A few weeks ago, we told you of a lawsuit filed by nine same-sex couples against the governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, as well as Denver’s city clerk. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. The governor has never come right out and said that he approves of same-sex marriage. However, that changed this month.
A press release from One Colorado, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group, issued a press release that had a statement from Gov. Hickenlooper at the bottom. It said that equal rights were due to all Coloradans and that the state, in recognizing civil unions, had taken a “historic step forward.” However, the governor’s statement went even further. The last line of the statement said that “every adult couple should also have the freedom to join in marriage.”
A spokesman for the governor was asked what prompted the change. The response was that “the quote in the press release speaks for itself.” Critics of Gov. Hickenlooper are not too happy with the manner in which he chose to address his change in his stance on same-sex marriage. A representative of a conservative Colorado group said that she really didn’t expect the governor to stand up and say, “This is what I believe.” Instead, she said that this quiet statement was in keeping with the governor’s style.
Gov. Hickenlooper has always expressed his belief that same-sex couples should have the same rights as opposite-sex couples, but has never quite come out and said that he supported same-sex marriage. That has now changed, although there has yet to be a direct statement to the press about the change.
For those couples who have questions regarding same-sex marriage, civil unions, child custody or support matters, you may find that an experienced Colorado family law attorney’s advice is beneficial.
Source: 9News, “Hickenlooper quietly comes out for same-sex marriage” Brandon Rittiman, Mar. 04, 2014