Our country has done the right thing numerous times in civil rights history. After much struggle, we’ve passed laws stating that Native Americans are equal to colonists, women are equal to men and blacks are equal to whites. We value and understand the concept of equality in this nation – it’s even written directly into the Declaration of Independence. So now is the time to put our foot down and stop the unequal treatment of our LGBTQ citizens.

Last Wednesday, the Washington state Senate passed a bill for complete marriage equality. The bill will be passed in full when the House approves and Governor Christine Gregoire signs it.

Several states have already been leaders in the fight. Six states (Connecticut, Iowa, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts) as well as Washington D.C, have legalized gay marriage in full. Five other states – New Jersey, Illinois, Hawaii, Delaware and Rhode Island – have all legalized civil unions, which are essentially the same thing as marriage without the title. Washington state and Oregon have something similar and call it a domestic partnership.

Other states such as New Jersey and Maryland are also debating the topic this year. Maryland is expected to see gay marriage on its November ballot.

So where does Colorado stand on all of this? Currently, the Colorado Civil Union Act is under negotiation in the state congress. Last year, the same act did not pass in the state House. While if enacted, this bill would create monumental social change in Colorado, it still wouldn’t amount to the level of progressive thinking of the other states that have already legalized gay marriage.

I constantly wonder what is holding Colorado back. Our state is well-known as a socially liberal state. It may act as a swing state when it comes down to fiscal policy, but for the most part Colorado residents are supporters of liberal thought.

According to a Public Policy Polling survey in December 2011, 47 percent of Colorado residents support gay marriage, and another 34 percent support civil unions. And yet, even with a 23-12 vote to approve the bill in the state Senate last year, the house was unable to pass the bill into law.

This year, Republicans still hold a 33-32 majority in the state house. In the bill’s second go-round, it will still be hard to pass. Essentially, the bill needs a Republican co-signer to have any chance this year. Colorado residents in support of equal rights for LGBTQ citizens need to speak up. Representatives in the state congress have to know that Colorado is ready to show its support for the homosexual community.

Legalizing civil unions is only a step. Civil unions would allow homosexual couples to share legal financial responsibility, adopt each other’s children, sign for and make medical decisions and have general family benefits, among other advantages. But it’s still not marriage. Telling homosexuals that they can’t use the title of marriage is like telling them that they are one step “worse” than everybody else. It’s not fair, and it needs to change.

I hope that Colorado will pull through this year to legalize civil unions. And maybe someday in the future, Colorado will follow in the footsteps of Washington, Maryland, New Jersey and the six states that have already legalized gay marriage.