Jennifer Veiga
Encyclopedia
Jennifer L. Veiga is a former Colorado
legislator. First elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1996, Veiga was appointed to the Colorado Senate in 2003 and subsequently elected to full terms in 2004 and 2008. She represented the 31st senate district, covering downtown and north-central Denver
.
She announced on April 7, 2009 that she would be resigning her seat to move to Australia where her partner's mother was ill. Her resignation became effective on May 15 and, on May 29, Pat Steadman
was sworn-in as her successor.
where she earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in political science
in 1983. She then received a Juris Doctor
from the National Law Center, George Washington University
in Washington, D.C.
in 1987.
A practicing lawyer with the Denver law firm Hall & Evans, LLC specializing in civil ligitagation, Veiga was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1996 and re-elected three times, in 1998, 2000, and 2002. In 2003, she served as House Minority Leader, as well as a member of the Executive Committee and the Legislative Council.
In July 2003, she was named by a Vacancy Committee to the 31st District seat in the Colorado Senate following the resignation of Doug Linkhart. She ran unopposed for election to the Senate seat in November 2004 and won re-election in 2008. She served as Chairman of the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
A lesbian
, she came out publicly
in August 2002 and is the first ever openly gay person to serve in the Colorado legislature. As a representative and then as a senator, Veiga introduced legislation every year to ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation
, at first with little success. In 2005 and then in 2006, Veiga's non-discrimination bill was passed by the legislature, but vetoed by Gov. Bill Owens; in 2007, however, the bill was signed into law by Gov. Bill Ritter
. At the time of her retirement, she was one of three openly gay members of the legislature, serving alongside representatives Mark Ferrandino
(D-Denver) and Sue Schafer
(D-Wheat Ridge
).
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
legislator. First elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1996, Veiga was appointed to the Colorado Senate in 2003 and subsequently elected to full terms in 2004 and 2008. She represented the 31st senate district, covering downtown and north-central Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
.
She announced on April 7, 2009 that she would be resigning her seat to move to Australia where her partner's mother was ill. Her resignation became effective on May 15 and, on May 29, Pat Steadman
Pat Steadman
Patrick "Pat" Steadman is a legislator, attorney and former lobbyist from the U.S. state of Colorado. Steadman, a Democrat, was appointed to the Colorado Senate in May 2009 following the resignation of Jennifer Veiga...
was sworn-in as her successor.
Biography
Graduating from Irvine High School in 1980, she went on to the University of Colorado at BoulderUniversity of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
where she earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1983. She then received a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the National Law Center, George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1987.
A practicing lawyer with the Denver law firm Hall & Evans, LLC specializing in civil ligitagation, Veiga was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1996 and re-elected three times, in 1998, 2000, and 2002. In 2003, she served as House Minority Leader, as well as a member of the Executive Committee and the Legislative Council.
In July 2003, she was named by a Vacancy Committee to the 31st District seat in the Colorado Senate following the resignation of Doug Linkhart. She ran unopposed for election to the Senate seat in November 2004 and won re-election in 2008. She served as Chairman of the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
A lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, she came out publicly
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
in August 2002 and is the first ever openly gay person to serve in the Colorado legislature. As a representative and then as a senator, Veiga introduced legislation every year to ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
, at first with little success. In 2005 and then in 2006, Veiga's non-discrimination bill was passed by the legislature, but vetoed by Gov. Bill Owens; in 2007, however, the bill was signed into law by Gov. Bill Ritter
Bill Ritter (politician)
August William "Bill" Ritter is an American politician of the Democratic Party, and was the 41st Governor of the state of Colorado, from 2007 to 2011. Before his election in 2006, he served as the district attorney for Denver...
. At the time of her retirement, she was one of three openly gay members of the legislature, serving alongside representatives Mark Ferrandino
Mark Ferrandino
Mark Steven Ferrandino is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado and the Minority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives. Appointed to the legislature in 2007, Ferrandino represents House District 2, encompassing south central Denver...
(D-Denver) and Sue Schafer
Sue Schafer
Sue Schafer is an educator and legislator from the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2008, Schafer represents House District 24, which encompasses the cities of Wheat Ridge, Edgewater, and Arvada....
(D-Wheat Ridge
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
The City of Wheat Ridge is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Wheat Ridge is a western suburb of Denver. The Wheat Ridge Municipal Center is approximately west-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver...
).