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Poll: 83% of Coloradans Support Relationship Equality
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In some great news for progressives and the GLBT community, a new Harris Interactive poll commissioned by GLAAD finds that Coloradans overwhelmingly approve legal recognition of same-sex partnerships.

  • About eight out of 10 Colorado adults (83%) say that gay and lesbian couples should either be able to marry, have all of the same rights as marriage, or be able to form domestic partnerships. Only 15% say there should be no legal recognition.
  • A slight majority of CO adults (51%) favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally marry. This represents greater support than among U.S. adults, where, according to the recently released national Pulse of Equality survey, opinion is evenly split.
  • Coloradans support gay and transgender-inclusive hate crimes laws (63%) and employment, housing and public accommodations non-discrimination laws (56%) for gay and transgender people. Such proposals are similar to those already enacted in Colorado, signaling clear public support for those policies.
  • Nearly three out of four (73%) of Coloradans also oppose attempts to ban qualified gay and lesbian couples from adopting. This finding suggests strong support for existing Colorado law that allows for second-parent adoption in the state.
  • Two-thirds of Colorado adults (66%) favor allowing openly gay military personnel to serve in the armed forces.

Looks like all of your effort in 2006 and beyond has really paid off.


Reader Comments

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Straight but not prejudiced
By Carolyn Dec 4th 2008 at 3:28 pm EST (Updated Dec 4th 2008 at 3:28 pm EST)
I am a 66 year old straight female and I think everyone should be able to form unions, get married, spiritually AND legally, and have families. Why should anyone be excluded from the basic rights?
  
Retired
By John Dec 4th 2008 at 4:01 pm EST (Updated Dec 4th 2008 at 4:01 pm EST)
This poll as the 1 in California and all others are BS. Check the other polls that have just come out that say the cultural shift has not happened. As long as the religious right can connect the question to religion instead of secular benefits, we will never - ever see equality. Equality comes when we hit their pocketbooks - when we fight for "Taxation WITH representation" when we can pay our taxes and get equal benefits. These people lie to the pollsters because they are religious & have moral pangs of misgivings for the hatred they sow; however, they will still walk into a election & vote against equality because we are "an abomination" right there with the other 869 verses of Liviticus -- including stoning out of control kids & selling women into slavery. We get pushed into the closet now; you are next -- whoever you are.
  
We need both civil and religious marriages
By Bob Owens Dec 4th 2008 at 4:20 pm EST (Updated Dec 4th 2008 at 4:20 pm EST)
I think the state should establish civil marriage which could be between opposite sex couples or same sex couples. Civil marriage should have all the protections and responsibilities afforded by current marriage laws. Religious marriages should be governed by the beliefs and practices of the religion or denomination solemnizing the marriage. Thus couples getting married would have a civil ceremony or procedure and might or might not have a separate religious ceremony, depending upon whether they were religious and if religious whether their religion or denomination agreed to solemnize their union. This is similar to the practices of France.
Re: We need both civil and religious marriages
By John Dec 4th 2008 at 6:48 pm EST (Updated Dec 4th 2008 at 6:48 pm EST)
We tried this with Ref I. We just asked for civil rights vs marriage rights. Same thing except we ceeded the word "marriage" to the religious right. Guess what? On a radio show Focus on the Family sent out their big guns and they said "It sounds like marriage, it looks like marriage; therefore it is marriage under another name. Their idea is to keep us under their feet so they can feel good about themselves & the choices they continue to make that leaves us with the last 8 years in Washinton & the next 30 years that it will take to undo the damage. No we will never get recognition for civil rights that resemble marriage -- "ain't gonna happen"

John
  
"Defending" Marriage
By MamaG Dec 4th 2008 at 5:43 pm EST (Updated Dec 4th 2008 at 5:43 pm EST)
One of the most maddening arguments in the fight against equal rights for gay marriage is the concept of "defending" straight marriage or "defending" families, as evidenced by the Prop 8 debacle in California.

I am a straight woman happily married - now. I have compelling evidence that allowing gay marriage will actually strengthen straight marriage, as opposed to some people's contention that it harms it somehow.

In my first marriage, I was married to an angry man, a man who abused me, a man who was unhappy with his seemingly picture perfect family and life. Turns out he was gay. He didn't want to be, he fought it all his life, but it was a losing battle. When we all finally figured out what the problem was, we divorced. My feeling is that if society accepts gay marriage and allows more respect for the existance of homosexuality, perhaps my first husband wouldn't have felt to compelled to hide who he is and to marry someone he couldn't really love. Divorce could have been avoided.

He is a loving father to his two children and I want him to be a role model to them. Perhaps one or both of our children will have inherited his gay genetics. I want them to not have to go through the agony that he did. I want there to be societal acceptance of a trait that can't be changed just like left-handedness or physical stature.

I had felt a little more optimistic of attitudes changing until the passage of Prop 8. The fight for equal rights is still a long way from victorious. I will fight it on behalf of all my gay brothers and sisters and especially for my children, no matter who they love when they grow up!
  
No way
By Shannon Dec 4th 2008 at 5:43 pm EST (Updated Dec 4th 2008 at 5:43 pm EST)
I don't believe it. Remember Referendum i?? It got voted down. I don't think opinion has changed that much in this short span of time, though it is nice, wishful thinking.
  
Great news
By blit Dec 4th 2008 at 6:05 pm EST (Updated Dec 4th 2008 at 6:05 pm EST)
I find these poll numbers very positive and encouraging, and believe these positive numbers will only go up, in Colorado and nationally.
Good on ya, neighbors!
  
They All Lied
By User from Arvada, CO Dec 4th 2008 at 7:55 pm EST (Updated Dec 4th 2008 at 7:55 pm EST)
They probably all lied. They say one thing outside the voting booth and vote another way when they get in there!! Isn't that what happened with prop 8? Isn't that what happened with amendment 2? we didn't think they would pass based on the poles, but the poles lied.
  
Start our own defense of marriage proposition
By User from Arvada, CO Dec 4th 2008 at 8:02 pm EST (Updated Dec 4th 2008 at 8:02 pm EST)
Watch this:

Link

I think it would be a good idea to start our own defense of marriage initiative!!
Re: Start our own defense of marriage proposition
By John Dec 5th 2008 at 6:02 pm EST (Updated Dec 5th 2008 at 6:02 pm EST)
I think you are on the right track. As long as we keep begging for rights that are ours because we were born here, lived here, worked here or anywhere & paid taxes because we are US citizens then we will keep getting kickec in the butt. I have been advocating an amendment to the constitution that goes like this " Marriage is between 1 man & 1 woman 1 time" That way the religious nuts have to defend marriage & fight amonst themselves as well as showing the world how hypocritical they are
  
Same rights for all
By Samantha Dec 5th 2008 at 1:02 am EST (Updated Dec 5th 2008 at 1:02 am EST)
I agree with Carolyn but then I have felt this way since I was in my late teens. I am a straight white female, now 72, and nothing has changed in my thinking.
All people should be able to have the same rights, all rights. However, I still have hope-never thought that we would have a Black President in my time and shed many tears of joy that it has happened. I will probably shed tears of joy when I finally know that the GLBT has succeeded in their quest for what is right. Good luck to you all I will vote and with my conscience and for all your rights. Anything is possible.
  
Why such a to do
By Rich Dec 5th 2008 at 1:11 am EST (Updated Dec 5th 2008 at 1:11 am EST)
With all the problems this Nation, and the entire Universe is facing, why waste so much time and money on other peoples business? People are losing their homes, jobs, life savings, etc., yet the "Do Gooders" of the world have nothing better to do than worry about the "OTHERS". I've heard all the arguements, and, not a one has made a lick of sense to me. Let's just all live together, and work, together, to get the economy and the real problems taken care of, amen.
  
Poll numbers
By Helen Dec 5th 2008 at 5:44 pm EST (Updated Dec 5th 2008 at 5:44 pm EST)
While the poll numbers look good I'm not sure 502 people polled is a big enough number to really show what the mind set is in the state. I agree way too many people will say one thing and vote another. Wish it wasn't so.
We have come a long way toward equal rights for many different people. I believe we will get there eventually...hope I live to see it.
  
business
By User from New York, NY Dec 10th 2008 at 12:37 am EST (Updated Dec 10th 2008 at 12:37 am EST)
Thank's for the information.

Link
  
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