HARTFORD, Conn. – Officials are gearing up for the day next month when gay and lesbian couples can begin tying the knot in Connecticut.
Attorneys involved in the gay marriage case said Tuesday that couples can begin picking up marriage license applications sometime on or after Nov. 10. A judge at the New Haven Superior Court, where the case began in 2004, still must decide the precise date.
The state Supreme Court's decision allowing same-sex marriages became official Tuesday with its publication in the Connecticut Law Journal. The publication triggered a 10-day period when motions for reconsideration can be filed.
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said after that period ends on Nov. 10, the Superior Court judge can act on the high court's ruling.
The judgment may come later that week because Nov. 10 is a Monday, a busy day for the Superior Court, and Tuesday is a state holiday.
The state Department of Public Health is having new marriage applications printed that reflect the change. Instead of putting one name under "bride" and the other under "groom," couples will see two boxes marked "bride/groom/spouse." The new forms are expected to be shipped out to city and town clerks later this week.
"The moment the judgment is entered, the state of Connecticut is required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. And we expect the clerks will be ready," said Bennett H. Klein, senior attorney with the Boston-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.
The state Supreme Court issued a 4-3 decision 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. Connecticut became the third state, behind Massachusetts and California, to legalize gay marriage.
It's unclear how many couples will get married.
According to the public health department, there have been 2,032 civil union licenses issued in Connecticut between Oct. 2005 and July 2008.
"I would bet that the majority of those people would change the civil unions to marriage," said Anne Stanback, president of Love Makes a Family, a pro-gay marriage organization. "I think that you have people who've waited to get married and have not had civil unions."
Couples currently in a civil union that wish to become married will need to fill out a marriage license application form at their city or town hall. There is no residency requirement for marriage in Connecticut.
The state's 2005 civil unions law will remain on the books, at least for now. Same-sex couples can continue to enter civil unions, which give them the same state legal rights and privileges as married couples without the status of being married. It will be up to the General Assembly to decide whether to change the civil unions law, Klein said.
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Funny, my (straight) parents see it as a joyous day since their gay son can finally have the rights of civil marriage they enjoy.
This is a very sad day for us in Connecticut. CT Family Institute has spoke out on this continually spoken out against gay marriage. The CT Supreme Court took it upon them selves to a case and then overturned our State Law. When we vote in the November election their will be a question on the ballot for a Constitutional Convention. Many small groups that oppose each others views have joined together to support a YES vote on this question as I do. We the people will be able to propose bills to the legislature that we cannot do now.
The groups that are against this question on the ballot are homosexual groups, pro-abortion, unions, Democrats the AG of the State of CT and so on. Tom Scott from WELI Radio had one of the people that oppose this question on the ballot on the radio show. Tom pointed out that the people that are funding commercials against the Constitutional Convention are mostly from out of state. Those that are against the CC have donated over $800.000 and the small group wanting the convention have raised $50,000. A Constitutional Convention has been held in 24 states so far. Pray for Connecticut and for believers to come out and vote.Go to links: Copy and paste into address bar.
http://www.ctconcon.com/
http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-convention1011.artoct11,0,3472569.story
sj, when did you live in Belgium, our son was born in the Netherlands when we were stationed there.
Yes_I_am_a_Jew is right. When I lived in Belgium, a Roman Catholic country, I observed that the Church could not perform marriages which was something only the State could do. Now in America, where there is a supposed separation of Church and State, the Church marries as an agent of the State. It's absurd. Let's not argue about legal definitions of marriage and talk more about the quality of our relationships with one another.
Well, marriage, in the generic sense is a fundamental right by LAW in the US. Thankfully, we run things according to the LAW and not religious dictate in the country. It seems that the people who are most against gay marriage are the ones who know the least about the constitution, fundamental rights and the way government works.
Gay " marriage " is not a Fundamental right as defined by God.
I wonder why Christian Post decided to stop putting the word "marriage" in quotes when referring to gay marriage.
Did somebody slip up in the editing room?
They'll burn for it, mark my words. . . :)
Cue the ridiculous comments about how gays are sinners and don't deserve the rights and benefits that heterosexuals enjoy. Forget the fact that the right to marry is a fundamental right as defined by the US Supreme Court...