Gov. Rell signed legislation today that legalizes civil unions for same-sex couples, following the passage of the bill by the Senate. This is the first time a U.S. state has enacted a civil unions law without the pressure of the courts.
It isn't perfect, not by a long shot. But it's a major step forward, and I'm proud that it happened here.
2 comments:
This is really a great day - the fact the fact that this was done without a judicial mandate is amazing and we should all be proud to live in Connecticut.
The one thing that really troubles me (or maybe should give me hope, seeing as how I'd like to see this turn into same-sex marriage) is the 18 and older amendment that creates a clear difference in rights between gay and straight couples. I don't know how the courts will rule, exactly, but my understanding is that if this is challenged it could lead to a Brown v. Board of Ed style decision.
I dunno... we'll see. It'll probably take some many years before that happens, though.
tkd27,
Actually, anyone getting married in CT needs to be 18 or over, otherwise they need parental consent.
From the Connecticut General Statutes:
Sec. 46b-30.(b) No license may be issued to any applicant under eighteen years of age, unless the written consent of a parent or guardian of the person of such minor, signed and acknowledged before a person authorized to take acknowledgments of conveyances under the provisions of section 47-5a, or authorized to take acknowledgments in any other state or country, is filed with the registrar. If no parent or guardian of the person of such minor is a resident of the United States, the written consent of the judge of probate for the district in which the minor resides, endorsed on the license, shall be sufficient.
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