Pat Steadman

A resident of Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood, Steadman grew up in Westminster, Colorado, graduating from Westminster High School, Regis College and the University of Colorado School of Law. In 2013, Steadman completed [https://www.hks.harvard.edu/ Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government] program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a [http://www.bohnettfoundation.org/ David Bohnett] [https://victoryinstitute.org/programs/bohnett-leaders-fellowship/ LGBTQ Victory Institute] Leadership Fellow. He became an attorney and prominent lobbyist at the Capitol, best known for his advocacy on gay rights issues.{{cite web|url=http://www.patsteadman.com/About_Pat.html |title=Pat Steadman for SD31: About Pat |access-date=2009-05-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703103157/http://www.patsteadman.com/About_Pat.html |archive-date=July 3, 2009 }} Steadman met David Misner in 2000 and they were together until Misner's death of pancreatic cancer in 2012.

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.{{cite news|title=Steadman wins appointment to SD 31|url=http://coloradoindependent.com/29461/steadman-wins-appointment-to-sd-31|work=The Colorado Independent|date=2009-05-20|access-date=2009-05-21}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/statehouse08/ci_12416695|work=The Denver Post|title=Senate seat goes to lobbyist: Pat Steadman will fill the vacancy created by Jennifer Veiga's exit|date=2009-05-21|access-date=2009-05-21|first=Lynn|last=Bartels}} Steadman, who was sworn into 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.{{cite news|url=http://coloradoindependent.com/29447/sd-31-vacancy-committee-casts-first-round-of-ballots-ragsdale-leads|title=SD31 Vacancy Committee Casts First Round of Ballots: Ragsdale Leads|work=The Colorado Independent|date=2009-05-20|access-date=2009-05-21}}

Like Veiga, Steadman is openly gay.{{cite news|title=Lobbyist Steadman prevails in election to succeed Veiga|url=http://facethestate.com/articles/16268-lobbyist-steadman-prevails-election-succeed-veiga|work=State Bill Colorado|date=2009-05-21|access-date=2009-05-21}} He was one of eight openly LGBT members of the Colorado General Assembly, along with senators Lucía Guzmán (D–Denver) and Jessie Ulibarri (D–Commerce City), as well as representatives Mark Ferrandino (D–Denver), Paul Rosenthal (D–Denver), Dominick Moreno (D–Commerce City), Joann Ginal (D–Fort Collins) and Sue Schafer (D–Wheat Ridge).

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: The Colorado Civil Unions Act of 2011

In the 2012 state elections, Steadman was challenged by Republican candidate Michael Carr, in what is believed to be the first state legislative race in United States history in which both major party candidates were openly gay.[http://www.advocate.com/politics/election/2012/11/06/check-here-updates-lgbt-races-watch?page=0,16 "Election Results: LGBT Races to Watch"]. The Advocate, November 6, 2012. Steadman defeated his opponent, and was rumored as a possible candidate for President of the State Senate due to the Democratic majority retained in the chamber.{{cite web|url = http://kdvr.com/2012/11/07/state-house-senate-likely-to-see-first-openly-gay-leaders/|title =Colorado House, Senate likely to see first openly gay leaders|date = November 7, 2012|author = Will C. Holden|publisher = KDVR-TV}}{{cite web|url = http://kwgn.com/2012/11/06/democrats-re-take-colorado-statehouse/|title = Democrats re-take Colorado statehouse|publisher = KWGN-TV|date = November 6, 2012|author = Web Staff}}

In 2013, Steadman was honored at the White House with the Harvey Milk Champion of Change Award.{{cite news|title=Champions of Change: Harvey Milk Champions Of Change|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/champions/harvey-milk-champions-of-change|date=2013-05-22|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=2014-02-01}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/senate/members/sen31.htm Official Senate homepage]
• [http://www.patsteadman.com/ Campaign website]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meCIaDQF4a8 Interview]

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Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Colorado

Category:Colorado state senators

Category:Living people

Category:1964 births

Category:American gay politicians

Category:University of Colorado alumni

Category:University of Colorado Law School alumni

Category:Politicians from Denver

Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly