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Colorado State House Committee Approves Civil Unions Bill

Friday, May 4th, 2012

A Republican controlled House Judiciary Committee has approved a bill to establish civil unions in Colorado. The bill, sponsored by gay Denver Democrats Sen. Pat Steadman and Rep. Mark Ferrandino, passed 6-5 with support from Republican Rep. B.J. Nikkel of Loveland.

Nikkel, the House Whip, voted against the bill last year. “It was simply the right thing to do,” Nikkel said after the vote.

The bill is expected to clear all other committees, and become law if it reaches the full House floor by time the Colorado General Assembly is set to adjourn May 9. Scheduling the bill for a vote is up to House Leadership, Republicans who have voiced opposition to the bill.

At least three additional House Republicans have gone on record saying they’ll vote for the bill if it reaches the full floor: Reps. Kevin Priola, Robert Ramirez, and Laura Bradford.

Ferrandino said there is plenty of time to get the bill to Gov. John Hickenlooper who has vowed to sign the bill.

READ MORE at LGBTQ Nation

WA: House Committee Hearing on Marriage Equality Bill Today

Monday, February 6th, 2012

Washington Marriage EqualityA House committee is set to hold a final hearing on a measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state, setting the stage for final passage this week.

If the House Judiciary committee advances the measure after hearing it Monday, it could be up for a vote on the House floor as early as Wednesday. The Senate passed the measure on a 28-21 vote last Wednesday. Once passed by the House, the bill goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire for her signature.

Full Story from the Seattle PI

Click here for gay wedding resources in Washington State.

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NH: House Committee Passes Marriage Equality Repeal Measure

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

New Hampshire Gay Marriage RepealThe New Hampshire House Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday in favor of repealing the Granite State’s 15-month marriage-equality law, according to the Associated Press.

In an 11 to 6 vote, the committee approved House Bill 437, which would ban same-sex marriage and instead offer a form of civil unions for any unmarried adults. The committee rejected a second proposed bill that would just repeal gay marriage without offering any legal benefits for unmarried couples.

State Rep. David Bates (R-Windham), sponsored HB437 and said the legislation would not apply to currently married gay couples, which has amounted to approximately 1,500, according to AP.

Full Story from the Washington Independent

Click here for gay wedding resources in New Hampshire.

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RI: Civil Unions Bill Advances Out of House Panel on 9-3 Vote

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

Rhode Island Civil Unions BillA same-sex civil union bill in Rhode Island passed the House Judiciary Committee late this afternoon by a vote of 9-3 and will now head to the full House.

Marriage equality advocates are unhappy because it will set up a two-class, separate and not equal system, and anti-gay advocates are unhappy because it’s a “stepping stone” to marriage equality.

Full Story from Towleroad.com

Click here for gay marriage resources in Rhode Island.

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RI: House Committee to Vote on Civil Unions Bill Tuesday

Friday, May 13th, 2011

Rhode Island Civil UnionsA bill granting gay and lesbian couples the same rights as heterosexual couples will soon face its first legislative test next week.

The House Judicial Committee will vote on the civil union bill, stopping short of full marriage recognition, on Tuesday. If the bill passes the committee it will move to the full House for consideration. The proposal comes after a similar bill offering full marriage lacked the votes needed to pass.

“We tried passing full marriage recognition in Rhode Island, but we failed,” Nancy Applebome, a self-described gay advocate and student at Brown University, told Politically Illustrated. “We circled back and now we’re trying to pass a basic civil union bill so gay and lesbian couples can at least receive most of the rights offered to straight couples.”

Full Story from Politically Illustrated

Click here for gay marriage resources in Rhode Island.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Maryland House Committee Passes Transgender Bill

Friday, March 25th, 2011

Maryland Transgender BillThis morning a Maryland House committee voted 15-8 to advance its Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act to the full chamber. Equality Maryland reports via press release:

House Bill 235 would add gender identity to the state’s anti-discrimination laws in the area of employment, housing, and credit. The subcommittee approved a few non-substantive amendments which the lead sponsor, Equality Maryland, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force all found them to be relatively inconsequential.

They committee also modified the definition of gender identity within the bill. This definition will provide protection both for a person’s gender identity, as well as the way in which they express their gender in terms of presentation.

Full Story from Joe.My.God

Click here for gay marriage resources in Maryland.

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MD: Marriage Equality Bill Likely to Pass House Committee Tuesday

Monday, February 28th, 2011

A bill giving gay and lesbian couples the same rights as their counterparts is set to pass an important House committee on Tuesday after the bill passed the Senate last week.

“We have nearly 68 delegates willing to support the measure,” Thom Shanker, a gay rights advocate in Maryland, told Politically Illustrated. “We only need a few more to guarantee that gay and lesbian couples in Maryland receive the same rights as straight couples.”

The bill needs the support of 22 delegates to pass the committee – sponsors of the bill hold 12 of the committee’s 22 seats, making the chance of passage cocksure. But approval by the full House is still uncertain.

Full Story from Politically Illustrated

Click here for gay marriage resources in Maryland.

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NH: House Panel to Vote on Gay Marriage Ban This Week

Saturday, February 26th, 2011

New Hampshire Gay MarriageA House committee votes this week on two bills that would repeal New Hampshire’s gay marriage law.

The Judiciary Committee meets Tuesday to decide whether to hold onto the bills until early next year or to recommend that the full House act on them by the end of March. The sponsors asked the committee to retain the bills so lawmakers can focus on fiscal issues.

Nearly 600 people signed up to testify at a hearing on the issue with most opposed to repeal. Many urged the committee to put the issue to rest this session.

Full Story from WCAX

Click here for gay marriage resources in New Hampshire.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

WY: House Committee Passes Gay Marriage Ban Bill

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Wyoming Gay Marriage BanBy a vote of 6-3, the Wyoming House Judiciary Committee has decided in favor of a resolution that would allow Wyoming voters to choose whether to change that states constitution to ban same-sex marriages.

According to KJCT channel 8 news, the proposed constitutional amendment would only recognize marriages between one man and one woman in the state and specify Wyoming will not recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

The resolution now goes to the full House for consideration.

Full Story from Lez Get Real

Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

RI: House Committee to Hear Marriage Equality Bill

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

House lawmakers will take up a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Rhode Island.

The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear testimony on the bill Wednesday.

The legislation has been introduced several times over the years, but failed as it faced opposition from previous Republican Gov. Don Carcieri and former legislative leaders.

Full Story from the Boston Herald

Click here for gay marriage resources in Rhode Island.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.