Civil union bill heads to the House: The time has come for you to stand up for your rights

Once again your community needs you.

Yes. You.

The Colorado Civil Union Act, a piece of legislation that would establish civil unions here, will go before a Republican controlled committee at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, May 3 in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the state house.

Prior to that, at high noon, One Colorado, the state’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, will host a rally in front of the Denver City and County Building.

A little more than a year ago, we asked you to join hundreds of your brothers and sisters at a similar rally to make your desire for equal rights known through the hollowed halls of the Colorado Capitol. More than 300 supporters showed up. And despite the community’s best effort, a Republican controlled committee killed the legislation that would have granted more than a dozen rights and responsibilities to hard working, tax paying, Coloradans — both gay and straight.

So, you might think there’s no point in showing up again. They’ve already told us “no.”

But that is exactly why we must stand taller, fight harder, scream louder.

The Colorado Civil Union Act has a real chance of becoming a reality.

There are more than enough votes to pass the bill if it reaches the full floor of the House. It is expected that all Democratic members — there’s 32 of them — and at least three Republicans — Reps. Kevin Priola, Robert Ramirez and Laura Bradford — will vote for the bill.

All it will take is one Republican vote on the House Judiciary Committee to make the dreams of thousands of committed Colorado families to become a reality.

“Is there hope?” one of our Twitter followers asked us.

There’s always hope. And this time hope’s name is Rep. Brian DelGrosso of Loveland. DelGrosso, unlike other Republicans on the committee, has vocalized the possibility his ‘nay’ can become an ‘yea.’ He’s asked proponents of civil unions to explain how that form of relationship recognition is better than a designated beneficiary contract, but not marriage — Colorado’s constitution defines marriage between one man and one woman.

A legitimate question with legitimate answers.

First, a designated beneficiary contract can be between any two unmarried Coloradans — including brother and sister, cousins, children and parents. The beneficiary contract is mostly an estate planning tool. It does allow some limited medic decision making. But it pretty much ends there.

Meanwhile, a civil union contract, in the words of bill sponsor Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, opens up dozens of rights and responsibilities to two loving and committed Coloradans, regardless of gender, that are afforded to heterosexual spouses. That includes but is not limited to: adoption rights, dissolution strategies, pre-nuptial agreements and extending laws to same-sex couples regarding domestic violence.

Where civil unions fall short: joint tax filing, relationship recognition in all 50 states and access to nearly a thousand federal benefits.

Rep. DelGrosso, the other Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee — the entire state for that matter — need to to hear this. They also need to hear how we as an LGBT community will support those who support us.

If you can’t make it to the rally — and we strongly urge you make whatever arrangements necessary to do so —  and the subsequent hearing, then please either call or email Rep. DelGrosso and the other GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee.

Here is a list of contact information compiled by local gay activist Dan Gonzales via BoxTurtleBulletin.com:

• Rep. Brian Delgrosso, HD-51 Loveland, brian@briandelgrosso.com, 303-866-2947, Facebook profile
• Rep. BJ Nikkel, HD-49 Loveland, rep.nikkel@gmail.com, 303-866-2907
• Rep. Mark Waller, HD-15 Colorado Springs, mark.waller.house@state.co.us , 303-866-5525, Facebook profile
• Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, HD-65 Sterling, jerry.sonnenberg.house@state.co.us and Jerry@RepSonnenberg.com, 303-866-3706, Facebook profile
• Rep. Mark Barker, HD-17 Colorado Springs, mark.barker.house@state.co.us and mark@markbarker.org, 719-339-8265 and 303-866-3069, Facebook profile
• Rep. Bob Gardner, HD-21 Colorado Springs, bob.gardner.house@state.co.us, 303-866-2191

PrideFest is exactly 45 days away. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have something to really be proud about? Win or lose this battle, if you fight for your rights, you will.