Gay Marriage Bill Approved In Committee (Connecticut)

The Hartford Courant ^ | 4:06 PM EDT, April 12, 2007 | Daniela Altimari

[nutmeg]

After more than two hours of debate at the Legislative Office Building Thursday afternoon the legislature's powerful judiciary committee decisively approved a controversial gay marriage bill by a 27-15 vote.

The move sends the bill, which would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry, to the House, and then the Senate. Both chambers of the legislature must now approve the bill, which would then go to Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who has indicated in the past that she does not support gay marriage. Thursday's vote comes nearly two years to the day after the legislature approved a bill allowing civil unions, which Rell signed.

In emotional testimony Thursday, freshman Rep. Beth Bye, a Democrat from West Hartford, spoke about her own civil union. While she said she is pleased to have some rights, she is continually reminded that her relationship is not accorded the same status as a marriage.

"I'm the only one sitting here living it every day," Bye said Thursday. "I tell you it's not trivial."

Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, the judiciary committee's co-chairman, said public opinion about gay marriage is swiftly evolving. "People are obviously changing their minds," he said, noting that just this week a California legislative committee approved a similar gay marriage measure.

[Clemenza]

If this were imposed by judicial fiat, I would call it overreaching.

But since this is being passed by the REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF THE PEOPLE, this is legitimate in my eyes.

All the moron populists who believe life should be ruled by "ballot initiative" will rue this belief when the majority votes to outlaw firearms and donuts.

[right-wingin_It]

Like half of the commitee is openly gay in the first place. No surprise. Thank goodness it will die on the floor...for now. Buys us sometime before the next assault on marriage.