🚀 go-pugleaf

[followups further narrowed]

In article <4i2rhi$ko0@csnews.cs.colorado.edu>, jill@alumni.cs.colorado.edu (Jill Lundquist) writes:
> [followups narrowed]
> 
> In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.960308103530.4357C-100000@spot.Colorado.EDU>,
> Mike Mills  <mills@spot.Colorado.EDU> wrote:
> >
> >Colorado House Bill 1291 limits the definition of marriage in Colorado to 
> >require that one partner be male and one be female.
> 
> ...
> would change in this state?  It already is not legal to marry
> two women or two men in Colorado, as in the rest of the US.  Does
> this bill have ramifications outside what happens in Hawaii?

It's my understanding that this bill will have no legal ramifications
until such a time that another state decides to permit same-sex
marriages.  In the event that same-sex marriage is allowed (in
Hawaii, for example), this law would attempt to insure that couples
married elsewhere would not be recognized as married in Colorado.

You're right that same-sex marriage is not possible in Colorado currently.

It is likely that these anti-same-sex-marriage laws will need to be
challenged in the courts to determine if they are constitutionally
valid.  The constitution, apparently, has "full faith and credit"
provisions requiring states to recognize legal contracts such as
marriage from other jurisdictions within the US.  I'm not at all
knowledgable about all the details.  I'm just going on what I've read
in various publications.

Editorial comments (not directed at Jill personally!):

Given that there is no pressing need for this law currently, I can't
imagine why Colorado would want to risk having to defend another anti-
gay piece of law before the supreme court right on the heels of
Amendment 2.

HB 1291 is yet another slap at the gay community.  As a gay person
in Colorado, the message this bill sends to me is:

    "You are not really welcome here.  We put up with you only
     if you keep to yourself and stay in the closet.  Just in
     case you get the idea that you might want to define yourselves
     as having a family, we're going to make sure to cut that idea off
     at the first opportunity.  Oh, by the way, your state income taxes
     and local property taxes are due."

( As you can see, I'm not at all bitter.  :-) )

Less emotionally, I see this bill as a way for the legislators to pander
to their fundamentalist constituents.  Apparently they believe that they
will be able to retain their elected offices more easily if they take
a stand against the gay community by legislating the fundamentalists
religious beliefs.  A sad statement about the priorities of our legislators,
in my opinion.  Furthering careers seems to be more important to them
than standing up for principles.

Take care,

Dave

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