A Boulder lawmaker on Wednesday injected a strong dose of reality into the fierce ideological debate over whether cohabitating couples - including gays - should be allowed to adopt.

Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, rose to cap two days of charged exchanges over the "Second Parent Adoption Bill," including one Republican's insistence that "these families" without a married man and woman "do not exist."

"I have three beautiful nieces," said Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, her voice shaking. "They're gorgeous girls.

"They have two mothers - my sister and her partner. They live in . . . a loving, supportive family. It is everything anyone would want in a family."

Levy said that under state law, her sister and partner can't get married, and her sister's partner can't adopt their children.

"If my sister died, her children - my nieces - would be orphans. That should not happen to those children," she said. "They have two mommies, that's all they've ever known. And they deserve to have both of their parents be their legal parents."

House Bill 1330, also called the "Second Parent Adoption Bill," passed on a 39-25 vote, but social conservatives vowed the fight is far from over.

"This bill is changing what a family relationship is in Colorado," warned Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs.

He said it flouted the will of Colorado voters, who in November defeated Referendum I, which would have legalized domestic partnerships and adoption by gay couples. Voters also approved Amendment 43, which defines marriage as only a union between one man and one woman.

"We're going to continue this argument in the Senate," Lambert said. "Gov. Ritter is going to have to consider passage of this bill. This will go on to the people" in a future ballot measure, he promised.

Sponsor Rep. Alice Madden, D-Boulder, said her bill is about helping children, because it would give them two parents and the emotional and economic stability that brings.

Current law allows only married couples or single parents (gay or straight) to adopt. A second parent - gay or straight - cannot adopt their partner's child unless the couple marries.

Adoption agencies support the bill, saying it will help an array of nontraditional families, including grandparents, aunts and uncles who are caring for relatives' children but can't provide health care or Social Security benefits to the youngsters because of adoption obstacles.

However, Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, said the bill undermines Colorado law's longstanding affirmation that "marriage is one man, one woman (and) the family is composed of a mom and a dad and whatever children are part of that family."

Madden, noting that half the children in the United States are being raised by nontraditional families, said opponents "are just ignoring reality."

gathrighta@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5486