Colorado has officially repealed its ban on same-sex marriage, taking a preemptive stand to protect LGBTQ+ rights as fears grow over potential federal rollbacks.
At a Glance
- Colorado repeals ban on same-sex marriage
- Governor Jared Polis signs SB25-014 into law
- State law now shields LGBTQ+ rights from court reversals
- Voters backed constitutional change in 2024
- Lawmakers say move prepares state for national legal shifts
Commitment to Equality
In a decisive move, Colorado has repealed its outdated statutory ban on same-sex marriage, cementing the state’s place as a national leader in LGBTQ+ rights. On April 7, Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 25-014, dubbed the “Protecting the Freedom to Marry Act,” eliminating language from state law that had previously defined marriage strictly as a union between a man and a woman.
The change followed a November 2024 ballot measure—Amendment J—passed by 64% of voters, which deleted the same-sex marriage ban from the state constitution. According to The Advocate, the legislation now ensures that marriage equality is shielded at the state level, even if federal protections are challenged in the future.
Watch Governor Jared Polis sign the bill into law in this official state video.
Legislative Support and Public Momentum
The bill passed with strong margins—45-14 in the House and 29-6 in the Senate—receiving bipartisan praise and significant public support. Though the original ban became unenforceable after the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, Colorado lawmakers saw a need to formally erase the discriminatory language amid renewed national uncertainty.
Governor Polis, the first openly gay man elected governor in the United States, said during the signing: “Colorado is for everyone, no matter who you are or who you love… This is a long overdue step in the right direction,” according to the official statement released by the Office of the Governor.
Advocacy in Action
The legislation was sponsored by Senator Jessie Danielson and Representatives Lorena Garcia and Brianna Titone. Danielson stressed the urgency of this legal protection, stating, “The freedom to marry who we love is a fundamental right… especially important now, as the Trump Administration attacks the LGBTQ community,” as reported by Colorado Senate Democrats.
First Gentleman Marlon Reis, a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, celebrated the bill’s passage: “This landmark legislation fulfills the hopes and dreams of so many… and affirms that progress hard won is always worth defending,” he said in a statement released by the governor’s office.
Implications Nationwide
While 18 states and D.C. currently have laws supporting marriage equality, 32 others still have unenforceable bans on the books. Colorado’s proactive move is a signal to the rest of the country: states can and should act independently to protect civil rights amid national legal volatility.
With growing concern over potential Supreme Court shifts or new federal challenges, Colorado’s repeal of its same-sex marriage ban is more than symbolic—it’s a legal safeguard and a declaration of values. In the face of potential reversals, the state is sending a clear message: marriage equality is here to stay.
