Mark Ferrandino is anxiously awaiting same-sex marriage laws to be enacted in Colorado. He is ready for his family, which includes his partner and their daughter, to become a legal family.
The couple, who has been together for 14 years, brought home their daughter in August of 2012. One short year later, her adoption became final. The missing piece of their puzzle is the marriage of Ferrandino and his partner.
Ferrandino has a unique situation when you consider his professional life and how it can affect his personal life. He is the speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives. He says that he hopes this year will be the last year that he and his partner spend as an unmarried couple for Father’s Day.
While he is happy that his colleagues have passed civil union laws and afforded greater protection for same-sex couples, he hopes that Colorado will soon listen to the 61 percent of Colorado residents who say they support marriage equality.
He points to the fact that federal judges have been shooting down states that are trying to stop same-sex couples from marrying. He reminds people that the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is in the Denver area, is soon expected to rule on same-sex marriage cases in other states.
As a same-sex couple, figuring out your legal rights can often be a challenge. This is especially true now that the protections and rights of these unions are changing so rapidly. From custody of children to other common marriage issues, learning how to deal with situations legally in a same-sex marriage is possible if you are willing to ask questions and learn.
Source: The Burlington Record, “Ferrandino: A Father’s Day wish: full equality for our family” Mark Ferrandino, Jun. 11, 2014
