Posted on 04/14/2005 9:50:36 AM PDT by AZScreamingEagle
HARTFORD, Conn. The state House passed legislation Wednesday that would make Connecticut (search) the second state to establish same-sex civil unions, and the first to do it without a court order.
Addressing concerns raised by Gov. M. Jodi Rell (search), the House amended the bill to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. That means the Senate, which overwhelmingly approved the bill last week, would need to approve the amended version before it reaches the governor's desk.
Vermont has approved civil unions and Massachusetts (search) has gay marriage, but those changes came only after same-sex couples brought lawsuits.
The Connecticut bill, approved 85-63 by the House, would give same-sex couples all the rights and privileges of marriage, but they would not be eligible to receive marriage licenses. Critics said they saw no real difference between civil unions and marriage, but proponents stressed that it would not affect the state's marriage laws.
"The public policy of this state could not be clearer. Marriage is the union of one man and one woman," said Democrat Rep. Michael Lawlor, who co-chairs the Judiciary Committee.
While some proponents said the bill was a key step toward providing civil rights for same-sex couples, others were disappointed it was amended with the marriage definition.
"In the end, they have completely accepted and put into law the second-class status of gay and lesbian families in Connecticut," said Mary Bonauto, a Boston lawyer who led a successful fight for same-sex marriage rights in neighboring Massachusetts. "That is a very bitter pill to swallow."
Rell, a Republican, said she would sign the amended bill if the Senate passes it.
"The House bill sends an unambiguous message about our commitment to fight discrimination, promote civil rights and preserve the traditional institution of marriage," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
So now in conecticut a person can be married to a member of the opposite sex AND can be civil unioned to a person of the same sex AT THE SAME TIME!
We need a constitutional amendment. Let the people decide whether we want to make sexual deviancy of people of the same sex equal to marriage between a man and woman.
Are you saying we should abolish legal marriage?
I don't think the government should play a role in an institution so sacred to so many people. Couples could sign binding contracts to spell out all legal terms of their marriage, and a church or religious institution of their choice could perform the ceremony. When the government is involved in something, it usually screws it up.
R.I. and Maine haven't done anything.
I have posted on this whole issue before. One thing that never seems to come up, even in the face of "why is it anyone's business" department, is the financial cost. I assume all these additional people coming on to health insurance policies and becoming eligible for state "spousal" benefits would add up to a fair amount of money. Has anyone run the numbers? Are we allowed to ask?
Actually, No they are not doing it right. Every other state, with the exception of the court imposition in MA and VT, have allowed a vote by the people. CT did not, and is denying constitutional rights of it's residents!
No, something's already happened in Maine...there's strong sympathy there for an accomodation, or whatever one wishes to call it.
Thanks for the note!
There are many laws that relate to marriage. Actually, a legal contract would be much more difficult to get out of than a marriage.
Do residents on CT have a constitutional right to vote on all legislation? If not, how are they being denied their constitutional rights?
Here in NC we do not have the right to public referendums. We get to vote on very few things outside of elections. We get to vote on Constitutional amendments, bonds (though that was actually just removed by a vote of the people!), and something else that is slipping my mind.
Yep. Just like Americans shouldn't be forced by law to support abortion, they shouldn't be forced by law to support a chosen sex fetish (especially a diseased and infected one like this! Their new strain of AIDs is a real beauty! They're dead in 3 years or less).
That'll teach 'em. Cowards or idiots, or both. Probably both.
That might just not be a bad thing.
Because all citizens pass through the institution of the family, which is the bedrock of every society.
Moreover, the State must arbitrate all family disputes, including adoption, child-custody, etc.
Ironically, state sanctioning of homosexual marriage is suicidal. No procreation, no society, no State.
Homosexuals drop dead like flies after they've cost businesses (which means us in the end) millions in AIDS medical expenses. That'll cost us!
Their life expectancy is 40 years old.
Trying to resist urge to insert tasteless comment.
can the citizens of CT get a referendum to amend their constitution and thus bypass the legislature?
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