefits are though. I haven't heard many details of this bill. I know the one that was debated last term had pretty watered down rights. For example, employers were able to opt out of offering same sex benefits, etc. Having said that any step forward is a good step.

As far as the bakery debate. My partner and I are currently planning our wedding (for April 28th, oh the irony!). I have been very up front will all vendors that we are a same sex couple. We've had a few vendors outright turn us down, many have never responded to inquiries and some have been open, accepting and excited. Guess who I want to hire? The ones who are excited for us! I don't understand the logic of forcing someone to do something they don't want to. Why would I want an unenthused baker to make my cake?

[julian17033]

Being a former Colorado resident for 22 years I celebrate this wholeheartedly.
Civil unions of course are not like Same sex marriage and same sex marriage is not yet receiving parity with heterosexual marriage due to DOMA remaining on the federal books for a short time longer.
Progress is progress however nonetheless and the more you see same sex marriage and civil unions become part of the country's landscape the more you see the opposition whither and disappear.

Look what happened to many the bigots that opposed same sex marriage after the last election.
They became overwhelmed with hopelessness and resolved that same sex marriage will be the law of the land no matter what they attempt to do to stop it.

Many of these religious based groups that spewed hate and anger towards the GLBT community concerning same sex marriage have shut down due to the writing on the wall.

Progress with civil unions will shortly led to Same sex marriage. Progress is progress my friends.

[dude_reino]

Just curious: you all DO realize that before this legislation, there was still nothing to stop two men from buying rings, ordering a cake, and exchanging vows of loyalty in front of their friends and family, right?

This law just bestows legal status. There was never any law against having a wedding.

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by dude_reino

Just curious: you all DO realize that before this legislation, there was still nothing to stop two men from buying rings, ordering a cake, and exchanging vows of loyalty in front of their friends and family, right?

This law just bestows legal status. There was never any law against having a wedding.

Gay people could have a wedding but it did not mean anything when it came to state laws.

[Prodigal Native]

Originally Posted by dude_reino

Just curious: you all DO realize that before this legislation, there was still nothing to stop two men from buying rings, ordering a cake, and exchanging vows of loyalty in front of their friends and family, right?

This law just bestows legal status. There was never any law against having a wedding.

In my experience, gay couples are not teenage girls who dream of the their wedding (oh, the flowers and the dress and everyone looking at ME), it is the legal status that is the key.

That said, I am sure that just like everyone else the pageantry of a wedding plays a role and with civil unions/gay marriage maybe even more so as they are finally able celebrate the fact that they are finally being treated (closer to) equally, but to think that is the important part is just plain ignorant.

[dude_reino]

Yeah that was my point...all this talk about buying cakes and such. I just didn't know if the lack of civil unions ever stopped two men from exchanging vows, etc.

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by Prodigal Native

In my experience, gay couples are not teenage girls who dream of the their wedding (oh, the flowers and the dress and everyone looking at ME), it is the legal status that is the key.

That said, I am sure that just like everyone else the pageantry of a wedding plays a role and with civil unions/gay marriage maybe even more so as they are finally able celebrate the fact that they are finally being treated (closer to) equally, but to think that is the important part is just plain ignorant.

Oh its both. The legal status is key but once we have it I am looking forward to the day I meet the special guy and get married. I plan on having the wedding of the year in Pueblo most likely at the Pueblo Convention Center or along the Riverwalk in the carriage house.

[bluescreen73]

I wanna start off by saying I personally don't have a problem with Civil Unions or bestowing legal status upon same-sex partnerships.

What I do have a problem with is one party in a two-party system having a stranglehold on 2/3 of the branches of government. It makes a complete mockery of the system of checks and balances and only serves to pour gas on the hyperpartisan divide that exists in this country. In this situation neither party gives a rip about a majority of the constituency. They simply use their power to prioritize and pass pet project legislation they know wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell in an environment of bipartisanship. For the record, I don't like the Democrats running the State Capitol & Governor's Mansion any more than I liked watching GW Bush and his rubber stamp legislature in DC. With only two dominant parties, this setup is bad regardless of which party wields control.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Scott5280

Will Perkins is probably huffing gas at this point. LOL.

I keep wondering when Focus on the Family will finally give up on CO and move to Texas!

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

Oh its both. The legal status is key but once we have it I am looking forward to the day I meet the special guy and get married. I plan on having the wedding of the year in Pueblo most likely at the Pueblo Convention Center or along the Riverwalk in the carriage house.

My partner (of 16 years) and I plan to "make it legal", but neither of us want a wedding ceremony. Weddings seem to me more of a thing for women to feel like a princess for a day lol! And a HUGE waste of money. I really don't get the whole wedding thing.