A measure that would allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions is making progress in Brazil.

The bill passed through a human rights committee in Brazil’s Congress, where it’s been held up for 16 years. The measure would change Brazil’s civil unions law from saying such unions are between a man and a woman to being between two people. 

This may pave the way for marriage equality in Brazil as well, as state courts have allowed some civil unions to become full-fledged marriages. The bill needs to pass other Senate committees before going to a full vote. 

Woo! 

On the second-to-last day of the House session in Colorado, Republican Speaker Frank McNulty quickly ended a news conference and effectively killed a measure that would have allowed same-sex couples to enter into civill unions. 

At least five Republicans supported the bill, so if it had been debated it’s very likely it would have passed. Conservatives had lobbied McNulty to kill the bill in any way possible, and in the process, a number of other bills were immediately shot down, like one for statewide water projects and another regarding driving while stoned.

The fate of a civil unions bill has dominated the session ever since it passed the House Judiciary Committee last week with the support of Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland.

Supporters of civil unions rallied Tuesday outside the Capitol.

“No matter what happens today or tomorrow, the unspoken truth in this whole debate is we will win,” Jace Woodrum, deputy director for One Colorado, the state’s largest gay-rights group.

“Whether it is today or tomorrow or next year or the next, we will win. Gay and lesbian couples in this state will have full protection under the law. We all know it, and everybody in this building knows it,” he said.

Such a roller coaster of a week. 

The Senate in Colorado has approved a civil unions bill that will now need a final vote before moving on to the House.

In 2006, Colorado voted to ban marriage equality even though a poll from around the same time showed 62 percent of people in the state were in favor of marriage equality (including 55 percent of Republicans). The Colorado House is Republican-controlled, so there’s no certainty that the civil unions measure will make it through.

“Civil unions are about commitment,” Brad Clark, executive director of One Colorado, said in a statement. “They’re about responsibility. And they’re about being able to take care of the one you love. Today’s bipartisan vote in the Senate affirms the dignity of all loving families in the state. We look forward to a fair hearing in the House. Issues with overwhelming public support like civil unions deserve an up-or-down vote by all of our Representatives.”

Go Colorado go!

Let it never come to this.

In West Virginia this week, a delegate introduced a bill that would give same-sex couples the same legal protections as married heterosexual couples. This is the first time such a bill has been introduced in the state’s legislature. 

Delegate John Doyle says he introduced the bill Thursday to start a conversation about family equality. The Jefferson County Democrat says that gay and lesbian couples should have the same safety net to deal with the death of a parent or the loss of a job as married couples.

And I won’t either. Separate but equal is inherently unequal. 

Separate is not equal. According to Lambda Legal, the magic number is actually 1138. 

Drewry Fennell and Lisa Goodman, lawyers who have been together for 14 years, were the first same-sex couple to enter a civil union in Delaware when the state’s new civil unions law went into effect on January 1. 

Their ceremony was attended by 400 people, “including U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del., who delivered a sermon) and Lt. Gov. Matt Denns (who read a scripture).”

AP reported that Goodman helped lead Equality Delaware’s fight for state’s new law while Fennell heads the state’s Criminal Justice Council. The New Castle County Clerk of the Peace, Ken Boulden Jr., had opened his office on a Sunday, New Year’s day, so that eight couples — including the Goodman-Fennells — could get their licenses on the first day they were legally available. 

Civil unions also took effect in Hawaii on New Year’s Day. Such a happy start to the year. So excited to hear more stories like this. 

Delaware and Hawaii rang in the new year with the state’s first legal civil unions for same-sex couples. Same-sex civil unions took effect in these states on January 1, and couples wasted no time. 

“We really don’t want to wait any longer because we have been together for 33 years waiting for the opportunity and our rights and everything that goes with it,” said Donna Gedge, who was with her partner Monica Montgomery, speaking to CNN affiliate KITV. “So why wait?”

The couple told CNN last week about their plans to stay up late for the ceremony.

With Hawaii and Delaware joining the list Sunday, five states now recognize same-sex civil unions, while six other states and Washington, D.C., allow same-sex marriage, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Such a happy start to the year. Congratulations to all. 

2012 will be a great year.