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.
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