CT Passes Same-Sex Marriage

Written by: Dave Santucci on Nov 12, 2008 3:22 PM EST

I know people have been upset at California's Prop 8 decision, plus the decision in Florida. But there is a little bit of light in this latest civil rights debate. Our nation's oldest paper, The Hartford Courant reported this today:

NEW HAVEN - A 4-year legal battle for same-sex marriage came to an end this morning in a New Haven courtroom when Superior Court Judge Jonathan E. Silbert signed an order paving the way to couples to get their licenses.

The state Supreme Court last month, in a 4-3 decision, ruled that preventing gay and lesbian couples from marrying violates the state constitution. Today's brief hearing was a formality that was needed before gay couples could start receiving marriage licenses.

Immediately after the court proceeding, one of the plaintiff couples, Barbara and Robin Levine-Ritterman, walked to New Haven city hall to obtain their marriage license - perhaps the first couple in the state to do so. They came out of city hall and were greeted by a small crowd that applauded. They are planning their wedding for May.

It is upsetting that California and Florida, plus the other myriad of states who have denied people of marriage, are taking steps back. But luckily states like Connecticut and Massachussetts are taking the correct steps forward. 

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager

Tags: