Connecticut has three really dirt poor cities: Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford. Has the affluent areas in Fairfield county. Then it has a collection of small and mid size towns. Industrial base has largely left for better places. I don't know why these legislators want gay marriage so badly...
No idea - that seems like the problem we have here in Canada, at least in most provinces.
The last poll suggested 62% of Canadians opposed gay marriage and 70% were calling for a referendum on the issue*. However, desperate to see it pass, the Prime Minister decided that there should be no referendum (they know it would be voted down) and in fact called for his Cabinet ministers to vote in favor or be kicked out of the Cabinet.
That wasn't good enough for the labor unions and the socialist NDP - they are calling for ALL Liberal members, including backbenchers, to be FORCED to vote in favor or sit as independents (a four-line whip, the ultimate undemocratic tactic)!!
*Even those numbers are skewed somewhat, as a majority (about 60%) of Quebec residents support gay marriage, and over 70% of those in the Prairies and Ontario oppose gay marriage (constitutional bans would pass easily in those four provinces). Support seems to be moderate in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada.