Connecticut takes big step towards civil unions

[NewJeffCT]

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-gaywed0224.artfeb24,0,1291228.story?coll=hc-big-headlines-breaking

A key legislative committee made history Wednesday by endorsing a measure that would make Connecticut the second state in the nation to adopt civil unions for same-sex couples.

After a lively two-hour debate, the judiciary committee approved the civil unions bill by a 2-1 ratio in a largely bipartisan vote.

The proposal needs the approval of the full House and Senate and Gov. M. Jodi Rell to become law. But if that happens - and several lawmakers predicted it would - Connecticut would join Vermont as the only other state to extend nearly all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage to gay and lesbian couples.

"We have an opportunity to provide a huge step forward for equal rights," said state Sen. Andrew McDonald, a Democrat from Stamford and co-chairman of the committee. McDonald, one of several gay legislators in Connecticut, noted that unlike Vermont, Connecticut lawmakers are acting without a court order.

[Ian David]

1. Maybe we should ask for FEDERAL civil unions?

Part of the problem with civil unions done by states is that they are not portable from state-to-state and not recognized by the federal government.

A federal Civil Union bill would solve many of those problems.

It would also expose the hypocrisy of those who say they are trying to "protect marriage" when they cry that civil unions are a "counterfeit marriage" and are evil.

If I remember correctly, civil Unions have a great deal of broad support across the boards.

While not perfect, maybe a federal civil unions bill is the place to start?

Or maybe do what they did in Massachusetts. Amend the "defense of marriage" bill to include a provision creating civil unions alongside the one defining "marriage" as between one man and one woman.

[NewJeffCT]

2. You can ask, but I'd doubt you'd receive nationally

At this time, with the current makeup of Congress, I don't think it would see the light of day on a Federal level, even if Bush supposedly supports civil unions. That was only made to make it look like he was a moderate/compassionate.

[Siyahamba]

3. Where are all the Republicans who said they'd accept civil unions?

They say they'd accept it but conveniently don't take any steps to move it forward.

[Meeker Morgan]

4. We may wish otherwise, but ...

... one piece at a time will do, if we can get there that way.

I'm more concerned about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 not being extended to sexual orientation, than gay marriage alone.

If we get that, we get marriage and much more.

Be honest, the marriage issue as such does not touch most of us directly (though of supreme importance).

But extending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would give us marriage for those who want it, and much else to gay people everywhere in the USA.

I think this is the way to go, but we must have more Democrats of the right sort on our side in congress.

That is what we should work on.

Just yelling does not help (but it feels good).