A Democrat bill allowing same-sex couples to adopt passed in the Senate today despite accusations it flouts a statewide vote against a similar proposal last fall.

Under current state law, only single people or married couples can adopt, barring both members of cohabitating couples from adopting children together.

HB 1330, by Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, and House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, would allow a child’s adopted or birth parent to support adoption by a second parent. With its approval today, the bill is scheduled for final passage in the Senate.

Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, said the bill was an attempt to sidestep the November 2006 failure of Referendum I. If passed by state voters, the ballot measure would have legalized homosexual unions under the name of “domestic partnerships” and would have included a provision allowing for child adoptions by same-sex couples.

"Colorado voters have just considered this issue and decided no, and we should respect that judgment," Mitchell said.

Referendum I was defeated 53 percent to 47 percent.

Mitchell chided the bill's backers for raising a "divisive social issue" that only serves to sidetrack the General Assembly from more pressing matters.

"I thought we were supposed to be focusing down here on health care, job creation,

and education, and those bread-and-butter issues," Mitchell said. "Let's not go in this unnecessary direction in this unnecessary fight."

Mitchell also said benefits like health care and child support are more easily available through a contract than through the adoption process.

Veiga suggested that HB 1330 is a protection of children by recognizing the existence of same-sex families.

“This bill is not (about) whether we should have gay relationships,” Veiga said. “It recognizes that other relationships are out there.”

Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, charged that changing the definition of family via any legislation is wrong for Colorado.

 “The purpose of this bill is not about children,” he said. “It’s about silencing the citizens of this state.”