NOREEN: GOP, walk your talk, approve civil unions

Colorado Republicans, who regard themselves as the champions of limited government, have again been presented with an opportunity to display their unique blend of intellect and morality.

Senate Bill 2, introduced by Denver Democrat Sen. Pat Steadman, would establish civil unions, giving same-sex couples the same rights heterosexuals have taken for granted forever. Backers of civil unions merely want gay couples to get simple things such as health benefits for their spouses, the ability to make life-and-death decisions for their partners, the right to declare a partner a dependent on a tax form, community property — that sort of thing.

It’s about basic freedoms, another thing Republicans claim to have an exclusive franchise in understanding. (OK, can’t keep a “straight” face writing that one.)

If you can’t live with whom you want without the government establishing a tax code and a jillion other laws to discourage you from living with that person, how free are you?

Why pick on Republicans?

Because they’re the ones who have blocked civil unions legislation in the past, and they may well do it again this year. Last year civil unions legislation died in a House committee on a “straight” party line vote.

Republicans are the ones who preach limited government but think it’s just fine to invite Big Brother into bedrooms and to build a matrix of laws that punish some citizens for being different.

Jennifer Jackson and her husband, who live in northern El Paso County, have two sons. Their 16-year-old, Brandon, started the Gay Straight Alliance at Lewis Palmer High School.

At a kick-off event for SB-2 Wednesday night in Colorado Springs, Jackson told a crowd, “one of my sons is guaranteed certain legal rights and the other one isn’t. I don’t think the government should be able to tell my sons who they can live with.”

Jennifer Jackson says later on, when her gay son chooses a partner, “he knows that will be a struggle for him, and I don’t want it to be a struggle for him.”

Polls show Americans are becoming more accepting of the civil unions concept. Jackson thinks it is inevitable civil unions will be the law of the land one day.

But is there one Republican brave enough to be a dissenting vote on a committee?

“I think the time has come,” Jackson said. “I think there is that Republican out there.”

We’ll soon see. In the meantime, keep up with the issue by checking out One Colorado (http://www.one-colorado.org/), the group pushing the issue. It’s not going away.

One Colorado’s executive director, Brad Clark, said, “Whether it’s this year or next year, it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when.’”

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