CT CIVIL UNIONS BILL LIKELY: From the Danbury News-Times

On Election Day, voters in 11 states approved constitutional bans on gay marriage. But when the Connecticut legislature meets in January, the state may buck the national trend.

Democrats hold strong majorities in both houses of the legislature. The party's leaders favor some sort of civil unions which would grant same-sex couples many of the same rights as married heterosexual couples.

Rep. Robert Godfrey, D-Danbury, and other lawmakers say it is almost inevitable that a gay union measure will become law in the 2005 session of General Assembly.

"Connecticut may be the first state in the nation where the legislature cobbles something together," said Godfrey, the chairman of the screening committee that decides which bills go to the House floor. "I have yet to meet a colleague that says it will not happen. There will be a resolution this year." ...

Two other New England states have expanded rights for same-sex couples in recent years. But Vermont's civil unions and Massachusetts' gay marriages were court-ordered. The judicial branch is not forcing the hand of Connecticut's legislature.

At least not yet.

However, earlier this year, seven same-sex couples filed suit to force Connecticut to legalize gay marriage. Some preliminary hearings have been held on the case, which is pending in New Haven Superior Court. The case is expected to take at least two years to decide; most observers expect it to end up before the state Supreme Court.

Lawmakers on both sides say they would prefer legislature to deal with the matter before they face a court order. ...

Gay marriage opponents were particularly vocal when Vermont began issuing civil union licenses on July 1, 2000. But now, in some eyes, approving civil unions is almost a compromise position. Even President Bush -- a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage -- has said he might be willing to accept state-sanctioned unions.

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posted by Eve at 10:14 PM | link

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