Panel: Gay Couples Deserve Equal Rights

Committed gay couples should have the same legal rights as heterosexual married couples, a special commission in Colorado said, but it stopped short of endorsing marriage for homosexuals. The report, the work of a 14-member group including the Episcopal bishop of Denver, said state laws should be changed to provide equal rights on inheritance, health insurance, retirement benefits and dissolution of the relationship. Gov. Roy Romer, at a news conference to release the report, said it in no way suggests that marriage should be allowed for gay couples.