When Montrose Republican Don Coram cast a deciding vote Monday night to kill Colorado’s civil unions bill, he “let down” a gay community that includes his only child, his son told The Denver Post.

“Yesterday was the first and only time I ever called him and said, “Can you do this?” said 44-year-old Dee Coram, who is gay. “He said, ‘I love you, but absolutely not.’ “

Civil unions for same-sex couples seemed destined for success toward the end of the Colorado legislative session, which closed last week. It had cleared three Republican-controlled House committees and appeared to have a majority of votes on the House floor.

But House Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, refused to let lawmakers cast their votes. Gov. John Hickenlooper countered by calling a special session.

The reincarnated civil unions bill on Monday landed in McNulty’s so-called “kill committee,” where he expected the bill to die.

Don Coram, who chairs that committee, said he had to put his personal interests aside and vote in a way that represented the conservative values of his rural district.

He believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage — which voters rejected in 2006 — in all but name.

“I saw it as a violation of the Constitution, which I swore to uphold,” Coram said. “For me to go against what is a significant majority because of my own family situation, I don’t think that’s what a good representative does.”

One by one the votes came down. In the end, Don Coram — noting how proud he was of his gay son — lined up with his fellow Republican party members. The hard-fought legislation died 5-4.

Dee Coram expressed disappointment and said the two haven’t spoken since Monday.

“I was told by my grandfather, there’s always a time to lead and there’s always a time to follow,” Dee Coram said. “He was given a time to lead, and he didn’t do it. He could have and should have been the deciding vote.”

Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com