Pat Steadman
Encyclopedia
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
. He represents the 31st senate district, which covers downtown and north-central Denver
and portions of Adams County
.
, graduating from Westminster High School
, Regis College
and the University of Colorado School of Law
. He became an attorney and prominent lobbyist at the Capitol
, best known for his advocacy on gay rights issues.
Like Veiga, Steadman is openly gay. He serves as one of four openly gay members of the Colorado General Assembly
, alongside senator Lucía Guzmán
(D–Denver), as well as representatives Mark Ferrandino
(D–Denver) and Sue Schafer
(D–Wheat Ridge
).
See: Recognition of Same-Sex Unions in Colorado
: The Colorado Civil Unions Act of 2011
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Colorado
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...
. Steadman, a Democrat, was appointed to the Colorado Senate in May 2009 following the resignation of Jennifer Veiga
Jennifer Veiga
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...
. He represents the 31st senate district, which covers 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...
and portions of Adams County
Adams County, Colorado
Adams County is the fifth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the county population was 441,603 in 2010 census, a 21.4% increase since 2000 census. Adams County is named for Alva Adams, Governor of the...
.
Biography
A resident of Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood, Steadman grew up in Westminster, ColoradoWestminster, Colorado
Westminster is a Home Rule Municipality in Adams and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Westminster is a northwest suburb of Denver. The Westminster Municipal Center is located north-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol. The United States Census Bureau that the city population...
, graduating from Westminster High School
Westminster High School (Westminster, Colorado)
Westminster High School is a public secondary school operated by Adams County School District 50 in Westminster, Colorado, United States....
, Regis College
Regis University
Regis University is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic, Jesuit university in the United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1877, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
and the University of Colorado School of Law
University of Colorado School of Law
The University of Colorado Law School is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. It is a public law school, with more than 500 students attending and working toward a Juris Doctor or Master of Law. The Wolf Law Building Located in Boulder, Colorado, and...
. He became an attorney and prominent lobbyist at the Capitol
Colorado State Capitol
The Colorado State Capitol Building, located at 200 East Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado, is the home of the Colorado General Assembly and the offices of the Governor of Colorado and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. The building is intentionally reminiscent of the United States Capitol. Designed...
, best known for his advocacy on gay rights issues.
2009 appointment
When Sen. Jennifer Veiga announced her resignation from the legislature in 2009, Steadman was one of ten candidates in the race to succeed her. A vacancy committee, composed of Democratic Party precinct officers and local elected officials, was convened to choose a replacement on May 20, 2009; Veiga endorsed Steadman for the vacancy appointment. Although Steadman placed second to former state representative Ann Ragsdale on the first round of balloting, he received the most votes in the second round and, in the third and final round, he won majority support, defeating Ragsdale by 93 votes to 63. Steadman, who was sworn in to office on May 29, 2009, ran for and won the election for the final two years of Veiga's four-year term in the November 2010 legislative elections.Like Veiga, Steadman is openly gay. He serves as one of four openly gay members of the Colorado General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly
The Colorado General Assembly is the state legislature of the State of Colorado.-Constitutional definition:The Colorado Constitution establishes a system of government based on the separation of powers doctrine with power divided among three "departments": executive, legislative and judicial...
, alongside senator Lucía Guzmán
Lucía Guzmán
Lucía Guzmán is a Colorado state legislator. Appointed to the Colorado Senate in May 2010, Guzmán represents Senate District 34 in Denver. She was elected to a full four-year term in November 2010.-Political career:...
(D–Denver), as well as 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...
).
The Colorado Civil Unions Act
In 2011, Steadman introduced the Colorado Civil Unions Act, an act to create legal recognition for same-sex and heterosexual couples more similar to marriage than allowed in existing law in Colorado. The act passed the Democratic-controlled state Senate but was blocked in a Republican-controlled House committee on March 31, 2011, before it could reach a full House vote.See: Recognition of Same-Sex Unions in Colorado
Recognition of same-sex unions in Colorado
Recognition of same-sex unions in Colorado occurs within the framework of designated beneficiary agreements, effectual since July 1, 2009. These agreements grant limited rights, such as funeral arrangements and death benefits for same-sex partners...
: The Colorado Civil Unions Act of 2011