Spring Break
Csu students write state legislation that would allow same-sex civil unions
Proposal review scheduled for May 11
Ryan Sheine
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: News
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The proposal will override current Colorado law that some feel "unconstitutionally" bars same-sex unions and is scheduled to go to the Review and Comments Board -- a committee unaffiliated with either the House of Representatives or Senate -- for review on May 11.
"(Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender peoples) should have the same rights as other citizens," said Craig, a sophomore political science major. "It's unfair for them to be treated like second-class citizens in the eyes of the government and the constitution."
"The goal is to give same sex couples the right to be in a civil union and receive the same benefits as straight, married couples," she added.
The Review and Comments Board will overview the resubmitted proposal and suggest any changes. If approved, the proposal will be submitted to Secretary of State Bernie Beuscher.
If Beuscher approves the measure on June 3, the Title Board within Beuscher's office will then review the proposal. It will verify that the legislation is single-subject and appropriately confined to its core idea, then providing final approval.
Should the secretary of state approve the petition, Craig, Peterson and fellow supporters are allowed to go gather the signatures required for the proposal to appear on the ballot in 2010.
A total of 76,047 signatures from registered Colorado voters are needed to get the measure on the ballot.
Peterson expects to collect at least double that number just to be safe.
"The most important thing is getting signatures," said Peterson, an openly gay member of the GLBT community and a sophomore political science and communications double major.
An opponent of the proposal, Kelly Carnal, president of the CSU College Republicans and a sophomore health and exercise science major, said she was "glad (the proposal is) not being pushed through on a federal level" but rather in individual states. "I wouldn't say I'm supportive of the new bill, but there are much more important things going on, like the economy," she said. "There are so many things that we should be concentrating on even though I know people feel like this is a big deal."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Joe Peterson
posted 5/08/09 @ 10:11 AM MST
If you would like to get involved in the campaign in anyway please e-mail me at Joe@cofamilyequality.com. We'll finally start collecting signatures in late June and will continue until the end of the year and welcome all who believe this is something worth fighting for. (Continued…)
Mark Settle
posted 5/08/09 @ 10:15 AM MST
This is terrific news! Joe and Tara, kick some butt.
In an unfair and completely unrelated aside, I'd like to highlight that the College Republican quoted in opposition to this measure has a last name of "Carnal. (Continued…)
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