Days before a bill for civil unions is to meet its first test of 2012 in Colorado’s Senate Judiciary Committee Feb. 13, the City Council of Denver has passed a proclamation supporting the bill, SB-02.

Proclamation no. 12-0119 by the City and County of Denver, “Concerning Authorization of Civil Unions,” passed with 12 affirmative votes and one abstention.

From the one-page proclamation:

WHEREAS civil unions provide committed couples access to important legal protections and equal application of the law, thus empowering couples to share in the responsibilities and benefits in Colorado law that most families take for granted, and this legislation creates the process for forming and dissolving civil unions, and specifies the provisions of existing Colorado law that will apply to those making this commitment;

…WHEREAS, while we recognize that the State of Colorado currently does not allow marriage between same-sex couples, we strongly support civil unions in order to provide comprehensive protections to same-sex couples.

The proclamation was introduced by Council members Paul D. López and out lesbian Robin Kniech on the urging of the Mayor’s GLBT commission. All City Council members voted for the measure except Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz, who abstained and said that local governments should not be weighing in on legislation where they have no jurisdiction.

Most state legislators don’t anxiously await expressions from Denver City Council Members, Faatz said explaining why she wouldn’t vote on the measure.

Faatz is the only Republican on Denver’s City Council.

Council Member Jeanne Robb said she often often doesn’t support proclamations regarding state and federal law because those representatives aren’t looking for local governments’ input – but would make an exception for this one. Robb, whose District 10 encompasses the heart of Colorado’s LGBT community in Denver surrounding Cheesman Park, said her constituents want her to support civil unions.

SB-02, introduced by Sen. Pat Steadman of Denver, resembles a similar bill from 2011 that passed the state Senate but ended in a party-line vote on the House Judiciary Committee. The Feb. 13 proclamation is the first time Denver’s City Council held a vote to weigh in on the matter.

Christina Aguilar from the GLBT commission and One Colorado’s Jess Woodrum took the podium to accept the proclamation and speak after the vote.

“From thousands of families like ours, I thank you for this proclamation,” Woodrum said.

City Council President Chris Nevitt pointed out Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s similar support for the legislation from the Mayor’s Office one floor below the Council chambers.

“This entire building stands shoulder-to-shoulder with you,” Nevitt said.