Controversy erupted last spring after University President Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. cancelled the Gay Marriage Forum, which had been planned and partially sponsored by Alliance. Some of the frustrations may have been put to rest on November 16, when Love Makes a Family had the rescheduled forum, entitled “Civil Union Today: Marriage Equality,” at the First Church Congregational in Fairfield, Conn.

The keynote speaker was Evan Wolfson, author of “Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People’s Right to Marry,” who was named by Time Magazine in 2004 as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World.”

Wolfson is the executive director of Freedom to Marry, an organization working to win marriage equality nationwide.

Last April, Connecticut took a historical step by being the first state to pass civil unions without any previous lawsuit. However, some people feel that gay civil unions are not enough and that Connecticut should take further action in approving gay marriage.

Although Wolfson noted that Connecticut acknowledges the existence of these homosexual couples by permitting civil unions, he extended the question of why Connecticut is withholding marriage rights from homosexual couples.

“I don’t think it matters whether or not Connecticut is the first state to legalize gay marriage,” said Kelly Anne Martin ’06. “But no matter what Connecticut does, I feel that is the duty of our University to educate us about the equality.”

Other students feel the same way.

“It is important for students to have access to this important issue,” said Jaime Laginestra ’06.

“While Connecticut took an important stride forward this year with the passage of the civil union law, our work isn’t done,” said Anne Stanback, Love Makes a Family’s President.

“Connecticut is not alone in this process of fighting for equality,” said Stanback. “Over the next year, other states will be looking to Connecticut to determine if civil unions are a satisfactory model for legal recognition of same-sex couples.”

Rebecca Valencia also feels that civil unions are not enough.

“Connecticut can definitely set an example for the rest of the nation by providing equal protection for gay married couples,” she said. “Fairfield University should also take an active role in educating their students about equality and diversity.”

Wolfson feels that Connecticut is taking a step in the right direction.

“Connecticut should be a leader in this matter,” he said. “Other states have agreed that there are no good reasons to withhold marital rights and protection from homosexual couples.”

Carol Buckhiet, Love Makes a Family’s director of special projects, hopes that other states will follow Connecticut’s lead.

“Any day now Washington State’s Supreme Court will decide on gay marriage,” said Carol Buckhiet, Love Makes a Family’s director of special projects. “Soon to follow are New Jersey, New York and California.”

The panel at the forum consisted of Jennifer Brown, a law professor at Quinnipiac University; Jeffery Bush, a member of one of the seven couples who are involved in a pending court case in Connecticut; and Reverend Selena Blackwell, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.

The forum was co-sponsored by local, state and national organizations such as Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Human Rights Campaign and Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

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