Conn. Civil Union Bill Passes Key Vote

February 23, 2005

HARTFORD, CN — A bill to allow civil unions in Connecticut passed a key committee in the legislature Wednesday to the anger of LGBT civil rights organizations.

Gay groups had been pressing for acceptance of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, calling civil unions a half measure.

We believe civil unions would write second class citizenship into our law, said Anne Stanback, president of Love Makes a Family.

Nevertheless, the Judiciary Committee voted 25-13 in favor of the legislation. It gives gay couples many of the same state rights as married heterosexuals, but does not allow them to get a marriage license. Nor it does it cover the hundreds of federal rights of marriage.

The bill still needs approval from the full legislature and the governor's signature. If that occurs, Connecticut would be the first state in the nation to voluntarily create a civil union system.

Vermont is the only state to have civil unions, but that system resulted from a court decision.

Stanback said her group will fight the civil unions bill, urging lawmakers to vote it down.

But, the all or nothing approach has angered some within the gay community.

Betty Gallo, a longtime lobbyist for Love Makes a Family, terminated her contract because she disagreed with the strategy.

Gay marriage foes are also calling on lawmakers to reject the civil unions bill. Wednesday they lost a bid to amend the bill to require the state to recognize marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Another proposal to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage also died.

There are loving, committed relationships among couples in the state of Connecticut who deserve our protection, said state Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the Democrat-controlled Judiciary Committee. McDonald is one of the few openly gay legislators in Connecticut.