| October 10, 2008 CT ruling allows same-sex marriages
|
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A divided Connecticut Supreme Court has
ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry in Connecticut.
The court ruled 4-3 Friday 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.
Justices overturned a lower court ruling and ordered that court
to find in favor of the plaintiffs.
Eight same-sex couples sued in 2004, saying their constitutional
rights to equal protection and due process were violated when they
were denied marriage licenses.
Connecticut will join Massachusetts and California as the only
state to allow same-sex couples to marry.
This is the statement issue by Govenor Rell after the ruling:
"I disagree with today's State Supreme Court ruling but as governor, I will uphold it. 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.
The Supreme Court has spoken. 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
