Category Archives: Colorado

In first, Pocan obtains congressional spousal ID for same-sex partner

Mark Pocan, United States House of Representatives, Wisconsin, Democratic Party, gay news, Washington Blade

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) has secured a spousal ID for Philip Frank, whom he legally married in 2006 (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

For apparently the first time ever in the history of the U.S. House, a gay member of Congress has obtained a congressional ID card identifying his same-sex partner as a spouse.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) told the Washington Blade on Thursday the House Sergeant at Arms informed him late last month that Philip Frank, whom Pocan legally married in Canada in 2006, would be able to obtain an ID labeling him as congressional spouse. Previously, Frank was given an ID identifying him as a “designee,” but picked up his new ID on April 26.

Pocan said he’s happy Frank has received the ID designating him as spouse, but noted that federal employees with same-sex partners are still denied an array of benefits — including health and pension benefits — because of the Defense of Marriage Act.

“I think it’s an important step toward recognizing equality and we’re very proud of receiving it,” Pocan said. “We also realize there’s still a lot more work to do for same-sex couples that work for the federal government.”

The change of the new congressional ID is symbolic. Frank isn’t able to receive any more benefits as a result. Still, the change for the first time makes same-sex spouses equal to opposite-sex spouses in terms of identification.

At this time, Pocan is the only legally married member of Congress. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) are in same-sex relationships, but aren’t legally married, even though Polis in 2011 became the first openly gay father in Congress. Former Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) last year became the first member of Congress in a same-sex marriage late last year, but Pocan said Frank’s spouse, Jim Ready, never received a spousal ID.

Pocan said he had been asking the House Sergeant at Arms to make the change since he became a U.S. House in January, or at least explain the reasoning for withholding a spousal ID from a legally married couple. The House Sergeant at Arms’ office on Thursday didn’t immediately respond to the Washington Blade’s request to comment on the situation.

In a previously published profile piece on Pocan, the Washington Blade reported Pocan was asking the House Sergeant at Arms to make the change in partnership with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Drew Hammill, a Pelosi spokesperson, said upon learning the situation was resolved that the Democratic leader was happy to help Pocan secure an appropriate ID card for his spouse.

“Leader Pelosi was very pleased to assist Congressman Pocan in securing an appropriate ID for his husband, Philip,” Hammill said. “Congressman Pocan is to be commended for using this personal example to highlight the plight that LGBT federal employees face with respect to equal benefits.”

Even though he received the spousal ID, Pocan said the lack of major partner benefits for federal employees continues is a persistent problem. A ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court against DOMA — which may happen in June as the result of pending litigation — would likely take care of it, but Pocan plans in the coming weeks to introduce legislation to address the issue known as the Domestic Partnership Benefits & Obligations Act.

“We realize that symbolism is great and important, especially when it’s recognized by the House, but even more important is making sure that we get those full benefits for the thousands and thousands of folks who work for the federal government who aren’t recognized in the same way,” Pocan said.

In first, Pocan obtains congressional spousal ID for same-sex partner

Mark Pocan, United States House of Representatives, Wisconsin, Democratic Party, gay news, Washington Blade

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) has secured a spousal ID for Philip Frank, whom he legally married in 2006 (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

For apparently the first time ever in the history of the U.S. House, a gay member of Congress has obtained a congressional ID card identifying his same-sex partner as a spouse.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) told the Washington Blade on Thursday the House Sergeant at Arms informed him late last month that Philip Frank, whom Pocan legally married in Canada in 2006, would be able to obtain an ID labeling him as congressional spouse. Previously, Frank was given an ID identifying him as a “designee,” but picked up his new ID on April 26.

Pocan said he’s happy Frank has received the ID designating him as spouse, but noted that federal employees with same-sex partners are still denied an array of benefits — including health and pension benefits — because of the Defense of Marriage Act.

“I think it’s an important step toward recognizing equality and we’re very proud of receiving it,” Pocan said. “We also realize there’s still a lot more work to do for same-sex couples that work for the federal government.”

The change of the new congressional ID is symbolic. Frank isn’t able to receive any more benefits as a result. Still, the change for the first time makes same-sex spouses equal to opposite-sex spouses in terms of identification.

At this time, Pocan is the only legally married openly gay member of Congress. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) are in same-sex relationships, but aren’t legally married, even though Polis in 2011 became the first openly gay father in Congress. Former Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) last year became the first member of Congress in a same-sex marriage late last year, but Pocan said Frank’s spouse, Jim Ready, never received a spousal ID.

Pocan said he had been asking the House Sergeant at Arms to make the change since he became a U.S. House in January, or at least explain the reasoning for withholding a spousal ID from a legally married couple. The House Sergeant at Arms’ office on Thursday didn’t immediately respond to the Washington Blade’s request to comment on the situation.

In a previously published profile piece on Pocan, the Washington Blade reported Pocan was asking the House Sergeant at Arms to make the change in partnership with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Drew Hammill, a Pelosi spokesperson, said the Democratic leader was happy to help Pocan obtain an ID card for his spouse.

“Leader Pelosi was very pleased to assist Congressman Pocan in securing an appropriate ID for his husband, Philip,” Hammill said. “Congressman Pocan is to be commended for using this personal example to highlight the plight that LGBT federal employees face with respect to equal benefits.”

Even though he received the spousal ID, Pocan said the lack of major partner benefits for federal employees continues is a persistent problem. A ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court against DOMA — which may happen in June as the result of pending litigation — would likely take care of it, but Pocan plans in the coming weeks to introduce legislation to address the issue known as the Domestic Partnership Benefits & Obligations Act.

“We realize that symbolism is great and important, especially when it’s recognized by the House, but even more important is making sure that we get those full benefits for the thousands and thousands of folks who work for the federal government who aren’t recognized in the same way,” Pocan said.

Colorado civil unions law takes effect

John Hickenlooper, Colorado, gay news, Washington Blade

Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

DENVER – Hundreds of same-sex couples in the state capital and in Boulder took advantage of Colorado’s civil unions law in the hours after it took effect at midnight on Wednesday.

Gov. John Hickenlooper said in March before he signed the bill state Sens. Pat Steadman and Lucia Guzman re-introduced earlier this year there is “no excuse that people shouldn’t have all the same rights.”

“It’s the beginning of the country changing,” the governor said. “A change has gotten here. It’s going to keep going. It’s not going to stop in Colorado, but I’d like to think this is a crucial point.”

The civil unions law took effect two decades after Colorado voters approved a constitutional amendment that barred the state from enacting anti-gay discrimination laws.

The U.S. Supreme Court struck it down in 1996.

Colo. governor signs civil unions bill

John Hickenlooper, Colorado, gay news, Washington Blade

Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper on Thursday signed a bill that extends civil unions to same-sex couples in his state.

“There is no excuse that people shouldn’t have all the same rights,” he said before he signed the bill into law at the History Colorado Center in Denver. “It’s the beginning of the country changing. A change has gotten here. It’s going to keep going. It’s not going to stop in Colorado, but I’d like to think this is a crucial point.”

The Denver Post reported state Sen. Pat Steadman, who re-introduced the civil unions bill earlier this year with fellow state Sen. Lucia Guzman after it stalled in the legislature in 2012, was among those who attended the ceremony.

The measure passed in the state House of Representatives last week by a 39-26 vote. It comes two decades after Colorado voters approved a constitutional amendment that prohibited the state from enacting laws that ban anti-gay discrimination.

The U.S. Supreme Court struck it down in 1996.

“With this signature that’s about to occur on this bill today, Gov. Hickenlooper will make sure that for once and for all, LGBT Coloradans are not strangers to our laws,” Steadman said.

Minnesota marriage bill advances

Minnesota, gay news, Washington Blade

Minnesota State Capitol (Photo by History127 via Wikimedia Commons)

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Two Minnesota legislative committees on Tuesday approved a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in the state.

The 5-3 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee and the 10-7 vote in the House Civil Law Committee took place just weeks after state Sen. Braden Peterson (R-Andover) and other legislators introduced the measure. Minnesota voters last November rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

Lawmakers approved the same-sex marriage bill on the same day the Colorado House of Representatives passed a civil unions measure.

Nine states and D.C. allow gays and lesbians to legally marry.

Gov. Mark Dayton, who opposed the proposed marriage amendment, is among those who support the same-sex marriage bill.

Colo. House of Representatives approves civil unions bill

Colorado State Capitol (Photo by Steven Kevil via Wikimedia Commons)

Colorado State Capitol (Photo by Steven Kevil via Wikimedia Commons)

The Colorado House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a civil unions bill by a 39-26 vote margin.

“Equality for gay and lesbian citizens in our society is one of the great civil rights frontiers of our time,” Alan Franklin, political director of ProgressNow Colorado, said. “Today’s victory in the Colorado House, giving final passage to these basic rights and obligations for same-sex families, is something progressives have sought for years. It took an election and a change of power, but today we celebrate the result of patient work to change hearts and minds.”

The measure’s passage comes two decades after Colorado voters approved a constitutional amendment that prohibited the state from enacting laws that ban anti-gay discrimination. The U.S. Supreme Court struck it down in 1996.

State Sens. Pat Steadman and Lucia Guzman re-introduced the civil unions bill earlier this year after it stalled in the legislature in 2012. It passed in the chamber on Feb. 11 by a 21-14 vote margin.

Gay House Speaker Mark Ferrandino and state Rep. Sue Schafer sponsored the measure in the House.

“The Colorado legislature has taken a definitive step forward in the march toward equality,” Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said. “The passage of civil unions in the Centennial State is further proof that full equality for committed and loving gay and lesbian couples is in sight.”

Other national LGBT advocacy groups also welcomed the bill’s passage.

“Over the years, we’ve talked about why fairness matters, and of how discrimination hurts families,” Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said. “All across Colorado, people have had these personal and poignant conversations around their kitchen tables, in their living rooms, on their front porches, on Facebook and plenty of other places. The transformative nature of people talking about their love and their lives is clear, as we see with this victory today.”

“Another state has taken an important step forward in recognizing and protecting same-sex couples and their families,” Jennifer Pizer of Lambda Legal added.

Delaware, Illinois and Rhode Island are among the handful of states that allow gays and lesbians to enter into civil unions.

Lawmakers in the aforementioned states and in Minnesota and New Jersey continue to debate marriage rights for same-sex couples. Maryland is among the nine states and D.C. in which gays and lesbians can legally tie the knot.

Governor John Hickenlooper has said he will sign the measure into law that would take effect on May 1.

Trans girl barred from bathroom

pubic restroom, gay news, Washington Blade

(Photo by Eric Richardson via Wikimedia Commons)

FOUNTAIN, Colo.—A transgender advocacy group on Tuesday filed a complaint on behalf of a 6-year-old girl whose elementary school prevented her from using the girls’ bathroom.

The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund said the Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 told Coy Mathis’ parents late last year she would have to use a boys, staff or nurse’s restroom after winter break. Mathis has expressed herself as a girl since she was a toddler.

“Her school should not be singling her out for mistreatment just because she is transgender,” Coy Mathis’ mother, Kathryn Mathis, said.

Katie Couric interviewed the Mathis family during a segment of her talk show that aired on Tuesday.

Year in review: Record number of gay candidates win House seats

LGBT caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives, gay news, Washington Blade

(clockwise from top left) Jared Polis (D-Colo.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), and Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.). (Photos of Polis, Cicilline, Maloney and Pocan by Michael Key for the Washington Blade. Photos of Sinema and Takano courtesy of the respective campaigns).

A record number of lesbian, gay and bisexual candidates were elected to the U.S. House this year, nearly doubling the number of out representatives serving in the lower chamber of Congress.

Gay Reps. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and David Cicilline (D-R.I.) won re-election, and on the same night, out candidates Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, Mark Takano of California and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin won their races. The new additions — minus Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who are leaving the U.S. House — means LGB representation in the chamber will jump from four lawmakers to seven.

Maloney, who will be the first openly gay U.S. House member from New York, said upon the announcement that he won his bid to unseat Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.) that voters in the state’s 18th congressional district voted for change.

“Across four counties on two sides of the Hudson River, in hundreds of schools, firehouses, community centers, in the Democratic vote of a quarter million of our neighbors, the people have settled this debate,” Maloney said. “They have closed this campaign.”

Sinema will become the first openly bisexual member of Congress and Takano will become the first openly gay person of color to have a House seat. Pocan’s election means Wisconsin’s 2nd congressional district will maintain gay representation as Baldwin heads to the U.S. Senate.