By 365gay Newscenter Staff
(Denver, Colorado) A straight Colorado man is promoting a ballot measure that would allow same-sex marriage in the state.
Stu Allen, 23, tells The Rocky Mountain News that gay couples should have the same rights that he and his girlfriend of seven years would have if they got married.
“I don’t think there should be gender-specific laws when it comes to marriage in Colorado - or anywhere,” Allen told the paper. “It seems like a civil rights issue.”
His ballot measure would overturn Colorado’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage that was approved by voters in 2006 and would make marriage gender neutral.
Allen told The News that when he began researching what is required to get a measure on the ballot he found there had to be two sponsors. He contacted his high school friend Hallie Atencio who readily agreed.
“I wholeheartedly believe in what he’s trying to do,” Atencio, 22, told The News. “I think we can create some change.”
The proposed ballot measure has been filed with the state. Tuesday Allen will meet with officials for a “review and comment session” that is required before an issue gets on the ballot. The state would then have to approve the wording on the measure before Allen can begin collecting signatures.
In addition to banning same-sex marriage in 2006, voters the same year rejected another ballot issue that would have given same-sex couples many of the rights of marriage including property inheritance rights and the power to make medical and funeral arrangements.
Allen’s gay marriage measure is opposed by supporters of the ban on same-sex marriage.
“The voters have already spoken about the direction they would like to see our state go regarding the marriage issue,” state Sen. Mike Kopp (R) told The Rocky Mountain News.
*365Gay.com
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