Gay advocates pleased but unsatisfied with Conn. civil unions, say they plan to push for marriage

WTNH Television ^ | 4/21/2005 | Puppage

[Puppage]

(Hartford, Conn.-AP, Apr. 21, 2005 6:00 AM) _ Gay rights proponents had been hoping that Connecticut would follow the lead of neighboring Massachusetts by allowing same-sex couples to marry.

That's why they were pleased but still unsatisfied Wednesday when Connecticut offered civil unions to gay couples, becoming the first state to do so voluntarily, without being forced by the courts.

"As important as the rights are, this is not yet equality," said Anne Stanback, executive director of Love Makes a Family, a statewide gay rights organization.

Vermont is the other state to allow civil unions, which carry the rights and privileges of marriage without the marriage license. Massachusetts allows gay couples to marry. But those changes came about after same-sex couples won court battles.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, signed the bill about an hour after it was approved 26-8 by the Democrat-controlled Senate. The law, which takes effect Oct. 1, includes an amendment that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. Civil unions are reserved only for same-sex couples.

"I have said all along that I believe in no discrimination of any kind and I think that this bill accomplishes that, while at the same time preserving the traditional language that a marriage is between a man and a woman," Rell said.

According to the 2000 census, there are 7,400 same-sex couples in Connecticut.

Jeffrey Busch, who lives in Wilton, said he would likely take advantage of the law and engage in a civil union with his partner, Stephen Davis.

"But we're not going to celebrate a civil union like a marriage," said Busch, an administrative law judge in New York. "If it had everything a marriage has, it would be called a marriage."

Busch and Davis are one of seven same-sex couples who sued in Connecticut last summer after being denied marriage licenses; the case has not been resolved.

Some gay marriage proponents say the new law means they will have to wait awhile before asking the state Legislature to revisit the issue and consider gay marriage.

"I think we are all going to have to step back and take a deep breath and realize that we need to understand the world is not going to change as the result of this legislation," said Democratic Sen. Andrew McDonald, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee and one of a handful of openly gay legislators.

"We'll have an opportunity to see how it unfolds as unions start in October of this year," said McDonald, who supports Connecticut opening its marriage laws to same-sex couples.

Opponents had hoped to persuade Rell to veto the bill, saying civil unions are essentially gay marriage.

Roman Catholics and pro-marriage activists plan a rally Sunday in opposition to the bill.

Marie Hilliard, executive director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference, said the civil union proposal "got more legs than we ever hoped it would get." About 44 percent of the state's 3 million residents are Roman Catholic.

Brian Brown, head of the Family Institute of Connecticut, said his group intends to keep the issue squarely before the public.

"From now until 2006, our mission will be to let every person know in the state of Connecticut which lawmakers voted to redefine marriage, and which lawmakers voted to protect marriage," he said.

[little jeremiah]

Sounds extreme, but I agree with you. It's heading that way, no pun intended.

They really are fiends in human form. But - THEY CAN CHANGE. No one has to be "gay". There are tens of thousands of former homosexuals, and Scripter is putting tremendous effort into compiling information about them. He posted a lot of links of individuals' stories the other day, ping me and I'll put up a link to them.

(I can't do it right now, too busy...checking over my shoulder...)

[TXBSAFH]

Please do, thanks.

[CatQuilt]

I think we've been losing population for quite awhile. A news anchor pointed out today that we lost a congressional seat in 1980, another in 1990...I think we can see which way this is heading.

[scripter]

Here you go:

A Dream Come True - Alan Chambers
It took me years to realize that what I dreamed of was within me all along. I found my security in a God who accepted me as I was, loved me enough to talk to me in my dirtiest condition yet not leave me there, and showed His commitment to me by providing the help I needed to get out in a tangible way. He was a God I could trust and follow.

A Hunger for Love - Dottie Ludwig
Although I appeared successful in my professional nursing career, I lived with a constant fear of being "found out" as a practicing lesbian.

A New Life - Linda D. Carter
If you ask me if I miss living as a lesbian, my answer to you would be, "No way!" 

A Song of Hope - Dennis Jernigan
I hid my same-sex desires from others all through high school and college. Even though I was a Christian, I was tormented by feelings of rejection and hopelessness.

An End to the Loneliness - Ann McNeill Phillips
I always felt "different" and isolated as a child. Lesbianism brought deep friendships. How could I possibly leave them behind?

Choose Whom You Will Serve - Mario Bergner
I had no inkling that saying yes to Jesus would radically transform every aspect of my life.

Commencement - Michelle Ferguson
I had spent 8 months diving into sexual immorality, and I had no idea how to pick up the pieces and move on. 

Crying Behind the Mask - Rebekah Johnston
As a lesbian, I tried to live behind a false front of happiness. But inside I was miserable.

Delivered from Despair - Tom Cole
None of my gay relationships seemed to last for long; eventually I gave up and tried to commit suicide.

Finding a Father - Jim Shores
My father's absence caused a deep loneliness in my life--a hurt that was temporarily forgotten as I plunged into gay relationships.

Finding Joy as a Woman - Elaine Sinnard
As a child, I thought that being a little boy would solve all my problems. I intensely hated being a little girl.

Finding Real Life - David Kyle Foster
Many years of alcohol, drugs and unlimited sex left me in complete despair. Was there a spiritual answer that could really satisfy me?

Finding the Answer - Randy Thomas
All my life I had asked "Why?" to the inner pain that seemed to haunt me. Would homosexuality provide the answer?

Finding the Way Out - Phil Hobizal
My psychiatrist told me to accept my homosexuality, but I didn't want to. I was only 20, but I felt like my life was coming to an end.

Free At Last! - Michael Babb
I was married--yet deeply in love with another man. guilt and fear raged inside. What if my wife discovered this secret?

Free From Sexual Addiction - Steve Gallagher
I was heterosexual, but deeply addicted to immorality with numerous women--even after I entered marriage.

Freedom from a Secret - Jason Thompson
I tried to hide the growing emotional insecurities that fueled my attraction to men. Did God even care about me? I wondered?

From Fantasy into Reality - Mike Jones
I felt very alone growing up. I never seemed to connect with my peers, and my isolation drew me into same-sex attractions.

God Can't Change Me! - Sunny Jenkins
I thought about the price I would have to pay in choosing God. How could I just walk away from everything I had known for the past fifteen years? How could God demand that great of a sacrifice?

God Has Done Great Things - John Smid
Even as a married man, I fantasized about having a lifelong sexual relationship with another man.

God Healed My Marriage - Alan Medinger
With a wonderful wife, two lovely daughters, a large home in the suburbs and a responsible position in the local church, who would have ever suspected my exclusive homosexuality and frequent trips into the parks, porno shops and gay bars. 

Great Expectations - Michael Newman
I strove hard for other people's approval, hiding the sexual attractions to other men that would shatter my "good boy" image.

He Has a Plan and Purpose For My Life - Mabel Sim
The more I tried to act .normal,. the more convinced I became that I was born to be different. I finally began to feel like I .fit. when I became good friends with an attractive lady in my night class. 

I Desire to Return to the Gay World - Richard Oostrum
It couldn't have been any clearer for me: homosexuality and Jesus do not go hand in hand. However, the part I was surrendering was almost 90% of my life.

In His Hand - Patricia Allan Lawrence
After being raped, I knew God didn't love me--and I hated men. In the years of lesbianism that followed, I felt so alone. Where was the God I'd known as a child?

Just a "Good Christian Boy" - Jeff Johnston
Outwardly I did all the right things, but inside a secret conflict with homosexuality was tearing me apart.

Knowing God's Love - Rob G.
My childhood sexual abuse left me feeling like discarded trash. I became afraid of men--and detached from my own masculinity.

My Deepest Desire - Darryl L. Foster
My father's absence left me longing for a man to hold me in his arms and tell me he loved me.

My Experience With AIDS - Robert Winter
When I was diagnosed with HIV, my worst fear came true. Now what?

My Search for Peace - Amy Tracy
As a lesbian feminist, I hid my growing emptiness and secret thirst for God. But He saw my heart and responded to my deepest need.

My Struggle to Forgive - Penny Dalton
I knew that unless I forgave my parents, expecially Dad, I'd be stuck forever in bitterness and hatred.

My Testimony of Grace - Amy Schultz
I know what it is like to feel like you are so dirty and filthy, and that you have done too many bad things for God to ever love you.

No More Hiding - Jill Postell
Simply placing the hurt deep down inside, I quickly learned how to mask my feelings. I didn't have a relationship with God. Being a "Christian" was just the thing to do. 

Out Of Prison - Dawn Killion
My anger and despair eventually led me to prison. While behind bars, I found the secret that opened the door to my escape from lesbianism.

Safe as a Woman - Christine Sneeringer
After experiencing sexual abuse, I was drawn into relationships with other women to protect myself against further hurt from men.

Secure in my Feminine Identity - Anne Paulk
I grew up as a classic "tomboy." No-one guessed the childhood trauma that had produced my insecurities--and led me into lesbianism.

Set Free To Serve - Roberta Laurila
Did God really expect me to stop "loving" other women? How could lesbianism be wrong?

The Joy Of Obedience - Patty Wells
Patty shares how she entered a lesbian lifestyle, and how the healing that came through a health crisis opened the way for her to return to God and find deliverance.

The Plans He Had - Marcus Mitchell
Today I am Victorious Overcomer, because the Word says, .And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony. (Rev. 12.11).

The Roads I've Traveled - Nate Oyloe
This is my story. It is not finished by any means, but as I look back through the years I see how God has carefully woven grace, unconditional love, and blessing into my life and I find hope. 

The Seeds That Grew - Melissa Fryrear
My mind was filled with an endless barrage of tormenting questions: .What is wrong with me?. .Why don.t I act like the other girls act?. .Why don.t I seem to like boys?. .Why do I hate being a girl?. In an attempt to answer those screaming questions, I opened a dictionary one day and read the definitions to words like homosexual, lesbian, and gay.

The War Within - Bob Davies
I had spent years in church, graduated from Bible school and served in short-term missions. But a hidden battle was raging inside that threatened to destroy me.

Uncovering The Real Me - Starla Allen
After the rape, I sensed a growing hatred of men. And I vowed that one of them would never get near me again.

Walking in the Light - Michael Lumberger
I lived in fear that others would find out about my homosexual struggles. Then God asked me to confess everything to my wife.

Who Am I? - Bob Ragan
My growing attraction to men convinced me that I was gay. I dropped out of church and began looking for "Mr. Right," prepared to settle into a lifelong relationship.

Why Me?! - Harry Denham
One day, I made the decision that I could not keep my homosexual activity a secret from my wife any longer. So I found the courage and talked to her about it. Her reaction was one of shock and one of great fear.

[little jeremiah]

Thanks and Bump!!!

[little jeremiah]

Check out these personal stories. I bet there will be some inspiration there, and hours of reading.