Colorado community leaders declare their support for marriage equality

On March 20, advocates, lawmakers, and religious leaders from around the state spoke out in solidarity for the right of gay and lesbian couples to get married in Colorado.

One of those leaders was Rhonda Fields, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Colorado House of Representatives and the first African American woman to represent House District 42 in Aurora.

“If a committed couple here in Colorado wants to build a family through marriage,” said Fields in a press release, “we should not judge them or stand in their way. That’s why I am proud to join the growing majority of Coloradans — and the majority of African Americans nationwide  — who support marriage for all of our families.”

Rosemary Rodriguez, a Denver Public School Board member, said marriage equality would benefit families and children of same-sex couples.

“I have met many same-sex couples and their families who are impacted every day by their inability to marry in our state,” Rodriguez said. “Parents have expressed the need to protect their children—and without marriage, they do not have access to these protections. It is my duty as a community leader to advocate for these families.”

The announcement of support was made through Why Marriage Matters Colorado, a coalition of local and national organizations including One Colorado, Freedom to Marry and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

“We know that our allies are critically important to any success in the LGBT community,” said Dave Montez, executive director at One Colorado. “But especially on this issue [marriage equality] where it’s critically important that we see community leaders and civil rights leaders standing in solidarity with the LGBT community.”

Other advocates who voiced their affirmation of marriage equality include former Colorado House Speaker Terrance Carroll, Colorado Latino Forum Executive Director Amanda Gonzalez and Jewish community leader Rabbi Steven Foster.

“They represent what we’re seeing more and more,” said Montez, “which is that support for gay and lesbian families is on the rise here in Colorado and in other parts of the country.”

Public Policy Polling released a report last month that revealed 56 percent of Colorado voters now support same-sex marriage, with only 36 percent opposed — the highest it’s ever been.

In addition, 71 percent of voters under the age of 45 believe same-sex marriage should be legal.

“These community and civil rights leaders are standing up and saying this [marriage equality] is important to us,” said Montez. “It’s another part of the equation that’s leading folks to support the freedom to marry for everyone.”

But despite the recent surge in support both locally and nationally for gay marriage, Montez emphasized that there is still a lot of work to secure marriage equality in Colorado.

“Now is the time to keep pushing. Now is the time to keep having conversations, especially with people who you may think are already supportive but you don’t know.”

“The finish line is in sight,” added Montez, “but we’re not quite yet past it.”