Same-sex marriage in Colorado

Last updated

Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in Colorado since October 7, 2014. [1] [2] Colorado's state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage was struck down in state district court on July 9, 2014, and by the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado on July 23, 2014. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals had already made similar rulings with respect to such bans in Utah on June 25 and Oklahoma on July 18, which are binding precedents on courts in Colorado. On October 6, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the Tenth Circuit cases, and the Tenth Circuit lifted its stay. On October 7, the Colorado Supreme Court and the Tenth Circuit cleared the way for same-sex marriages to begin in Colorado. [3]

Contents

Colorado was the 25th U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. In 2024, voters repealed the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriages by 64–36 percent. [4] [5]

Civil unions

Civil unions have been legal in Colorado since May 1, 2013. Legislation to establish civil unions was passed in the Colorado Senate by 21 votes to 14 on February 11, 2013, and by the House of Representatives on March 12 in a 39–26 vote. Governor John Hickenlooper signed the bill into law on March 21, and the law took effect on May 1. Civil unions, open to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples, provide rights comparable to those enjoyed by married couples, including spousal employer benefits, presumption of paternity, adoption, next of kin rights, and inheritance, among others. However, as the federal government does not recognize civil unions, partners in a civil union cannot receive federal benefits.

Same-sex marriage

Statute

In 1996, the Colorado General Assembly passed a bill banning same-sex marriage, but it was vetoed by Governor Roy Romer. [6] In 1997, the General Assembly again passed a bill banning same-sex marriage, but it was again vetoed by Governor Romer. [7] In 2000, Governor Bill Owens signed a bill banning same-sex marriage into law. [8]

Constitutional amendments

Results of Amendment J (2024) by county Yes .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} 80-90% 70-80% 60-70% 50-60% No 70-80% 60-70% 50-60% 2024 Colorado Amendment J results map by county.svg
Results of Amendment J (2024) by county

On November 7, 2006, Colorado voters approved Amendment 43, a state-initiated constitutional amendment that prohibited the recognition of same-sex marriage in the Constitution of Colorado. [9] The amendment passed by a margin of 56% to 44%. [10]

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization , which overturned Roe v. Wade , in June 2022, some lawmakers announced they would push to codify same-sex marriage in state statutes and place a measure on the ballot to repeal the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Governor Jared Polis said he would sign such bills into law. [11] In January 2023, Senator Jessie Danielson said, "The legislature has an obligation to do away with that ban to show the communities that we care about (them), that we're gonna stand up and protect them." A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the General Assembly. [12] In July 2023, a ballot initiative was filed to amend the Constitution of Colorado to remove verbiage limiting marriage to "one man and one woman", thereby removing the constitutional prohibition of same-sex marriage if passed. [13] In April 2024, Senator Joann Ginal and representatives Alex Valdez and Brianna Titone introduced a constitutional amendment to the General Assembly to refer the issue to voters. The Senate approved the measure 29–5 on April 29, [14] with six Republicans joining all Democrats in support. The House followed 46–14 on May 4, with one Democrat joining Republicans in voting against and two Republicans joining the remaining Democrats in support. The bill was signed by Governor Polis on May 8. [15] In September 2024, a group of religious leaders expressed their support for the measure. [16] As Amendment J, it was placed on the November 5, 2024 ballot, [a] and approved by 64.3% of voters and a majority of counties. [17] Support reached 80% in four counties: Pitkin (84%), Boulder (83%), Denver (82%), and San Miguel (82%). Opposition to the amendment was highest in Cheyenne (79%), Kiowa (78%) and Baca (78%) counties. [18]

April 29, 2024 vote in the Colorado Senate
Political affiliationVoted forVoted againstAbsent (Did not vote)
  Democratic Party ––
  Republican Party
Total 2951
May 4, 2024 vote in the Colorado House of Representatives
Political affiliationVoted forVoted againstAbsent (Did not vote)
  Democratic Party
  Republican Party
Total 46145

Lawsuits

There are five court cases dealing with same-sex marriage in Colorado. They are Brinkman v. Long , a state district court case, ruling in favor of same-sex marriage; Burns v. Hickenlooper , a U.S. district court (i.e. federal) case, ruling in favor of same-sex marriage; Kitchen v. Herbert and Bishop v. Smith , two decisions out of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals which affirm same-sex marriage and are binding precedent on Colorado courts, and Colorado ex rel. Suthers v. Hall , a state court case which previously allowed Boulder County to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Adams v. Howerton

The First Unitarian Society of Denver was the location of Colorado's first religious same-sex wedding ceremony, held in 1975 following issuance of a marriage license and civil ceremony in Boulder County. First Unitarian Society of Denver (23517947768).jpg
The First Unitarian Society of Denver was the location of Colorado's first religious same-sex wedding ceremony, held in 1975 following issuance of a marriage license and civil ceremony in Boulder County.

In 1975, Clela Rorex, the Boulder County Clerk, became the first county clerk in the nation to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. [19] She issued marriage licenses to six same-sex couples after the local district attorney interpreted Colorado's statutes, which used the phrase "any two persons", to be gender-neutral with respect to marriage. Attorney General J.D. MacFarlane issued a contrary opinion that those marriages were invalid, and the licenses were revoked. [20] Dave McCord and Dave Zamora were the first couple to receive a marriage license in Boulder on March 26, 1975. [21]

When one of those married in Boulder tried to use it to sponsor his husband for immigration purposes, he lost his case, Adams v. Howerton , in federal court. [22] In 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services granted permanent residency status to Australian national Anthony Sullivan, based on his marriage to Richard Adams in Boulder on April 21, 1975. [23]

Brinkman v. Long

After being denied a marriage license, a lesbian couple filed a lawsuit on October 30, 2013 in state district court. The case, Brinkman v. Long, sought to overturn the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. [24] [25] The couple was joined by nine other same-sex couples who filed a lawsuit, McDaniel-Miccio v. Hickenlooper, also in state district court, seeking the same outcome. [26] [27] The suit named Governor John Hickenlooper and a city clerk responsible for licensing marriages as defendants. Attorney General John Suthers announced he would defend the state's ban. [28]

Brinkman and McDaniel-Miccio were combined for argument in state district court. On July 9, 2014, District Court Judge C. Scott Crabtree ruled that Colorado's same-sex marriage ban violated the plaintiffs' guarantees of equal protection and due process under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, stating: "No state since United States v. Windsor has been able to justify its ban under even the rational basis test, much less under the strict scrutiny test." The judge stayed his ruling pending the outcome of appeals. [29]

Judge Hartman's decision in Colorado ex rel. Suthers v. Hall provided legal cover for the Boulder County clerk to issue same-sex marriage licenses as a form of civil disobedience. After Hartman's decision was handed down, the Denver and Pueblo county clerks began issuing licenses to couples regardless of gender as well, despite Judge Crabtree's stay. When asked to enjoin the Denver County clerk from issuing licenses to same-sex couples, Judge Crabtree refused to take action. On July 14, 2014, Attorney General Suthers appealed Judge Crabtree's inaction to the Colorado Supreme Court. In a separate filing, and seeking a reversal of Judge Hartman's ruling, Suthers also asked the high court for an emergency injunction to stop all state clerks from issuing licenses. [30] [31] On July 18, 2014, the Colorado Supreme Court ordered clerks in Adams and Denver counties to stop issuing marriage licenses. The Supreme Court was scheduled to hear oral arguments regarding the merits of the state's same-sex marriage ban on September 30, 2014. [32]

Burns v. Hickenlooper

Burns v. Hickenlooper was a same-sex marriage case filed on July 1, 2014 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The plaintiffs were six same-sex couples who had been legally married in another state but whose marriage Colorado did not legally recognize or who had been refused a Colorado marriage license. [33] The main defendants, Governor Hickenlooper and Attorney General Suthers, agreed with the plaintiffs insofar as having the court issue an injunction declaring the same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional, but they wanted a stay and swift resolution by the U.S. Supreme Court in order to avoid costly litigation. [34]

U.S. District Judge Raymond P. Moore found in favor of the plaintiffs in Burns on July 23, 2014, granting their motion for a preliminary injunction. In his ruling, Judge Moore noticed a split among the state defendants even though they agreed with the plaintiffs' motion: "Defendant Attorney General believed Kitchen [v. Herbert] was incorrect while Defendant Governor believed Kitchen was correctly decided. ... Nevertheless, the defendants collectively did not oppose the entry of a preliminary injunction, but also asked that the injunction, as well as further proceedings in this matter, be stayed." After finding that the plaintiffs met their burden for an injunction, he rejected the defendants' request for a stay. Immediately after Judge Moore's order was issued, state defendants filed a notice of appeal and asked the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals for a stay. The appeals court granted the stay on August 21, 2014. [35] [36]

When the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed requests to hear appeals from similar cases from the Tenth Circuit on October 6, Attorney General Suthers asked the Tenth Circuit to lift the stay in this case as well, which would allow the district court's order that Colorado recognize same-sex marriages to take effect. [37] On October 7, the Colorado Supreme Court removed the legal obstacles preventing Colorado's county clerks from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, legalizing same-sex marriage in the state. [3]

Colorado ex rel. Suthers v. Hall

Counties in Colorado that issued licenses to same-sex couples in response to Kitchen v. Herbert or Colorado ex rel. Suthers v. Hall. County issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples County did not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples Same-sex marriage in Colorado.png
Counties in Colorado that issued licenses to same-sex couples in response to Kitchen v. Herbert or Colorado ex rel. Suthers v. Hall .
  County issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples
  County did not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples

Hillary Hall, the Boulder County Clerk, had been issuing licenses based on her own interpretation of the Tenth Circuit ruling in Kitchen soon after that ruling was handed down. Attorney General Suthers filed a motion in state district court in an attempt to stay the clerk's actions. However, on July 10, 2014, a day after the Brinkman ruling, District Court Judge Andrew Hartman found that while Hall violated the law—"There is little argument that Clerk Hall is engaging in a form of civil disobedience. She apparently is taking the position posited by St. Augustine and followed notably by Martin Luther King Jr. that, 'an unjust law is no law at all.'"—but he refused to impose a restraining order or injunction upon her, as the state did not meet its high burden for a stay. [38]

On July 21, 2014, Suthers appealed the ruling; in light of the ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court staying license issuance in Adams and Denver counties, he also asked Judge Hartman to reconsider his ruling and stay it. Judge Hartman denied the state's request on July 23. The next day, a three-judge panel of the Colorado Court of Appeals again denied the Attorney General's motion. [39] The Colorado Supreme Court, sua sponte on July 29, decided to hear the case and ordered it transferred and requested the record on appeal to be filed before it by October 20, 2014. The Supreme Court stayed Hall from issuing same-sex marriage licenses in the meantime. [40]

Kitchen v. Herbert

On June 25, 2014, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Kitchen v. Herbert ruled that Utah's ban on same-sex marriage violated the U.S. Constitution. The ruling in Kitchen is binding on courts in every state within the Circuit, including Colorado. Since the Tenth Circuit stayed implementation of its ruling pending review by the U.S. Supreme Court, courts in Colorado have had to follow the precedent that Kitchen sets and stay subsequent rulings pending the expiration of that stay. [41] [42] Immediately following the decision in Kitchen, the Boulder County clerk began issuing marriage licenses despite the stay. [43] After a state district court refused to stop the clerk in Colorado ex rel. Suthers v. Hall, Denver and Pueblo counties began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as well. [44] All Colorado counties stopped issuing marriage licenses following stays issued by the Colorado Supreme Court.

When the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed requests to hear an appeal of the Kitchen case on October 6, Attorney General Suthers asked the Tenth Circuit to lift the stay in this case as it related to Colorado, which would allow the district court's order that Colorado recognize same-sex marriages to take effect. [37] On October 7, the Colorado Supreme Court removed the legal obstacles preventing Colorado's county clerks from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, legalizing same-sex marriage in the state. [3]

Common-law marriage cases

Colorado is one of a small number of states that recognizes common-law marriages. Common-law couples are considered legally married without having registered their relationship as a marriage with the state. Parties in a common-law marriage are entitled to all rights, privileges and responsibilities of a legal and binding marriage. Common-law marriages have been recognized in Colorado since 1887, and in 1987 the Colorado Supreme Court, in People v. Lucero, set out requirements for the existence of a common-law marriage. The decision held that couples' conduct, including cohabitation or taking the partner's surname, as well as their reputation in the community, were "factors that most clearly show an intention to be married".

Dean LaFleur and Timothy Pyfer held a commitment ceremony with family and friends in 2003. After the couple separated, Pyfer filed to dissolve the marriage in January 2018. LaFleur argued that he did not mutually agree to enter into a common-law marriage. A Jefferson County District Court judge ruled in the case of In re Marriage of LaFleur and Pyfer that the couple were common-law married. The court awarded $50,000 of LaFleur's retirement to Pyfer and ordered spousal maintenance. Both parties appealed. On January 11, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court upheld the marriage of LaFleur and Pyfer, and ruled that, pursuant to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges , same-sex couples must be allowed to enter into common-law marriages and the state must retroactively recognize common-law marriages of same-sex couples that occurred prior to the legalization of same-sex marriage. On the issue of division of property and spousal maintenance, the justices sent the case back to the Jefferson County District Court, ordering further review. [45] [46]

Edi Hogsett and Marcia Neale, a couple for thirteen years, separated in January 2015. Hogsett believed the parties were common-law married and petitioned for a dissolution of marriage in Arapahoe County District Court. Neale disagreed and moved to dismiss the petition. A district court judge ruled in the case of In re Marriage of Hogsett and Neale that the couple had not formed a common-law marriage, the Lucero text factors were outdated and granted Neale's motion to dismiss. The Colorado Court of Appeals agreed in December 2018 with the lower court's finding, and noted that pursuant to Obergefell v. Hodges the Lucero factors should be updated. On January 11, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court agreed. The court noted that the test must be applied flexibly to the facts of each case, explaining that same-sex couples may not be fully open about their relationships due to fears of discrimination and thus may only discuss their relationship with a close community, and prior to the legalization of same-sex marriage, same-sex couples could not file joint taxes or refer to themselves as married on government forms. [45] [47]

Developments after legalization

On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee same-sex couples the right to marry. The ruling legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in the United States.

On February 3, 2020, four Republican lawmakers introduced a bill to the General Assembly to ban same-sex marriage. Republican leaders quickly distanced themselves from the proposal. Rob Witwer, member of the House of Representatives between 2005 and 2009, said in an interview, "It's a needless provocation and a waste of people's time. The only thing it serves to do is polarize people over an issue that's by-and-large been settled and that public opinion polls show people have accepted." House Minority Leader Patrick Neville said he was unaware of the bill and "hadn't given much thought to the idea of banning gay marriage". Leslie Herod, a member of the Democratic Party, said, "I'll be damned if this bill, these bills, try to take away the rights of my family, the rights of my friends, and the rights of my community, period." The measure was voted down in a marathon hearing in a House committee that stretched into the early hours of February 15, 2020. [48]

On September 15, 2021, Governor Jared Polis married his longtime partner Marlon Reis in a small Jewish ceremony in Boulder. Polis became the first U.S. governor to marry a person of the same sex. [49]

Native American nations

Colorado is home to two Native American tribes: the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. Same-sex marriages are performed in the latter under federal law. The Bureau of Indian Affairs operates courts established throughout the U.S. under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and "until such time as a particular Indian tribe establishes their own tribal court, the Court of Indian Offenses will act as a tribe's judicial system". [50] Same-sex marriages for Ute Mountain Ute tribal members can thus be performed in these federal CFR courts. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is not under the jurisdiction of the CFR courts; however, it is unknown if same-sex marriage is legal on its reservation as the tribe has not published its tribal code nor has publicly commented on the issue.

While there are no records of same-sex marriages as understood from a Western perspective being performed in Native American cultures, there is evidence for identities and behaviours that may be placed on the LGBT spectrum. Many of these cultures recognized two-spirit individuals who were born male but wore women's clothing and performed everyday household work and artistic handiwork which were regarded as belonging to the feminine sphere. [51] The Ute people refer to two-spirit individuals as tuwasawich (pronounced [tuˈwasawitʃ] ). [52] Traditionally, the tuwasawich could marry men or women, while some remained unmarried. [51] This two-spirit status thus allowed for marriages between two biological males to be performed in the tribe.

Demographics and marriage statistics

Data from the 2000 U.S. census showed that 10,045 same-sex couples were living in Colorado. By 2005, this had increased to 15,915 couples, likely attributed to same-sex couples' growing willingness to disclose their partnerships on government surveys. Same-sex couples lived in all counties of the state, except Cheyenne and Hinsdale, and constituted 1.1% of coupled households and 0.6% of all households in the state. Most couples lived in Denver, Jefferson and Arapahoe counties, and the counties with the highest percentage of same-sex couples were Denver (1.22% of all county households) and Gilpin (1.13%). Same-sex partners in Colorado were on average younger than opposite-sex partners, and more likely to be employed. In addition, the average and median household incomes of same-sex couples were higher than different-sex couples, but same-sex couples were far less likely to own a home than opposite-sex partners. 14% of same-sex couples in Colorado were raising children under the age of 18, with an estimated 4,091 children living in households headed by same-sex couples in 2005. [53]

The 2020 U.S. census showed that there were 14,148 married same-sex couple households (5,978 male couples and 8,170 female couples) and 10,414 unmarried same-sex couple households in Colorado. [54]

Public opinion

Public opinion for same-sex marriage in Colorado
Poll sourceDates administeredSample sizeMargin of errorSupportOppositionDo not know / refused
Public Religion Research Institute March 9 – December 7, 2023 543 adults ?72%28%<0.5%
Public Religion Research Institute March 11 – December 14, 2022  ? ?74%24%2%
Public Religion Research Institute March 8 – November 9, 2021  ? ?77%23%<0.5%
Public Religion Research Institute January 7 – December 20, 2020 991 adults ?79%19%2%
Public Religion Research Institute April 5 – December 23, 2017 1,210 adults ?71%21%8%
Public Religion Research Institute May 18, 2016 – January 10, 2017 1,657 adults ?64%27%9%
Public Religion Research Institute April 29, 2015 – January 7, 2016 1,346 adults ?65%27%8%
Public Policy Polling October 16–19, 2014778 likely voters± 3.5%54%39%7%
New York Times/CBS News/YouGov September 20 – October 1, 20141,634 likely voters± 2.9%54%35%11%
Public Policy Polling July 17–20, 2014653 voters± 3.8%55%38%7%
Public Religion Research Institute April 2, 2014 – January 4, 2015 927 adults ?60%32%8%
Quinnipiac University April 15–21, 20141,298 registered voters± 2.7%61%33%6%
Public Policy Polling March 13–16, 2014568 registered voters± 4.1%56%36%8%
Public Policy Polling December 3–4, 2013928 voters± 3.2%53%38%9%
Public Policy Polling April 5–7, 2012542 voters± 4.2%53%40%7%
Public Policy Polling December 1–4, 2011793 voters± 3.5%47%43%10%
Public Policy Polling August 4–7, 2011510 voters± 4.3%45%45%10%

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Voters were asked: "Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution removing the ban on same-sex marriage?"

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References

  1. ↑ Colorado AG: County clerks must issue gay marriage licenses
  2. ↑ Same-sex marriage now officially legal in Colorado
  3. 1 2 3 Statement of the Colorado Attorney-General - October 7, 2014
  4. ↑ "Colorado voters repeal state Constitution's 2006 same-sex marriage ban". Kiowa County Press. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  5. ↑ Woodruff, Chase (November 6, 2024). "Colorado voters repeal state Constitution's 2006 same-sex marriage ban • Colorado Newsline". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  6. ↑ Marriage veto
  7. ↑ Gay marriage ban vetoed
  8. ↑ Governor signs gay-marriage ban among flock of other bills
  9. ↑ "Colorado Amendment 43, Definition of Marriage (2006)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  10. ↑ Simpson, Kevin (November 9, 2006). "Colorado Amendment 43: Gay marriage banned; domestic partnerships also defeated". Denver Post. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  11. ↑ Warner, Ryan (June 27, 2022). "In light of Dobbs decision, Colorado's LGBTQ community works to cement same-sex marriage into state law". CPR News.
  12. ↑ Birkland, Bente; Verlee, Megan (January 9, 2023). "Democratic state lawmakers have gun reform and climate change top of mind this session". KSUT.
  13. ↑ "Marriages | Colorado General Assembly". leg.colorado.gov. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  14. ↑ "SCR24-003 Protecting the Freedom to Marry". leg.colorado.gov.
  15. ↑ Lindsey Tomer (May 8, 2024). "Repeal of state Constitution's same-sex marriage ban heads to voters with Gov. Polis' signature". Colorado News Online.
  16. ↑ Irizarry, Jaleesa (September 17, 2024). "Colorado religious leaders support Amendment J on same-sex marriage". 9News.
  17. ↑ Chase Woordruff (November 5, 2024). "Colorado voters repeal state Constitution's 2006 same-sex marriage ban". Colorado News Online.
  18. ↑ "Colorado Amendment J Election Results: Remove Same-Sex Marriage Ban From Constitution". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  19. ↑ Harris, Kyle (August 13, 2014). "Clela Rorex Planted the Flag for Same-Sex Marriage in Boulder Forty Years Ago". Westword Newsletters. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  20. ↑ Eskridge, Jr., William N.; et al. (2006). Gay Marriage: for Better or for Worse?: What We've Learned from the Evidence. NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 22–3. ISBN   978-0-19-518751-9.
  21. ↑ "Legal Marriage Court Cases — A Timeline". www.buddybuddy.com. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  22. ↑ Leagle, Inc.: Adams v. Howerton, 486 F. Supp. 1119 (C.D.Cal.1980) Archived March 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine . Accessed July 30, 2011
  23. ↑ "United States Government says L.A. Gay Couple's 1975 Marriage is Valid". the pride. June 7, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Couple files suit against Colorado gay marriage ban". FOX21 News. November 1, 2013. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Brinkman v. Long" (PDF). Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  26. ↑ Verlee, Megan (February 20, 2014). "Same-sex couples file suit to overturn Colorado gay marriage ban". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  27. ↑ "McDaniel-Miccio v. Hickenlooper" (PDF). Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  28. ↑ Mitchell, Kirk; Lee, Kurtis (February 19, 2014). "Nine couples seek to overturn Colorado's gay marriage ban". Denver Post. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  29. ↑ Crabtree, C. Scott (July 9, 2014). "Summary Judgment Order, Brinkman v. Long, No. 13-CV-32572, and McDaneil-Miccio v. Colorado, No. 14-CV-30731" (PDF). Colorado Seventeenth Judicial District Court, Adams County. courts.state.co.us.
  30. ↑ Ingold, John (July 14, 2014). "Suthers asks Supreme Court to stop clerks from issuing licenses to gay couples". Denver Post. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  31. ↑ Francisco, Michael (on behalf of Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers) (July 14, 2014). "Emergency Motion for Injunction Pending Appeal, Colorado ex rel. Suthers v. Hall, No. 2014-SA-212". Colorado Supreme Court . Scribd.com.
  32. ↑ Mitchell, Kirk (July 16, 2014). "Federal judge weighs arguments in Colorado gay marriage case".
  33. ↑ Newman, Mary (July 1, 2014). "Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, Burns v. Hickenlooper, No. 1:14-cv-01817" (PDF). U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado . LGBTQ Online.com. PACER Document 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2014.
  34. ↑ Moreno, Ivan (July 3, 2014). "Colorado officials ask court to declare same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional". LGBTQ Nation.com. Associated Press.
  35. ↑ Francisco, Michael (July 23, 2014). "Notice of Appeal, Burns v. Hickenlooper, No. 1:14-cv-01817". U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado . Scribd.com. PACER Document 46.
  36. ↑ Shumaker, Elisabeth A. (August 21, 2014). "Order (Granting Motion for Stay), Burns v. Suthers, No. 14-1283". U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit . Scribd.com. PACER Document 01019298948.
  37. 1 2 Draper, Heather (October 6, 2014). "AG Suthers: Supreme Court decision clears way for gay marriage in Colorado". Dever Business Journal. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  38. ↑ Steffen, Jordan (July 10, 2014). "Judge rejects state attempt to stop Boulder clerk from issuing same-sex marriage licenses". The Denver Post .
  39. ↑ "Colorado v. Hall, No. 2014-CA-1368". Colorado Court of Appeals . Scribd.com. July 24, 2014.
  40. ↑ By the Court, En Banc (July 29, 2014). "Order of Court (Transferring Record and Issuing Stay), Colorado v. Hall, No. 2014-SC-582". Colorado Supreme Court . Scribd.com.
  41. ↑ "Nearly simultaneous decisions strike down gay marriage bans". CNYCentral. The Associated Press. June 25, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  42. ↑ Canham, Matt (June 25, 2014). "Answering your questions on the same-sex marriage ruling". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  43. ↑ Aguilar, John (June 25, 2014). "Boulder County begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses; AG says no". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Denver clerk begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses". The Denver Post. July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  45. 1 2 Karlik, Michael (January 11, 2021). "State Supreme Court recognizes same-sex common law marriages prior to 2015 legalization". Colorado Politics.
  46. ↑ "Text of In re Marriage of LaFleur and Pyfer, 2021 CO 3" (PDF). Colorado Supreme Court.
  47. ↑ "Amicus brief in Hogsett v. Neale". National Center for Lesbian Rights.
  48. ↑ Kenney, Andrew (February 14, 2020). "Why 4 Colorado Republicans Tried – And Failed – To Ban Gay Marriage In 2020". CPR News.
  49. ↑ Ajasa, Amudalat (September 17, 2021). "Jared Polis becomes first sitting governor to marry in same-sex wedding". The Guardian.
  50. ↑ "Court of Indian Offenses". Bureau of Indian Affairs. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  51. 1 2 Sabine Lang (1998). Men as women, women as men: changing gender in Native American cultures . University of Texas Press. ISBN   0-292-74701-2.
  52. ↑ "Ute Dictionary: tuwasawich". Utah Dictionary Online. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  53. ↑ "Census Snapshot" (PDF). Williams Institute. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  54. ↑ "PCT1405 Couple Households, By Type". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
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