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   ISSUES  > Family and Marriage
 
Colorado  
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State Information

Government Website: http://www.colorado.gov/government.htm

Outline of State Law
Current Status of Law Concerning Marriage and Date of Passage 2000 - State Law Passed.  2006 - Constitutional Amendment 
State Law Prohibits/Voids Same Sex/Same Gender Marriage no  yes 
State Law Defines Marriage between a Man and a Woman yes  yes 
State Law Denies Recognition of Same-Sex Marriages Solemnized in Other States yes  yes 
State Law States that Same Sex Marriage is not Aligned with State Public Policy no  no 
State Law Defines "Spouse" as Referring Only to a Person of the Opposite Sex Who is Married as Husband or Wife no  no 

Statutory Provision

Colorado Revised Statutes 14-2-104. Formalities.(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, a marriage is valid in this state if: (a) It is licensed, solemnized, and registered as provided in this part 1; and (b) It is only between one man and one woman. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 14-2-112, any marriage contracted within or outside this state that does not satisfy paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section shall not be recognized as valid in this state. (3) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to repeal or render invalid any otherwise valid common law marriage between one man and one woman.

Constitutional Provision

Article II. Section 31. Marriages ? valid or recognized.

(1) Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.
(2) This section shall take effect upon proclamation of vote by the governor.

Of Note

On November 7, 2006, Coloradans voted against a referendum establishing domestic partners. 53.2% or 726,879 Coloradans voted against the proposed referendum while only 46.8% or 640,171 voted in favor of it. Details of the amendment can be found here.

U.S. Senators
US Senators and their Comments on FMA

Ken Salazar, Democrat
http://salazar.senate.gov/
This senator was elected in 2004, therefore not present for the federal DOMA vote in 1996 nor for the Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA) in 2004. The senator voted against the MPA in 2006.

Wayne Allard, Republican
http://allard.senate.gov/
This senator voted for the federal DOMA in 1996 and for the Marriage Protection Amendment in 2004 and 2006.

State Public Policy Organizations Working on Marriage Issues

Rocky Mountain Family Council
Coloradans for Marriage



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