Amendment J would repeal Colorado’s defunct ban on same-sex marriage

Amendment J would protect same-sex marriages in Colorado by repealing the state constitution’s now-defunct definition — which recognizes only unions between a man and a woman.

Same-sex marriages were legalized nationwide in 2015 by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Obergefell v. Hodges case. Colorado was already issuing gay marriage licenses the prior year, after its ban was deemed unconstitutional by a lower court.

However, the state’s constitution still retains a 2006 voter-approved amendment that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

The measure, which was referred to the ballot by the state legislature, would align Colorado’s constitution with decisions made by both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Colorado Supreme Court. Unlike amendments that would add to the state constitution and need a higher threshold of support, a repeal measure like Amendment J needs only a simple majority to pass.

What would Amendment J do if passed?

The amendment would repeal the language in the state’s constitution that limits valid marriages to those between a man and a woman.

What would it cost?

According to the state’s Blue Book voter guide, the amendment wouldn’t place any financial burden on local governments since it would simply remove a now-overruled definition from the constitution.