Fairfield University may still be debating whether to have a forum on same-sex marriages, but the state of Connecticut isn’t debating such issues any more.
Connecticut became the first state to legally recognize same-sex civil unions last week without court decisions mandating it.
The bill, which passed the Senate and was signed into law by Governor M. Jodi Rell, will grant gay and lesbian couples many of the same rights and privileges as married heterosexual couples when it goes into effect in October.
Many equal rights and alternative lifestyle groups were very happy with the outcome of the bill.
Love Makes A Family Inc. is a social change organization of families headed by sexual minorities and friends who want to create a public voice for sexual minority parents and youth.
“Connecticut has been on a path of fairness and equality for a long time, and today our state took another important step on that path by providing needed protections and rights for same-sex couples and our families,” said Anne Stanback, president of Love Makes A Family, in a press release about the passage of the bill.
“I want to commend legislators for supporting the expansion of rights for all Connecticut families and ask them to view this bill as a down payment on the promise of full protection and equality in marriage,” she added.
LMAF is the group that tried to take part in the Same-Sex Marriage Forum which was canceled by Father Von Arx last week because of the groups’s political activism.
The legislative approval came in Hartford only after an amendment was added at Gov. Rell’s urging to define marriage as only between a man and a woman.
Same-sex couples will now be given some of the privileges and rights granted to heterosexual couples once they marry.
Some of these rights include; joint parenting and adoption; next-of-kin status in hospital visits and medical decisions; joint insurance; inheritance automatically in a will; decision making power of a deceased partner such as whether to bury or cremate; wrongful death benefits; pensions, Social Security and Medicaid benefits and protection order under the law.
Many Fairfield students are supportive of same-sex civil unions and believe it is a step in the right direction
“If Britney Spears is able to get married and divorced in a weekend, people whatever their sexual preferences may be should be able to get married or get a civil union,” said Ben Thiel ’05. “I personally think people should be able to marry whoever they want, it doesn’t matter to me.”
Devin Hagan ’06 agreed with Thiel.
“Hey, as long as people are happy its fine with me,” he said. “The government and church are too conservative and are also resistant to change. They are both founded on traditions but, I think marriage should be based on love and is the only thing that matters.”
The amendment defining marriage under Connecticut law as between a man and woman was an effort to appease more traditional groups and voters who do not approve of same-sex marriage.
“I believe marriage is between a man and woman but other couples can still get a civil union if they want,” said Megan Coiro ’05. “I still think the bill shows Connecticut’s openness to all types of people being that many might think that Connecticut is a homogeneous society.”
Not all groups agree nor approve of civil unions in Connecticut. Thousands of people, from both sides of the issue, gathered outside the state capital last weekend to protest the civil union bill.
Some people thought that the state went too far and violated the sanctity of marriage, while others thought the state stopped short of equal rights and marriage for all.
The Family Institute of Connecticut is public policy organization whose members believe that the tradition of marriage should only be between a man and a woman and joined in the weekend protest to protect the sanctity of marriage.
“Yesterday was a sad day for the state of Connecticut. Our legislature and our governor, against the wishes of the people, voted to pass a same-sex civil union bill that grants all of the rights, benefits, and privileges of marriage to same-sex couples,” said Brian Brown, executive director of FIC in a update posted on the website. “This vote should be a wake-up call to all of us at how extreme we have allowed our legislature to become.”
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport also wants to protect traditional marriage between a man and a woman. The Roman Catholic Church has never supported gay marriage and has repeatedly stated that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.
Bishop William E. Lori of the Bridgeport Diocese issued the following statement:
“The decision by the Connecticut House of Representatives to approve a bill legalizing civil unions is a terrible blow against family values and civil society in the state of Connecticut,” said Bishop Lori. “Despite attempts to disguise its true intent, this legislation is, in all but name, same-sex marriage legislation. It virtually bestows on same-sex couples all the rights and benefits of man-woman couples.”
“By equating marriage to the status of other committed relationships, the Legislature further weakens the most basic unit of society. It ignores the absolutely vital need of children to be nurtured by a father and mother who will impart to them the values and virtues that build and sustain a strong society,” he said. “It is quite clear that children are cheated and suffer when deprived of male and female parental role models.
“I have no doubt that without your calls and e-mails we would be looking at an even worse bill,” he said. “The definition of marriage that was placed within the civil union bill would never have passed without your work.”
The definition of marriage Brown mentions is the amendment added to the bill which stipulates that marriage is only between one man and one woman. That amendment had upset some groups who find it discriminatory against alternative lifestyles.
“Many of you are rightly disappointed by the insulting and discriminatory amendment that was passed by the House last week,” said Stanback. “In reiterating our exclusion from the institution of marriage at the same time they extended rights and protections, the House made it clear that civil unions are not “marriage by another name” as our opponents like to describe them.
“But civil unions, as seen in the context of a step towards marriage, represent progress and for that reason LMF did not oppose the final bill, even with the offensive amendment,” she said.
Vermont is the only other state to allow civil unions after passing legislation on April 26, 2000. Massachusetts has allowed same-sex couples to marry since May 17, 2004.
However, these state decisions came only after same-sex couples sued and won after being denied marriage licenses. Seven Connecticut couples are currently involved in court battles against the state since being denied licenses last summer but their suits are still pending.
The fight in Connecticut is far from over. Both sides of the issue have vowed to continue pushing the government for action.
“We know that more court action is coming to bring full same-sex “marriage” to our state. We will be there to stand in the gap and protect marriage,” said Brown. “This will be one of our major priorities in the coming year. One phase in the battle is over, and another phase has begun.” LMAF will also continue to fight for marriage licenses for all couples who want one.
“Today we celebrate this step forward. Tomorrow we begin again to work towards the day when there are not two lines at town hall-one for them and one for us-but a single line for all loving and committed Connecticut couples who come to seek the recognition, protections and responsibilities of marriage,” said Stanback.
“It’s a broad vision, a big vision, but one that embraces the need for equality that every Connecticut citizen wants and deserves. And we will need each of you as we move forward on this final step along the path to full inclusion and justice.”
Leave a Reply