EDITORIAL: Legislature Backs Equality
Posted on May 04, 2009 at 10:21 am
Hartford Courant
May 2, 2009
The Hartford Courant editorial board writes that they "tip [their] hat to elected leaders who kept uppermost the idea of equality before the law," referring to the Conn. Legislature's passage of a marriage equality bill, Gov. M. Jodi Rell's signing it into law, and lawmakers rejecting a "conscientious objection" clause. [Link]
May 2, 2009
The Hartford Courant editorial board writes that they "tip [their] hat to elected leaders who kept uppermost the idea of equality before the law," referring to the Conn. Legislature's passage of a marriage equality bill, Gov. M. Jodi Rell's signing it into law, and lawmakers rejecting a "conscientious objection" clause. [Link]
Connecticut State Rep. Mike Lawlor: “We were always clear that our goal was full marriage equality
Posted on Apr 24, 2009 at 11:00 am
HRC Back Story
April 24, 2009
State Rep. Mike Lawlor (D-CT) writes to HRC that, " hope that the process in Connecticut can serve a model for other states. Love Makes a Family did an amazing job reaching out to folks at the grassroots and bringing legislators together with gay and lesbian couples in their districts. When some conservative republicans signaled a willingness to vote for civil unions, but not marriage, they were embraced and thanked for what was at the time a big step. We were always clear that our goal was full marriage equality." [Link]
April 24, 2009
State Rep. Mike Lawlor (D-CT) writes to HRC that, " hope that the process in Connecticut can serve a model for other states. Love Makes a Family did an amazing job reaching out to folks at the grassroots and bringing legislators together with gay and lesbian couples in their districts. When some conservative republicans signaled a willingness to vote for civil unions, but not marriage, they were embraced and thanked for what was at the time a big step. We were always clear that our goal was full marriage equality." [Link]
Connecticut: Rell Signs Marriage Bill
Posted on Apr 24, 2009 at 10:56 am
The Hartford Courant
April 23, 2009
Conn. Gov. M. Jodi Rell became the first governor in the United States to sign marriage equality legislation Thursday after the state House and Senate voted to approve a bill that would align state statutes with the Conn. Supreme Court marriage decision. [Link]
April 23, 2009
Conn. Gov. M. Jodi Rell became the first governor in the United States to sign marriage equality legislation Thursday after the state House and Senate voted to approve a bill that would align state statutes with the Conn. Supreme Court marriage decision. [Link]
Governor Rell Signs Marriage Equality Codification Bill Into Law; Bill Passed Legislature with Stro
Posted on Apr 23, 2009 at 03:39 pm
Love Makes a Family
April 23, 2009
Love Makes a Family just sent this release upon the Governor's signing of the marriage equality bill to reaffirm the court decision in Connecticut which upheld the freedom to marry for gay couples:
April 23, 2009
Love Makes a Family just sent this release upon the Governor's signing of the marriage equality bill to reaffirm the court decision in Connecticut which upheld the freedom to marry for gay couples:
Governor Rell Signs Same-Sex Marriage Codification Bill Into Law;
Bill Passed Legislature with Strong Bipartisan Support
Bill contains reasonable exceptions to ensure religious freedoms
Hartford—Late last night, the Connecticut legislature passed SB 899-- the marriage codification bill-- with overwhelming bipartisan support: 28-7 in the Senate and 100-44 in the House. Senator Andrew McDonald and Representative Michael Lawlor provided extraordinary leadership in ensuring the passage of the bill. Governor Rell promptly signed the bill today.
“This bipartisan vote is a strong affirmation of the Kerrigan decision and the dignity and respect of same-sex couples and their families,” said Anne Stanback, Executive Director of Love Makes a Family. “Today, fairness won out over fear.”
Despite furious lobbying and an expensive ad campaign by anti-gay opponents, the expected amendments to retain insulting, anti-gay language and to allow businesses or individuals to discriminate had little support. The bill does not undermine state anti-discrimination laws, and it does not allow state actors such as Justices of the Peace or individuals such as florists to discriminate.
“The approved bill includes reasonable exceptions to ensure religious freedom for clergy and religious organizations, exceptions that already exist in state law,” said Stanback.
SB 899 conforms state statutes to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Kerrigan case, provides recognition, by the state of Connecticut, of marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships from other states which provide substantially similar benefits to marriage, and clarifies the status of civil unions, merging them with marriages after October, 2010.
Connecticut General Assembly approves marriage equality bill
Posted on Apr 23, 2009 at 02:01 pm
The Day
April 23, 2009
The General Assembly voted late Wednesday night to affirm the freedom to marry for same-sex couples, codifying a court ruling that made Connecticut the third state in the union to let gays and lesbians legally wed. The House of Representatives approved the bill, by a vote of 100-44, just before 11 p.m. A spokesman for Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell said moments later that she would sign the bill when it reached her desk. (Link)
April 23, 2009
The General Assembly voted late Wednesday night to affirm the freedom to marry for same-sex couples, codifying a court ruling that made Connecticut the third state in the union to let gays and lesbians legally wed. The House of Representatives approved the bill, by a vote of 100-44, just before 11 p.m. A spokesman for Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell said moments later that she would sign the bill when it reached her desk. (Link)
Vote caps decade-long marriage fight in Conn.
Posted on Apr 23, 2009 at 12:43 pm
The Associated Press
April 22, 2009
A decade-long battle for marriage equality in Connecticut ended late Wednesday when the General Assembly voted to update the state's marriage laws to conform with a landmark court ruling allowing gay and lesbian couples to tie the knot. [Link]
April 22, 2009
A decade-long battle for marriage equality in Connecticut ended late Wednesday when the General Assembly voted to update the state's marriage laws to conform with a landmark court ruling allowing gay and lesbian couples to tie the knot. [Link]
EDITORIAL: No Basis For Fear
Posted on Apr 22, 2009 at 11:16 am
Hartford Courant
April 21, 2009
Senate Bill 899, which also clarifies the status of civil unions -- they are turned into marriages after October 2010 -- was recently approved by the legislature's Judiciary Committee by a wide margin. The General Assembly should pass the bill -- and without the kind of discriminatory amendments that were defeated in committee. [Link]
April 21, 2009
Senate Bill 899, which also clarifies the status of civil unions -- they are turned into marriages after October 2010 -- was recently approved by the legislature's Judiciary Committee by a wide margin. The General Assembly should pass the bill -- and without the kind of discriminatory amendments that were defeated in committee. [Link]
Groups Want Faith Exemption
Posted on Apr 21, 2009 at 11:36 am
Hartford Courant
April 21, 2009
Six months after the Conn. Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality, opponents in the state are heavily campaigning for religious exemption laws for businesses that say they oppose marriage for gay couples on religious grounds. [Link]
April 21, 2009
Six months after the Conn. Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality, opponents in the state are heavily campaigning for religious exemption laws for businesses that say they oppose marriage for gay couples on religious grounds. [Link]
EDITORIAL: Leading The Way
Posted on Apr 01, 2009 at 02:05 pm
The New London Day
April 1, 2009
The Day's editorial board writes that, "[I]t makes sense to update Connecticut law to conform to the court's decision [to allow gay couples to marry]. Legislative action would send the message that gay marriage is here to stay, so let's move on." [Link]
Changing from civil union to marriage
Posted on Mar 31, 2009 at 04:42 pm
Connecticut Post
March 31, 2009
The Connecticut General Assembly's Judiciary Committee on Monday afternoon voted 30-10 to codify last October's landmark state Supreme Court ruling upholding marriage equality. (Link)
March 31, 2009
The Connecticut General Assembly's Judiciary Committee on Monday afternoon voted 30-10 to codify last October's landmark state Supreme Court ruling upholding marriage equality. (Link)