Gay marriages allowed in Connecticut, court rules

Ruling by the court here.

Here's the concluding paragraph of the court's decision:

"Our conventional understanding of marriage must yield to a more contemporary appreciation of the rights entitled to constitutional protection. Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice. To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others. The guarantee of equal protection under the law, and our obligation to uphold that command, forbids us from doing so. In accordance with these state constitutional requirements, same sex couples cannot be denied the freedom to marry."

Dissenting opinions:

Here.

Here.

And Here.

The decision makes Connecticut the third state to recognize gay marriages. Massachusetts and California have already done so.

Here is a statement by Anne Stanback, the director Love Makes a Family:

VICTORY!

STATEMENT OF ANNE STANBACK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

LOVE MAKES A FAMILY

On today’s ruling in Kerrigan & Mock et al v. Connecticut Department of Public Health

We are overjoyed that Connecticut’s highest court has fulfilled the hopes and dreams of so many by ruling that same-sex couples are free to marry.

Thanks to the Supreme Court’s momentous decision in Kerrigan & Mock et al v. Department of Public Health, Connecticut is now a fairer, more equitable place for all. This historic ruling will provide additional security and respect to the thousands of loving, committed same-sex couples and their children living in our state.

Love Makes a Family applauds the wisdom and fairness of the Connecticut Supreme Court. More importantly, however, future generations will recognize this court’s foresight, which once again establishes Connecticut as a national leader in treating all its citizens equally in the eyes of the law.

Our friends and partners at GLAD—along with their local co-counsel—deserve tremendous gratitude for the passion and legal skill they brought to this case. Special thanks must also be given to the eight plaintiff couples who have been the public faces of this historic lawsuit for the last four years. Their willingness to share their lives and dreams with the court and the people of Connecticut made today’s victory possible.

Finally, we want to thank the thousands and thousands of Love Makes a Family members and supporters across this state. For eight years you have worked tirelessly to educate your friends, neighbors and elected officials. You have been the voices of equality, and today your voices have been heard and heeded.

Today same-sex couples, who have made a lifelong promise to take care of and be responsible for each other, celebrate being welcomed into one of society’s most fundamental institutions.  And today, Connecticut can proudly and appropriately claim its nickname, “The Constitution State.”

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com