COLORADO: Ballot Measure Seeks To Limit Same-Sex Marriages As Civil Unions

Via the Denver Post:

A proposed ballot initiative filed Thursday would redefine same-sex marriages in Colorado as civil unions. A second initiative would allow wedding-related businesses opposed to gay marriage to hire a contractor to serve the couples. Keeping gay marriage out of Colorado could be difficult, if not impossible, since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 26 that same-sex couples have a right to marry nationwide. Both ballot questions were filed by Gene Straub and D'Arcy Straub, both of Littleton. D'Arcy Straub is a lawyer. He could not be reached Friday, and his voice message said he was on a mountain-climbing trip. Gene Straub did not immediately return a phone call. Each measure would need at least 98,492 verified signatures from registered voters to get on the ballot. State Rep. Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, said the point of the gay marriage amendment is moot.

The proposed amendment declares: "A marriage is recognized as a form of religious expression of the people of Colorado that shall not be abridged through the state prescribing or recognizing any law that implicitly or explicitly defines a marriage in opposition or agreement with any particular religious belief."