Colorado on Verge of Saying "Yes" to Civil Unions

Author: Beth P. Zoller, XpertHR Legal Editor

Colorado may soon become the 18th state to permit civil unions or same-sex marriage. The Colorado Civil Union Act (2013 CO S.B. 11), which would permit same-sex couples to enter into civil unions and afford them the same rights as married couples has passed through Colorado's legislature. Governor John Hickenlooper is now expected to sign the bill into law. This development comes on the eve of Supreme Court arguments on whether a constitutional right to same-sex marriage exists and in the wake of an uptick in state legislatures - including Illinois (2013 Bill Text IL S.B. 10), Minnesota (+2013 Bill Text MN H.B. 1054) and Rhode Island (2013 Bill Text RI H.B. 5015) - where legislation similar to Colorado's proposed Act has already been passed by either the House or the Senate.

These new laws will likely have a significant impact on workplace policies regarding sexual orientation discrimination and benefits for same-sex spouses and XpertHR will continue to monitor the progress of all same-sex marriage and civil union bills as well as the upcoming Supreme Court arguments regarding the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act.