Colorado Same-Sex Marriage Amendment (2012)
| Not on Ballot |
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
A Colorado Same-Sex Marriage Amendment did not make the November 6, 2012 ballot in Colorado as an initiated constitutional amendment. The measure would have allowed for same-sex marriage in the state, overturning a 2006 ballot measure that defined marriage as between one man and one woman. The proposal was introduced by Mark Olmstead, who stated: "I think the attitudes in Colorado toward gay marriage have shifted since 2006."[1][2]
In September 2011, supporters announced that efforts to qualify the measure for the ballot were dropped.[3]
Support
Supporters
- According to Mark Olmstead, who was the sponsor of the measure: “I feel like it's time to start fighting for it here. I think Colorado has changed from then to now. I'm not entirely sure it's changed enough, but it's about time to start talking about it.”[4]
Opposition
Opponents
- Carrie Gordon Earll of the group Focus on the Family commented: “We have every confidence that the people of Colorado would affirm that vote again if an attempt to repeal marriage comes to the ballot."[4]
Media editorials
- According to The Boulder Daily Camera, they are against a citizen-initiative relating to same-sex marriage. In an editorial by Erika Stutzman, on behalf of the editorial board: "While philosophically we`re aligned with those who want to extend the right to civil, legal marriages to gay couples, practically we`d like to see this measure be crafted like other civil rights laws -- by lawmakers and ultimately upheld by the courts. One example: Extending voting rights to women might have been approved by the majority of voters -- who were all men. Or maybe not. It shouldn`t have mattered, and didn`t: Congress did the right thing."[5]
Path to the ballot
To get on the ballot, the measure's supporters must have collect 85,853 valid signatures by the August 6, 2012 petition drive deadline. On July 20, 2011, the state title board cleared the measure to begin circulation to collect signatures.[4]
See also
Additional reading
Footnotes
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Gay-marriage effort planned for Colorado's 2012 ballot," July 15, 2011
- ↑ Colorado Independent, "Colorado teen drops gay marriage initiative," September 8, 2011
- ↑ Greeley Gazette,"“Gay” marriage supporters abandon attempts to repeal ban in Colorado," September 20, 2011
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 On Top Magazine, "Colorado Gay Marriage Proponents Begin New Push To Overturn Ban," July 21, 2011
- ↑ Boulder Daily Camera, "Civil rights for minority groups shouldn`t be put to a vote," July 17, 2011
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