Rell has said repeatedly that she is opposed to same-sex marriage, but until Tuesday she had given mixed signals on civil unions that would convey to same-sex couples nearly all the rights of marriage.
The Hartford Courant, of course, is less than honest when they claim the bill conveys "nearly all" the rights of marriage. The bill conveys all the rights of marriage a state can convey. The only rights not conveyed are federal benefits outside the jurisdiction of the state, such as federal Social Security benefits.
I find this attempt to fool the citizens of the state of Connecticut insulting and offensive. The gay and lesbian lobby represented by Love Makes a Family is equally offended.
I have just sent the following letter to Governor Rell.
The legislature of the state of Connecticut is very busy congratulating itself for taking this issue on without the threat of a court order. However, this process is no less sneaky. And, these legislators have somehow overlooked the pending cases of same-sex couples suing for the right to marry, maybe because they're so busy patting themselves on the back they can't see what's right in front of them.
Office of the Governor
State Capitol
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
Governor Rell:
Announcing that you are opposed to same-sex marriage but in favor of same-sex civil unions is not believable.
1) If someone enters into a marriage and also into a civil union he or she commits bigamy. So, if by entering into a civil union one can violate a marriage law then a civil union is marriage.
2) The same-sex civil unions bill confers all of the same rights, without exception, as a same-sex marriage bill would. Sen. Andrew McDonald tried to sidestep this during the Judiciary Committee hearing on February 23rd by claiming that civil unions do not confer federal benefits such as Social Security benefits or immigration protection. However, this was transparently disingenuous. No state law, whether on marriage or civil unions, can confer federal benefits.
3) During the Judiciary Committee meetings and public hearings members of the committee use these terms interchangeably.
Nobody is fooled by this. If you are in favor of same-sex civil unions you are also in favor of same-sex marriage.
The citizens of this state ought to be given the chance to vote on a referendum regarding same-sex marriage. Anything short of this is dishonest and manipulative.
A state-wide referendum on same-sex marriage would be much more honest. Let's call it what it is, and let's vote on it.
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