More than 15 years ago, Colorado’s state constitution was changed to say: “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.” Since then, it was superseded by the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which made marriage equality the law of the land across the country.
Given this, you may be surprised to see marriage equality on the ballot in Colorado as Amendment J. We need to vote yes on J. A vote yes on Amendment J would:
Secure LGBTQ+ Rights and Protect Families: A YES vote on Amendment J ensures that all Coloradans—regardless of who they love—can marry the person they love. Same-sex marriage deserves permanent protection in our state constitution. Every family should be recognized and have the legal protections they need to thrive.
Take the Power Back from SCOTUS: The Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage (Obergefell v. Hodges) isn’t guaranteed forever. Recent rulings have rolled back long-standing rights. We can’t rely solely on politicized federal courts alone. We need state-level protection to ensure marriage equality in Colorado no matter what, and we can do that by voting YES on J.
Update the Constitution to Reflect Colorado Values: Colorado’s constitution still contains a ban on same-sex marriage from 2006. It’s outdated and discriminatory. Coloradans are known for our inclusiveness and our belief in freedom for all. Voting YES on J reinforces that we are a state that believes in equality and rejects hate and discrimination.
In Summary: A vote YES on Amendment J is a vote for fairness, freedom, and love.
And marriage isn't the only freedom on the ballot in Colorado. Amendment 79 would make abortion a guaranteed right in the Colorado constitution.