Colorado is known for its snow, Pike’s Peak, and, more recently, the legalization of marijuana. But the state is also known for being fairly liberal in some ways. LGBT people who are considering a move to Colorado will certainly want to know what the state has to offer. Gay and lesbian real estate professionals can certainly tell you about the best places to live in Colorado and provide you with some basic information about how the state treats its LGBT citizens.
Same-Sex Relationships
Colorado did have anti-sodomy laws on the books, but those laws were removed in 1971. However, at the same time, same-sex displays of affection were classified as public indecency. Fortunately, that law didn’t last very long: in 1974, the state Supreme Court struck it down.
Many people would be surprised to know that there were a number of same-sex couples who received marriage licenses in 1975. However, the state attorney general found that the marriages were not legal, and after a federal court case, no more licenses were issued. Later, in 1996, a bill was passed that would have formally banned same-sex marriage, but the governor vetoed it. The referendum passed in 2006, though, did officially prevent same-sex couples from marrying. Later attempts to ban civil unions failed, and the state officially enacted civil unions in 2013.
In 2014, nine different LGBT couples sued the state, and on October 7 of that year, county clerks began issuing marriage licenses to all couples regardless of gender.
Adoption
In Colorado, second-parent adoptions are legal. Married couples do have an easier time adopting, however.
Discrimination
Colorado has actually tried to do what few other states have: declare that sexual orientation cannot be the basis for discrimination. However, while this state constitutional amendment passed in 1992, it was declared unconstitutional two years later. In 2008, sexual orientation was added to the state’s anti-discrimination policy. Prior to this, in 2001, hate crime laws were officially updated to include both orientation and gender identity.
Conversion therapy aimed at minors is still legal in Colorado; a bill attempting to ban this passed the state House in March of 2015 but did not pass the Senate.
Where to Live
If you’re moving to Colorado, where’s the best place to go? If you have a job in a particular area, you don’t always have a lot of choice in the matter. However, if you do have some leeway and don’t mind a big city, Denver is definitely welcoming, as is Boulder.