Controversial Colorado Bill Ignites Debate Over Its 'Pro-Family'-ness

by Allie Martin and Jody Brown
February 15, 2006

(AgapePress) - - A spokesman for Focus on the Family says the ministry is supporting what it sees as a common-sense alternative to domestic partnership legislation in Colorado. But a think tank in that state contends the legislation "grants homosexual couples some of the benefits currently reserved for married couples and their families."

Focus on the Family recently announced it would support Colorado Senate Bill 166, which provides expanded legal benefits to non-traditional households, including same-sex couples. The legislation is a challenge to a civil unions proposal that would give same-sex partners legal rights currently extended only to married couples.

Jim Pfaff, state policy analyst for the ministry, says Focus on the Family is not supporting same-sex "marriage."

"We want to make it very clear that the bill would be beneficial to various family relationships, and therefore we think it's a fair approach to the [domestic partners] benefits issue," explains Pfaff. "We are against any form of special recognition for homosexuals at any level of government. We do not believe that it is a class that is required to be treated specially."

But Dr. Paul Cameron of the Family Research Institute has been in a media debate with Focus on the Family's Dr. James Dobson over the latter's endorsement of the legislation. Cameron contends the measure's exclusion of cohabiting heterosexuals "violates" Dobson's stated principle. "Needy cohabiting homosexuals would be eligible for benefits" under the bill, says Cameron -- but "needy cohabiting heterosexuals would remain needy."

Cameron maintains the Colorado ministry's support for the bill "undermines" the efforts of pro-family groups that have been battling against special rights for homosexuals. "Dobson's statement gives aid and comfort to the homosexual movement," he charges.

Pfaff, however, says allegations that Focus has abandoned its consistent position against granting special rights based on sexual orientation are baseless. "We see homosexuals as a group [that] can be found to have the highest standard of living, or amongst the higher standard of living, of any group of people in the United States," the Focus spokesman says.

"And the legislature in Colorado was looking to give them even more benefits on top of that -- whereas you've got people in other segments of society who, frankly, have true needs that are being ignored, and they may be at or near poverty levels."

In 1997, Focus on the Family supported similar legislation in Hawaii that had been introduced as part of a move to protect traditional marriage.