Shawna Kemppainen hopes the law will pass. Her longtime partner has muscular dystrophy, and she worries she won't be able to make important decisions in a medical emergency.
"There are a lot of responsibilities and protections that we think are just fair for gay and lesbian couples to be able to have, but it's about much more than that. It's really the way that our love can be fairly recognized, as well."
Three recent surveys - including one conducted earlier this month by Public Policy Polling (PPP) - found that more than 70 percent of Coloradans support legal rights for same-sex couples such as those found in civil unions.
"There's been a sea change in public attitude over the last several years. This shouldn't be a Democratic or Republican issue. Issues involving basic fundamental legal protection should be something we should all agree on."
Eighty organizations representing more than half a million Coloradans have formed a coalition in support of the Colorado Civil Unions Act. It includes the GLBT Center of Colorado and also church, business, labor and civil rights groups.
Kemppainen calls the relationship with her partner "the relationship of a lifetime." She says the civil unions law will help them care for and take responsibility for each other - the same as other couples do.
"This is critical way for the United States and for Colorado to say you are as good as. That you count."
The PPP survey can be found at http://coloradoindependent.com/category/lgbt-issues.
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