The gay marriage law that passed in New York late Friday night has its origins in Colorado politics--and Centennial State political implications for 2012. Colorado software entrepreneur and gay rights activist Tim Gill's team was a major player in the effort, an effort that should continue in Colorado next year on both the state legislative and electoral fronts.

While the New York state Senate became the first-ever Republican-led state legislative body to recognize same-sex relationships, Colorado Republican leadership killed a Gill-backed civil unions bill on a party-line vote in a House committee this year.