Whee, our legislature actually did something!
From the Courant:
"Connecticut became the third state to legally recognize same-sex couples Wednesday, signifying a new era in the gay rights movement and bucking a national trend.
The landmark law permits same-sex partners to enter into civil unions and grants nearly all of the rights and responsibilities available to married couples. Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed the bill late Wednesday afternoon, about an hour after the state Senate gave the measure final legislative approval. It takes effect Oct. 1."
I agree with Rep. DeLourca that a referendum would have been preferable, but at least we are out of the dark ages. Sometimes our signature liberal ambivalence works in surprisingly pleasant ways.
Of course, I am sure some people will not be satisfied and start protesting the "civil-union" v. "marriage" distinction. I have my opinions on that, and they tend to incite anyone who is not willing to give me a good hour to explain myself (FYI: I am very very pro-gay rights!), but mostly I believe that to decree a given term is discriminatory, even for state legislature, is a huge dangerous precedent and definitely not in the Constitution of the USA or Connecticut.
"Connecticut became the third state to legally recognize same-sex couples Wednesday, signifying a new era in the gay rights movement and bucking a national trend.
The landmark law permits same-sex partners to enter into civil unions and grants nearly all of the rights and responsibilities available to married couples. Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed the bill late Wednesday afternoon, about an hour after the state Senate gave the measure final legislative approval. It takes effect Oct. 1."
I agree with Rep. DeLourca that a referendum would have been preferable, but at least we are out of the dark ages. Sometimes our signature liberal ambivalence works in surprisingly pleasant ways.
Of course, I am sure some people will not be satisfied and start protesting the "civil-union" v. "marriage" distinction. I have my opinions on that, and they tend to incite anyone who is not willing to give me a good hour to explain myself (FYI: I am very very pro-gay rights!), but mostly I believe that to decree a given term is discriminatory, even for state legislature, is a huge dangerous precedent and definitely not in the Constitution of the USA or Connecticut.