civil unions
The Colorado Civil Union Act, civil unions and relationship recognition in Colorado and the U.S.
The organization tracked nearly 4,000 couples that entered into civil unions and found couples still lacked promised protections
Civil unions in Colorado mean that LGBT relationships are more out in the open than ever before, but we were getting ‘married’ in the eyes of each other and our communities long before the state recognized same-sex relationships. Out Front will highlight a series of LGBT couples who have jumped the broom, tied the knot, got hitched or took the plunge – Danielle Jordan and her wife Cyndi Adams tell us their story first.
Before you take the plunge, there are a few things you probably want to know before May 1 when the Colorado Civil Union Act goes into effect.
The Colorado Civil Unions Act was a monumental victory for LGBT equality in Colorado, granting state–level rights and benefits comparable to marriage. Yet there are significant shortfalls in protections for couples with a Colorado civil union, cemented by Amendment 43 and the federal Defense Of Marriage Act.
An unenforced discrimination crime in Colorado is likely coming off the books under a bipartisan agreement inspired by the civil unions bill.
This publication – founded in 1976 and 37 years old this month – was just a twinkle in founder Phil Price’s eye when the birth pangs of our Colorado community sounded out 40 years ago, in October 1973.
Be prepared. For anything.
That’s the advice from half a dozen gay rights activists from across the nation who have been where Colorado’s gay and lesbian community is about to find itself: on the winning side of a long-fought political battle for relationship recognition.
Colorado now joins a growing number of states offering stronger relationship recognition to same-sex couples – from strong domestic partnership laws and civil unions, to full marriage equality.
Mindy Barton, Legal Director from The GLBT Community Center of Colorado, gives us the basics
