Senate, on Party-Line Vote, Gives Final OK to Expansion of Anti-Discrimination Law

A Senate divided by party affiliation gave final approval Monday to a bill that would extend the state's current protections against discrimination on the basis of disability, marital status, religion, gender, age, nationality and race to gay and lesbian Coloradans.

SB 200 passed on a 20-15 vote, with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans opposed.

The measure, which is sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, also harmonizes the existing anti-discrimination laws to ensure that all classifications are covered equally.