January 25, 2013 11:28 AM UTC

Denver Nuggets Player Kenneth Faried Voices Support for Civil Unions in Colorado

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• by: One Colorado

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Denver Nuggets star player, Kenneth Faried, has made a video with his two moms voicing their support for civil unions in Colorado.

“Nobody can ever tell me I can’t have two mothers because I really do,” said Faried.

Faried’s two mothers, Carol and Waudda, have been together for eleven years. Waudda has lupus, and the protections of a civil union have helped Carol care for her partner through the ups and downs of life.

“Gay and lesbian couples share similar worries as everyone else, like taking care of a loved one in sickness and in health,” said Brad Clark, Executive Director of One Colorado, the lead organization advocating for passage of civil unions in Colorado. “The story of Kenneth’s mothers remind us why civil unions are an important part of building the security we all long for.”

Click here to thank Kenneth Faried and his moms for supporting civil unions.

Faried and his mothers shared their story at One Colorado’s The Session Party, an event to kick-off the legislative session and celebrate the historic number of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender legislators elected this year. Faried was eager to voice his support for civil unions as Colorado considers legislation to protect gay couples in the state.

“I really do support civil unions because it gives people, gays and lesbians, the right to make decisions on their own,” said Faried.

“The support of allies like Kenneth changes the face of this conversation. Like so many Coloradans, Kenneth struggled to accept his mothers at first but learned, in time, that their love is as strong as any couple,” said Clark. “Now, he’s voicing his full support for equal protection under the law for families like his.”

If passed, Colorado’s civil unions bill will provide committed gay and lesbian couples with critical legal protections and responsibilities, such as the ability to take family leave to care for a partner, to make medical and end-of-life decisions for a partner, to live together in a nursing home, and to adopt children together.