HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 10, 2008
Connecticut OKs Same-Sex Marriage
State Supreme Court Rules Gays Have Right To Marry, Becoming 3rd State To Legalize Such Unions
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Same-Sex Marriage Debate
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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.
"I can't believe it. We're thrilled, we're absolutely overjoyed. We're finally going to be able, after 33 years, to get married," said Janet Peck of Colchester, who was a plaintiff with her partner, Carole Conklin.
Connecticut will join Massachusetts and California as the only state to allow same-sex couples to marry.
"Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice," Justice Richard N. Palmer wrote in the majority opinion that overturned a lower court finding.
"To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others," Palmer wrote.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Friday that she disagreed, but will not fight the ruling.
"The Supreme Court has spoken," Rell said in a statement. "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."
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The lawsuit was brought in 2004 after eight same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses and sued, saying their constitutional rights to equal protection and due process were violated.The segregation of heterosexual and homosexual couples into separate institutions constitutes a cognizable harm.
From the court's majority opinionThey said the state's marriage law, if applied only to heterosexual couples, denied them of the financial, social and emotional benefits of marriage.
The majority decision, while accepting that the state's civil union law did accord homosexual couples many of the same legal rights as heterosexual couples (such as shared property), the fact that the state constitution defined marriage as between one man and one woman meant that same-sex couples were constitutionally discriminated against.
"Although marriage and civil unions do embody the same legal rights under our law, they are by no means "equal," the majority opinion read. "The former is an institution of transcendent historical, cultural and social significance, whereas the latter most surely is not."
While lauding the legislature for extending legal rights to those joined in a civil union, the majority wrote that "the very existence of the classification [for same-sex couples] gives credence to the perception that separate treatment is warranted for the same illegitimate reasons that gave rise to the past discrimination in the first place."
In a dissenting opinion, Justice David Borden wrote, "The state of social flux in this entire realm is simply too new and too untested for four members of this court to declare as an established social fact that civil unions are of lesser status than marriage in our state."
Borden questioned whether gay couples who choose to announce their civil unions in the pages of The New York Times view their civil union as a sign of "second-class citizenship."
"In my view, the majority’s decision to grant quasi-suspect class status to sexual orientation is contrary to a sound and prudent interpretation of constitutional standards regarding equal protection of the laws because it unduly minimizes the unique and extraordinary political power of gay persons in this state, both generally speaking, and particularly in regard to the question of whether gay marriage should be recognized in this state."
Peck said that as soon as the decision was announced, the couple started crying and hugging while juggling excited phone calls from her brother and other friends and family.
"We've always dreamed of being married," she said. "Even though we were lesbians and didn't know if that would ever come true, we always dreamed of it."
The case was Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health.
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See all 374 CommentsWe''ll see how things transpire in the future. I would wager it was a lot of money and time put down the shreeder.
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.
(Alexander Pope, %u201CAn Essay on Man,%u201D l. 217.)
These people are people all the same. They work, live very adequate lives, pay taxes, and want the same things out of life that you do! If you do not afford them the same rights that you have then why do they pay the same taxes you do?
I can not wait for God to come back and tell you ignorant S.O.B.s "That''s not what I meant!"
Ignorance will be the distruction of our world! Not g.a.y.s.!
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Posted by drivelphobe at 12:39 PM : Oct 10, 2008
You are so correct, bigotry, hatred, judging, prejudice, obessed with other''s behavior is intollerabel and has no place in a civilized world. State issued licenses are not religious edicts.
I have many friends who should be allowed to marry in ANY state. Who they love has nothing to do with their worth as human beings. I know more fundigelical bigots who shouldn''t be allowed out in public than *** and lesbians.
But I am really surprised and blown away that it happened. I lived in CT most of my life...they are hard, cold and up tight Yankees that are proud to date back to the Mayflower and King George.
What have they done to you? What do you mean leave you alone? Did they come over and decorate your house so well that you find yourself somehow attacted to one of them?
mr22582-
They are very sick and need help? Are you kidding me? What makes you feel sick about it? Have you ever thought that the feelings your have for a woman you were born with? Maybe the feelings they have for the same s.e.x is exactly the way you have feelings for a woman!
Stop being so closed minded and egoistic to think that your way is the only way possible in this world!
Genetics and DNA is so vast in its infinite possibilities did it ever occur to you that this is just another formula in the grand scheme of life?
Probably not...you obviously have not mastered the opposable thumb either!
Feel better after spewing your irrational criticisms?
No one professes to be more qualified. We have every right to speak our opinion. The vomit inducing disgust we have for same gender attraction is biologically driven. We have, against our will, been forced by law, to tolerate outwardly, the antics, and I refer to the wonderful city of San Francisco''s parade of intimate, same gender copulation and ******** on the public streets, and it has gone too far. Check Michelle Malkin''s blog of a week ago or so about the San Francisco variety show. Get a glimpse of the wonderful lifestyle you support.
You condone all of this? Is your god going to take action against anyone involved in this outrageous behaviour or simply go after the offspring of Adam and Eve!
You don''t make any sense.
http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/trail-times/2008/Oct/09/mccain-and-keating-till-death-do-us-part-1/
Is McCain a closet case?
You can''t expect prosperity in this country if we keep ignoring the One who gives us prosperity, the Lord Jesus Christ.
If we continue to throw out His principles, we will get what we ask for.
The United States of Sodomy.
Sick!
lololoolol!!!!!!!
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Posted by Edward1975 at 01:20 PM : Oct 10, 2008
Absolutely. Liberals and atheists want so much to throw out our Sovereign laws and Biblical principles that our nation was founded upon, and we''re seeing what happens when that happens, a country goes on a gradual downward spiral.
These liberals who want to defeat God and push immoral lifestyles into our culture and make them "legal" are sick in the head.
Well America, we reap what we sow. The more and more states that do this, the more we can expect a decline in prosperity in our country.
God is not going to continue to bless our country if we continue to spit Him in the face.
If we continue to throw out His principles, we will get what we ask for.
Posted by StopSocialis at 01:19 PM : Oct 10, 2008
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Funny, I have read through the New Testiment more than once and I honestly don''t remember Jesus saying anythign about g*y people. I do remember alot about not judging others, loving thy neighbor, turning the other cheek. but nothing about hating people for being who they are. Oh wait there was that whole part about overturning the tables of the hypocrits selling their wares in the temple....
You could''ve summed up your post with one simple quote:
"Hooray for sin! Hooray for Sodomy! We don''t need God! Hooray for more sin!"
I think the GOP has done enough to send us an a downward spirl that has not end.
October suprise Stock Market as no bottom. Thank Republicans any more suprises you are going to lay on us before the end of the month.
posted by wolffear
-If you don''t know who Jesus is, it''s not surprising that you would pick and choose certain parts of the Scripture to push more sin in our culture. You could start from the garden of Eden, where God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, and then you could stop lying about reading the New Testament and re-read it. Then after you get done re-reading it, be my guest and please explain how pushing immoral lifestyles like homosexuality in our culture has improved America.
I''ll wait patiently on your answer. Tell us how pushing sin in America has made us prosper. Paid attention to the economy lately?
Here, let me get you started on the New Testament:
Romans 1:25-27
25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator%u2014who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Still going to make the claim that you''ve read the New Testament?
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Posted by antoniof123 at 01:28 PM : Oct 10, 2008
Typical liberal, never wanting to take any personal responsibility. Always blaming someone else. Tell us who was the 2nd highest recipient of Fanny Mae money, would ya?
Your petty god is not in control of everyone. Not all of us follow bronze-age mythologies and listen to a vile hateful book for our morals.
This ''loving'' god of yours hates creation for being the way it was created? Is this the same guy that gave us the talking snake? Said slaves should just shut up and be good little slaves? Said that rape of military captives was okay? Daughters sent into sexual slavery were pleasing? Hate your mother and father? Riiiight, that''s where I''m going for morals.
Have you ever really READ the bible? I have. Cover to cover, at least seven times. That''s what convinced me that it''s all bunk. Try opening your mind instead of your mouth and see how much happier you''ll be.
You are right.What will be next? And mr22582,they have done nothing to me(probley would find out the real law if they did) but waste alot of the tax payers money on this bunch of nonsense.
posted by Flonkbob69
-And you my friend would be a prime example of the type of people who make this country go down the tubes. It is liberals like you who don''t think morals and principles are needed in our culture anymore.
It is sick in the head people like you who tell others that we "disgust" you because we dare to stand up for marriage between man and woman, the way God intended it to be and the way He created us.
It is people like you who push their sinful agendas in our culture that directly attribute to the problems in America today.
So I hope you''re happy. Are you going to now explain to this forum how the rise of homosexuality (Sodomy) and homosexual marriage in our country has helped our country?
-And one more thing, your hateful tyrade of bigotry towards those of us who recognize that God is above all things is a prime example of what Josef Stalin stood for, and many other viscious dictators throughout history.
Our founding fathers warned about the consequences of throwing God out of our country, and we''re seeing the end result of it, because of anti-Christian communist bigots like yourself who are against EVERYTHING that our Constitution was written for.
You atheists cannot take over America just yet, got it?
Our founding fathers would be DISGUSTED with the likes of you! Absolutely DISGUSTED
I do not condone any contact that you have mentioned by g.a.y.s or straights. There are many things that you describe about the parades in San Fran that happen in New Orleans? What makes one right and the other wrong.
The natural disgust you feel in your stomach may be the same thing that a g.a.y person feels when they see full on contact of that nature by straights? Why are you so into what others do in the PRIVACY of their own home (not out in the streets, not to mentions such a function is not the norm of the g.a.y society)?
I may not make sense to you my wayward friend but if you only knew how much it makes my stomach ache to know people like yourself have a right to vote! It truly is sad. If you do or ever have childeren and you raise them to be just like yourself you will be doing an injustice to them for they will eventually be faced with diversity on all levels once they are our age!
posted by wolffear1
-Again, you''re using the old tactic of "picking and choosing" which parts of the Scripture you WANT to believe in.
And you''ve also proven that you haven''t read the Scripture, because nowhere in the Scripture is Mary Magdalene described as a prostitute.
Why you have to lie (claiming you''ve read the New Testament) to get your point across is beyond me.
Again, stop PICKING AND CHOOSING which Scripture you think should be applied to our morals and principles, and stop BLAMING OTHERS for your decisions in life, like ALL liberals do.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
-Did you get that?
You are correct that many queers do not live the exhibitionist, vulgar lifestyle that we all have to witness.
What I object to, is the constant high profile demands for special recognition that results in the infringement and poisoning of our children, the educational system and our values. These people need be thankful that they are tolerated as much as they currently are. When queers begin demanding that they be treated as a special group, the hair on my back and the hair on millions of others'' backs, bristles and we become fed up, angry and disgusted. This gets the queers nowhere but a reversal of what tolerance they have achieved over the years.
Marriage between same gender individuals is an insult to humanity and in the long run will not be tolerated. While they gleefully jump up and down about this, it is actually the beginning of an increased trend to more openly reject their values and demands, driving them back in the closet where they really belong. One''s intimate preferences should not be worn on a shirt sleeve.
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Posted by Edward1975 at 01:48 PM : Oct 10, 2008
I couldn''t agree more!
A country cannot stay afloat by throwing out Absolute Morals and Principles!
It doesn''t work that way~!
Posted by jerryomara at 01:49 PM : Oct 10, 2008
Read your own words jerry. You''re the hateful bigot. Read your own words, one by one, word by word, very slowly. You''ll see the real bigot in your own words if you do.
When did EQUAL RIGHTS become a "high profile demand"?
They are asking nothing more to be viewed a people who do not deserve to be beat and killed while walking down the street for just being themselved! They are asking to have the same rights and benefits that straight couples do!
There is NOTHING above and beyond their inalienable rights that is being requested!
Come on now, give it your best shot.
-PLEASE THINK. Marriage is NOT a "right", it is a PRIVILEGE between man and woman.
What will you call for next, marriage between man and goat??
Would you please think! Where are you going to draw the line?
If you''re going to give the perverse lifestyle of homosexuality a free pass, then you''d better do the same for pedophiles, incest, you name it....etc.
PLEASE THINK.
A country CANNOT stay afloat by eliminating Absolute Morals and Principles. It DOES NOT and HAS NOT ever worked that way!
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