Connecticut's Supreme Court ruled Friday that same-sex couples have the right to marry, making the state the third behind Massachusetts and California to legalize such unions.
The divided court ruled 4-3 that gay and lesbian couples cannot be denied the freedom to marry under the state constitution, and Connecticut's civil unions law does not provide those couples with the same rights as heterosexual couples.
Read the entire article at Conn. high court rules same-sex couples can marry.
11 comments:
I was just about to :break" this news, but you've beat me to it. I'll stick with religion from now on. :) LOL
Kudos and tips of the biretta to the Con. Supreme Court for standing up for civil rights.
"We shall overcome some day...."
I wonder how long till the Mormon bigots attack connecticut's constitution.
IT
Ah, but that is New England. Notice that while Rell (the Republican governor who signed the Civil Unions bill) makes a token protest she also points out attempting to reverse it is pointless. Then again, this could have something to do with her potential rival in next year's election.
A clip from the New London Day: (Full Article)
"I disagree with today’s State Supreme Court ruling but as governor, I will uphold it," said Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, in a written statement released after the decision. "I continue to believe that marriage is the union of a man and a woman.
"I also believe that the historic civil union law that I proudly signed in 2005 is equitable and just. We were the first state to enact such a law through legislative action and not a court mandate."
Rell also signaled her belief that the court's ruling could not be reversed, the efforts underway to force a constitutional convention and amendment restricting marriage to straight couples notwithstanding.
"The Supreme Court has spoken," Rell said. "I do not believe their voice reflects the majority of the people of Connecticut. However, I am also firmly convinced that attempts to reverse this decision – either legislatively or by amending the state Constitution – will not meet with success. I will therefore abide by the ruling."
The decision met with support from other leaders, including a potential rival of Rell's for the governor's office in 2010, Senate President Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn.
"This historic ruling will provide additional security and protections to thousands of loving, committed same-sex couples and their children living in Connecticut," Williams said in his own statement. "The plaintiffs, advocates, and above all –the people of Connecticut – should celebrate this civil rights victory. We look forward do implementing the Supreme Court’s decision in a bi-partisan manner."
Would that the legislators here in Maryland showed such grace.
This is great news.
Another good development on the legal front in California today. The California Court of Appeal issued a decision today in the case of Donovan v. Poway Unified School District.
The court affirmed the jury's verdict in San Diego County (hi, IT!) finding that the school district utterly failed to protect a gay boy and a lesbian girl from pervasive harrassment at their high school. The jury awarded the boy $175,000 and the girl $125,000. The court awarded their attorneys $420,000 in attorney fees plus costs.
This part of the introduction gives a flavor of what these kids had to put with:
"Plaintiffs Joseph Ramelli and Megan Donovan started as freshmen in 2000 at Poway High School (PHS). Each endured 'severe, pervasive and offensive' peer sexual orientation harassment while attending PHS. This harassment, which peaked during their junior year, included, for example, death threats; being spit on; physical violence and threats of physical violence; vandalism to personal property; and being subject to anti-gay epithets such as 'fag,' 'faggot,' 'fudge packer,' 'dyke' and 'fucking dyke.' Both students completed their senior year at PHS through an independent study program offered by the Poway Unified School District (District).
"Before filing a lawsuit, plaintiffs and their parents met with defendant Scott Fisher, the PHS principal. Plaintiffs each gave Fisher a log chronicling the harassment they had experienced and/or witnessed during their junior year at PHS. Plaintiffs also complained to defendant Donald Phillips, the superintendent of the District, and to defendant Ed Giles, an assistant principal at PHS, among many other administrators and teachers, about the peer sexual orientation harassment they were enduring at PHS."
The decision later indicates that the high school administration basically did nothing to protect these kids and told them things like "boys will be boys" and "be a man." Hopefully, paying this amount of money will make them more responsible.
Here's an article from today's San Jose Mercury News on Prop. 8 -- Same-sex marriage battle brings large, committed armies on both sides.
The article says in part:
"The two sides in the Proposition 8 ballot initiative have amassed more than $40 million for media campaigns now playing on California television, but their most important asset might be the huge, volunteer, shoe-leather armies battling over same-sex marriage.
***
"By early fall, each side in the Prop. 8 campaign said it had at least 10,000 volunteers poised to work for or against the proposed ban.
"If all those volunteers actually show up for phone banks and for other volunteer work this month, 'it would be historic,' said David McCuan, a professor of political science at Sonoma State University who studies the history of initiative democracy in California. 'It would be equivalent to what we saw in Propositions 187 and 209 a generation ago.'
***
"While early polls showed Prop. 8 trailing by a double-digit margin, more recent polls show the measure gaining strength, and even leading in one recent survey. The Yes on 8 campaign says its volunteers and their door-to-door effort are big reasons the race is tightening.
"One thing the polls agree on is that a relatively small number of people are undecided on Prop. 8, generally less than 10 percent of likely voters. The small number of undecided voters means that getting their supporters to the polls will be crucial for both sides. That's where volunteers come in."
A Wall Street collapse in 1929 seemed to motivate many to support right-wing fascist governments (with minorities being scapegoated and targeted for exclusion and violence). California has been hit very hard economically. I can't help but wonder if there is an impulse to blame and punish "godless gays" for bringing on financial woes by "their sexual sins." GLBT persons have been blamed and targeted by neocon christianists for the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and for major hurricanes. Look at how the cynical McCain and Palin campaign is presenting Obama as a foreign, dangerous, conspiratorial, evil, non-American "terroist other." Does anyone else think that scapegoating plays into popular support for Prop 8? Florida has also been economically devastated. The proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution (banning same-sex marriage and even same-sex civil unions -- much tougher legislation than Prop 8) has a lot of popular support and will probably pass in Florida in November. These are very sad and frightening times. I am not optimistic about the future for civil rights progress. Just curious if any of you ever consider becoming expats?
I know this is somewhat off topic, but, I just want to wish IT all kinds of love, joy, happiness, and bright skies for her wedding this weekend. I'll definitely be thinking and sending happy thoughts for you and your loved one.
Elizabeth
Marko, I can't believe it's that bleak. MA and CT will not revert, and NY and NJ can't be that far behind. There may be some setbacks, but I have faith in CA and hopes for AZ and FL ... and when you're feeling down, come up and visit us in Canada, where all but the true nutcakes acknowledge that gay marriage is here to stay.
- Denbeau
Any word on whether or not out of state couples can marry in Connecticut?
Geez...the Mormons seem to be in a competition with the other denominations for the "Most Bigoted" award these days, don't they ?
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