CT House passes Civil Union bill

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=3204299

snip
"(Hartford-WTNH/AP, Apr. 13, 2005 Updated 9:00 PM) _ The state House of Representatives tonight passed a same-sex civil unions bill, making Connecticut the first state in the nation to do so without being ordered by a court.
  
The bill passed 85-to-63.
  
Lawmakers first amended the bill by defining marriage as being between one man and one woman. It was a blow to civil union supporters who hoped the House would pass the Senate version of the bill and send it to Governor Rell for her signature.
  
Rell has said she supports the concept of civil unions. She says she was pleased that the House approved the amendment defining marriage. "
/snip

[Scooter24]

1. Finally..

some civility in the world :)

Bravo to CT!

[hippiechick]

2. I don't get it ...

They passed a bill defining marriage as between one man and one woman, but it's a win for same-sex couples ?

:shrug: What am I missing ?

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

3. It affords same sex couples all the rights as married couples but it's not

called marriage. They tacked the DOMA bullshit on this evening. The Governor said she wouldn't sign it if they didn't It is a win for same sex couples but it makes it difficult for future bills that use marriage as the name of the union.

[JerseygirlCT]

15. Thanks... I needed a little encouraging news this morning on the

topic.

My (Dem) rep voted FOR DOMA and AGAINST CU. I just got off the phone with his office. They claim I'm one of maybe 3 constituents who have called on my side of the issue. How shameful, if that's the case!

At least this time, he can't tell the local paper that he hadn't heard from one constituent feeling differently than he does. I'd sure like to get an explanation from him, too, but I doubt it.

I want to believe that the victory on CU is large enough to overshadow the humiliation and embarrassment of my state adding any DOMA amendments.

[CTLawGuy]

16. I'm not worried about the DOMA thing

all it takes is one supreme court case to challenge the government's power to deny gay couples marriage status under the Equal Protection Clause, and every single state constitutional or statutory ban on gay marriage will be erased.

Remember, this is the Court that said that individuals have a privacy right to engage in sodomy. While they may be wrong in some senses (Bush v. Gore) they are right in others.

[ruggerson]

5. Actually, it's a total victory for the good guys

Civil unions in Conn will have EVERY single right, benefit and responsibility of marriage under the law. The only thing different is the name.

And since plenty of religions will actually marry gay couples, who cares what the state calls it if there is equality under the law?

Down the road, when the fundie point of view on this is totally obliterated by common sense, in ten or twenty years, the "separate but equal" definition under the law will undoubtedly be altered and everyone will be considered "married."

Until then, this is an enormous step forward.

[hippiechick]

6. Aaaaaaah, I see now !

Thank you both for explaining !! :hi:

[CTLawGuy]

17. well...

there are hundreds of Federal marriage rights that CUed couples can't get, because the Federal Government does not recognize civil unions.

But they will get every state right.

[RandomKoolzip]

4. Nice. Ya done good, Conutty-cut.

My home state, makin' me proud!

[Erika]

7. Marriage divorce rates shows its a faulty institution

that is probably outdated. The term "marriage" has been denigrated by the heterosexuals to mean nothing more than sex with the opposite sex under the consent of the law(king). SWOSUCK.

[renaissanceguy]

8. It's time Illinois finally does something about it.

We're often the overlooked liberal state. We should be next in line.

[Theduckno2]

9. Nicely done, Conneticut!

This may be step towards getting the States into conducting civil unions, with all the rights and responsibilities currently afforded marriage, and leave the religious act of marriage to the churches.:)

[varun]

10. Federal benefits of marriage

like jont tax returns, immigration (sponsorship of foreign spouse) will still be unavailable to CT G/L couples participating in civil unions.

Nevertheless, a step in the right direction.

[Rockholm]

14. I am in Massachustts and am married, however...

This morning I mailed mt state and federal taxes. Married in Mass, Single in USA.

[Redstone]

11. Damn it, you beat me to it again!

this is what I get for waiting until I get the paper in the morning to see the news.

I hope they combine my thread with yours instead of locking it.

Redstone

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

12. I have a plant in the Capitol!

:)

[sniffa]

13. there was a wonderfuL pic in today's paper

showing the protesters: a bunch of crotchety white men hoLding signs, that decried sodomites and sinning.

won't somebody pLease think of the white men!!