Colorado gays and lesbians will be able to legally join together in civil unions as of midnight on May 1 and officials are already preparing for what  will surely be a big day (and night) for the state.

More after the jump.

Gov. John Hickenlooper has officially signed civil unions into law in Colorado!

Details after the jump!

Updated1:45 p.m. est

It looks like civil unions will head to Colorado after the legislation passed its final voting hurdle in the state House. By a vote of 39 - 26, the full House voted to approve civil unions and send the bill to Gov. Hickenlooper, who has promised to sign the legislation into law. 

The Colorado House of Representatives have given their initial approval to the state Senate's bill legalizing civil unions. 

The bill will be go up for a formal vote on Tuesday.

More after the jump.

Colorado's civil unions bill was approved 9 - 4 today by the state House Appropriations Committee! The final tally includes a yes vote from Republican Rep. Cheri Gerou, a co-sponsor of the bill. We're now one vote away from civil union recognition for Colorado's same-sex couples. Details follow.

Colorado took another step towards legalizing civil unions on Thursday as Senate Bill 11 passed in the House Judiciary Committee.

While the 8-3 vote was pretty lopsided in favor of the bill's passage, it's notable that the breakdown included seven Democrats and one Republican.

Republican Rep. Carole Murray broke with her party in support of civil unions legislation and explains her emotional decision after the jump.

In a vote of 21 to 14, the Colorado Senate has approved civil unions legislation on its final reading. 

SB 11 now heads to the state House, where—as ThinkProgress notes—openly gay Rep. Mark Ferrandino (D), is now the chamber’s Speaker.

Stay tuned to Instinct for the latest updates out of Colorado. 

Success in Colorado!

A bill legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples has passed in the state Senate.

Details after the jump!

The Colorado Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a civil unions bill by a vote of 4 - 3 this morning. The landmark legislation will now head to the full Senate for consideration. Details follow. 

Denver Nugget Kenneth Faried, nicknamed "Manimal" (which we love!) has made a video with his moms showing his support for civil unions in Colorado. Check out the incredible message from one of NBA's brightest after the jump. 

Gay rights pioneer Richard Adams passed away this past Monday.

Adams, along with his husband Anthony Sullivan, was one of the first gay couples in the United States to be issued a marriage license.

The two received their license in Boulder, Colorado in 1975, when a liberal county clerk, Clela Rorex began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples once it was determined that nothing in Colorado's state law explicitly forbade same-sex marriages. 

More after the jump.

With the Republicans that have controlled Colorado's state legislature suddenly out of power in the wake of the November election, civil unions appear to be headed for passage in the state.

Democratic State Sen. Pat Steadman plans to introduce his civil unions bill on opening day of the legislature's new session, and Democrats are confident that they have the votes. 

More after the jump.