Three gay related amendments on the ballot this year--that is.

From 365gay:

Electors will get to vote on two pro-gay and one anti-gay amendments to the Colorado state constitution in November.

Secretary of State Gigi Dennis has certified that a proposed amendment by Coloradans for Fairness and Equality has enough signatures to proceed to the ballot.

The proposed amendment, to be labeled on the ballot at Amendment 45, declares that domestic partnerships are not marriages.

The measure is considered a companion to one approved by the legislature earlier this year that would legalize civil unions in Colorado. Legislature backed amendments do not need the collection of signatures and is guaranteed a place on the ballot.

It also would place limits on the third ballot measure, one that would amend the constitution to ban same-sex marriage in the state. That measure was backed by the conservative Coloradans for Marriage a group associated with Focus on the Family, the Colorado Springs group that fights LGBT issues across the country.

Coloradans for Marriage submitted an estimated 131,000 signatures to Dennis' office last week and also has been certified to appear on the ballot.

LGBT activists fearing that if the marriage amendment passes it could be used to thwart the legislature ballot question leading to the Fairness and Equality amendment.

If the civil unions amendment passes it would allow same-sex couples to jointly hold property have rights of inheritance and be jointly liable for debt. It also would mean couples would be able to have duo dependent health and life insurance policies; family leave benefits; protection under domestic-violence laws; and the right to make medical-care decisions about a partner.

Coloradans for Marriage has said that it does not believe its marriage ban amendment would affect domestic partnerships and it has not taken an official position on the same-sex partner measure.

But a legal analysis for the legislature said that the marriage amendment could be used to argue in court against partner benefits.

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 at 2:24 PM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.