Gov. John Hickenlooper said it’s not his call, but he thinks a civil-unions bill should be debated by the entire House.

The measure is scheduled to be heard at 1:30 p.m. today by the House Judiciary Committee, where conventional wisdom says not a single Republican will back it, ensuring its death.

“Almost everybody has an opinion about this,” Hickenlooper said. “It’s been discussed at people’s kitchen tables. I think that lends itself to the possibility it would benefit by a fair and open discussion before the entire legislature.”

Senate Bill 172 would give same-sex couples many of the rights and responsibilities of marriage, including child support and hospital visitation.

Republicans have only a 33-32 majority in the House, which means if the bill went before the full body, it likely would pass. The Senate already has given its OK, with three Republicans joining in to support it.

Hickenlooper, a Denver Democrat, is on record as supporting civil unions, although he rarely says where he stands on a bill before it is heard.

Many gay couples view “not getting the same legal rights (as traditional couples) as a form of prejudice, discrimination,” Hickenlooper said.

Bill supporters have urged Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, to allow the bill to get to the floor for a full debate.

But the question looms why Democrats didn’t pass a civil-unions measure during the four years they controlled the governor’s mansion and both chambers in the legislature.

“It’s odd that they waited until there was a chance Republicans could be in charge,” said Sen. Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs.

The bill sponsors, Sen. Pat Steadman and Rep. Mark Ferrandino, both Denver Democrats and gay men, said several factors were at play, including the 2006 election.

That year, a civil unions-like measure, Referendum I, failed, while voters approved a constitutional amendment basically outlawing gay marriage.

Democrat Bill Ritter, who was elected governor that year, said he was mindful of the vote when he took office. “I was willing to entertain legislation for gay rights, but not on civil unions,” he said Wednesday.

Ritter signed into law three bills backed by gay-rights advocates: adding sexual orientation as a classification of workplace discrimination; allowing the same-sex partner of a gay person to adopt his or her partner’s child; and creating “designated beneficiaries,” which make it easier for two unmarried people to file paperwork allowing them to share benefits and plan their estates.

The former governor said enough time has passed since 2006 that the legislature should consider the issue.

Steadman, a veteran lobbyist at the Capitol who was appointed to his Senate seat in May 2009, said he wasn’t interested in sponsoring a civil-unions bill in 2010, his first session.

“I didn’t want that to be the first thing I did when I came to the Senate. I didn’t want to get pigeonholed as the gay senator with the gay bill,” he said.

“I am of the opinion we have let enough distance occur. We are in a very different place than we were 4 1/2 years ago. I think the cooling-off period served its purpose.”

Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com

Pro and con rallies today

Dueling events will be held outside the state Capitol today in connection with a civil- unions bill to be heard at 1:30 p.m.

Supporters: Rally scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on the west steps

Opponents: Prayer vigil scheduled for noon on the east steps