While the fallout continues from Prop. 8 in California, there is some good news on the other side of the country. Gay marriages officially start tomorrow:
Superior Court Judge Jonathan Silbert has scheduled a hearing at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday in New Haven to enter the final judgment in the case that allows same-sex marriages in Connecticut. Once completed, couples can pick up marriage license forms at town and city clerk's offices.Last week, Connecticut voters soundly rejected the call for a constitutional convention, which could have led to efforts to overturn the court decision allowing marriage. The Catholic Church led the campaign for that measure:
It's unclear how many couples will get married. According to the state public health department, there have been 2,032 civil union licenses issued in Connecticut between Oct. 2005 and July 2008.
The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Oct. 10 that same-sex couples have the right to wed rather than accept a civil union law designed to give them the same rights as married couples. Only Connecticut and Massachusetts have legalized gay marriage.
The "no" campaign was far outspending the "yes" campaign last month before the Connecticut Catholic Conference paid for a television commercial that showed a woman standing outside the state Capitol and urging voters to say "yes" on Election Day.You'd think the Catholic Church would have better things to worry about. I mean, they're still reeling from all those child sex abuse cases, which has cost millions and millions of dollars. But, the Catholic hierarchy is in cahoots with the Mormons when it comes to gay bashing -- quite the unholy alliance. Has the Catholic Conference taken a position on posthumous baptism?
"The Church has been like the cavalry coming over the hill with guns blazing," said Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, which supported the convention. "The other side was outspending us 83 to 1. The only thing that leveled it out is the Catholic Church."
Tomorrow will bring great joy -- and equality -- to many Connecticut couples.
