A month after Connecticut's highest court legalized it, the state started handing its first marriage licenses to same-sex couples today. Congratulations for being ahead of the American social curve, Connecticut.
Zach Strassburger '06 sends in a video that includes footage from the Friday's rally/celebration at the Capitol for marriage equality in Connecticut. You can listen to some of the speakers from the event and just watch the ecstatic excitement in the atmosphere:
The Kerrigan case is being decided today here in Connecticut - and the stakes are marriage equality. According to Love Makes a Family CT:
We are awaiting a decision by the Connecticut Supreme Court in Kerrigan and Mock v. the CT Department of Public Health. The case was brought by GLAD on behalf of eight same-sex couples who seek to end marriage discrimination in Connecticut. Oral arguments in the case were heard by the Supreme Court in May, 2007
We conclude that, in light of the history of pernicious discrimination faced by gay men and lesbians,1 and because the institution of marriage carries with it a status and significance that the newly created classification of civil unions does not embody, the segregation of heterosexual and homosexual couples into separate institutions constitutes a cognizable harm. We also conclude that (1) our state scheme discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation, (2) for the same reasons that classifications predicated on gender are considered quasi-suspect for purposes of the equal protection provisions of the United States constitution, sexual orientation constitutes a quasi-suspect classification for purposes of the equal protectionprovisions of the state constitution, and, therefore, our statutes discriminating against gay persons are subject to heightened or intermediate judicial scrutiny, and (3) the state has failed to provide sufficient justification for excluding same sex couples from the institution of marriage.[edit by spazeboy - 1:53pm]
In light of our determination that the state’s disparate treatment of same sex couples is constitutionally deficient under an intermediate level of scrutiny, we do not reach the plaintiffs’ claims implicating a stricter standard of review, namely, that sexual orientation is a suspect classification, and that the state’s bar against same sex marriage infringes on a fundamental right in violation of due process and discriminates on the basis of sex in violation of equal protection. In accordance with our conclusion that the statutory scheme impermissibly discriminates against gay persons on account of their sexual orientation, we reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand the case with direction to grant the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment.
...
On appeal,11 the plaintiffs challenge the trial court’s determination that Connecticut’s civil union law does not discriminate against gay persons because same sex couples who have entered into a civil union are entitled to the same legal rights under state law as married couples. The plaintiffs also renew the various state constitutional claims that they raised in the trial court. We conclude, first, that the trial court improperly determined that the distinction between civil unions and marriage is constitutionally insignificant merely because a same sex couple who enters into a civil union enjoys the same legal rights as an opposite sex couple who enters into a marriage. We also conclude that our statutory scheme governing marriage impermissibly discriminates against gay persons on the basis of their sexual orientation.
I want to highlight some ideas for what those of us who are celebrating this decision can do next, all of which I lifted from MikeCT at MyLeftNutmeg:
[edit 2:12 pm] The New York Times and Hartford Courant are covering the story.
- Attend the rally celebrating marriage equality today at 5:30 on the north side of the State Capitol. Numbers are important.
- Join the victory party at 7 pm at the Hilton Hotel in Hartford
- Express your support of the decision to your state legislators and ask them to change the law quickly to comply with the decision. (Presumably, the General Assembly must change the law in order to implement marriage equality. I didn't see a deadline in the decision. Does this happen when they are in session in January? Anyone know anything about this?)
- Get out and support candidates that support marriage equality. Thank them. Ask for a quick change in the law.
- Vote No on the Constitutional Convention. The Family Institute wants to use this process to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn marriage equality.
- Donate to the Vote No campaign. You can bet the religious right will be donating to the Vote Yes campaign now.
- Donate to the Vote No on Prop 8 campaign in California. The anti marriage equality folks are gaining in the California polls.
CT House of Reps yesterday approved a bill allowing for the cultivation of medicinal marijuana by the terminally and chronically ill:
The state House of Representatives Wednesday passed a measure allowing seriously ill individuals to grow marijuana at home to ease their pain.
The bill passed by a 89-58 bipartisan vote that was comprised of a unique coalition of supportive lawmakers, who appeared to be bonded by their own experiences with family members and friends suffering with chronic or terminal illnesses.
Bill opponents said it sends the wrong message to young people that it is OK to use illegal drugs and that illegal drugs can be good for you.
ButbRep. Russell Morin, D-Wethersfield and a father of three, spoke of another message he wanted to send to his children by passing the bill.
"The message I want to send to them is the message of compassion," Morin said. "We are not condoning illegal drug use. What this bill will do is show that we care."
The bill is not limited to the terminally ill. It allows individuals with serious illnesses such as epilepsy, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and HIV to grow up to four marijuana plants up to 4 feet high in the privacy of their homes if they obtain a doctor's prescription that it is necessary to ease their pain.
A law already exists legalizing the use of marijuana in certain instances under a pharmacists prescription, but it has never been used because marijuana, as a natural organic product, is not stocked in dispensed in local pharmacies.
Ellie Wiener '09 wants you to know about the Wesleyan Farmers' Market this Thursday:
Support sustainable local agriculture and eat good food!Date: Thursday, May 3
