(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Colorado are in favour of enacting changes to their constitution, according to a poll by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research Inc. published in the Denver Post. 55 per cent of respondents in the Centennial State support an amendment to ban same-sex marriage, while 36 per cent disagree.

During the January 2004 State of the Union address, United States president George W. Bush said, "Activist judges (...) have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives."

In 2004, marriage certificates were issued to same-sex couples by local governments in the states of California, Oregon, New Mexico and New York. In May 2004, the state of Massachusetts allowed gay and lesbian partners to apply for marriage licenses, the first state-sanctioned homosexual weddings in the U.S.

Civil unions—currently available in the states of Vermont and Connecticut—give same-sex partners the same legal rights of married couples such as inheritance, insurance and hospital visiting privileges. A California law grants domestic partners the same legal rights of married couples, with the exception of filing joint income tax returns. 50 per cent of respondents in Colorado support giving same-sex couples rights similar to those of married couples through domestic partnerships.

Over the past two years, 19 American states have enacted amendments to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. Four more will hold votes on the matter this year.

A group called Coloradans for Marriage requires 68,000 signatures in support of their petition to hold a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. If that happens, the language of the amendment must be approved by the Legislative Council before a ballot can take place.

Polling Data

Would you support or oppose a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Colorado?

Would you support or oppose giving same-sex couples rights similar to those of married couples through domestic partnerships?

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