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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The Colorado House Monday debated a bill to grant civil unions to gay couples, one that's been introduced for three straight years.

The debate could have happened at the end of last year's session, after civil unions survived three successive hearings before GOP-controlled committees, but then Speaker Frank McNulty shut down the House floor toward the end of session, effectively running out the clock on the bill and 30 others.

Democratic House Speaker, and sponsor of this bill, Mark Ferrandino said the bill is about family, love, and equality under the law.
The proposal got initial approval with a voice vote in the now Democratic-controlled House on Monday.

Gay rights activists said this decision is a big step for Coloradoto move toward equality and not just tolerance.
They credit a lot of it to our state's first gay speaker and more open discussions about gay issues.
"The people of Colorado, and you're seeing this across the country, want equality," Charles Irwin, Executive Director of Colorado Springs Pride said, "This is just one more small step toward equality for the LGBT community."

Amendments brought to a vote which tried to add religious exemptions were shot down.
"We make exceptions for religious institutions all the time," said Rep. Kathleen Conti, R-Littleton, who offered an amendment to re-insert that exemption for businesses and government agencies with religious reasons for not wanting to recognize same-sex unions.

But supporters said churches have the right to refuse their service.
"Why give somebody the right to discriminate. how many people i want to ask you, will want to go and get married in a conservative church that is anti-equality," he said, "Certainly not me."

Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Monument, offered an amendment to turn the legislation into a referred measure to next year's ballot so that voters, not lawmakers, would decide the issue.

After more than four hours of debate, with Republicans attempting several times to amend the bill, Senate Bill 11 passed the full House on an initial voice vote, with at least two Republicans voting yes.

Now, local entities and businesses are beginning to prepare for the changes.
"The county has already contacted us saying how many people are going to be applying for these licenses," Irwin explained, "We put that out on facebook and the responses were: me! me! me! So everyone's interested in this."

Whether you support equal civil union rights or not, this change will likely bring more money to our area... as colorado becomes one of nine states plus d-c allowing gay couples to unite.
"I think it will be a boom for Colorado and and I think the state really wants to shed that "hate state" reputation because that's not what we are, especially Colorado Springs."

A final vote this week sends it to Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who will sign the bill before the end of session.