Monthly gatherings at
Trinity Episcopal Church
120 Sigourney Street
Hartford, CT, 06105
State and Federal Initiatives for LGBT Justice and Equality
Connecticut becomes 3rd State in the Union to Codify
Gay and Lesbian Marriage.
On
April 23rd, 2009, Connecticut became the third State in the of the United
States to permit gays and lesbians to marry.
Sen. Andrew
McDonald, a Democrat from Stamford and leading gay rights advocate,
hailed the new law.
"Our legislature and our governor now have ratified the Supreme Court's
decision, and today all three branches of Connecticut's government speak
with one voice: discrimination has no place in our state and will be
eradicated wherever it appears."
Update... April 22, 2009 - State Senate OKs Exemption For Religious Groups That Oppose Same-Sex Marriages.
The
Connecticut Legislature's
Committee on Judiciary
is currently working on legislation which would Guarantee Equal Protection
of Same Sex Couples.
Click
here to view the full text of SB 899. Contrary to propaganda
being spewed by so called 'Anti-Gay Family Advocacy" groups, nothing in
the bill as presented on the Connecticut General Assembly's website would
require a member of the Clergy to solemnize a same sex marriage.
Section 7 of the Bill (presented below) is clear on that matter:
Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective from passage) No member of the clergy authorized to join persons in marriage pursuant to section 46b-22 of the general statutes shall be required to solemnize any marriage in violation of his or her right to the free exercise of religion guaranteed by the first amendment to the United States Constitution or section 3 of article first of the Constitution of the state.
We urge you to share this information with your friends and loved ones thus countering the blatantly false propaganda of so called 'Anti-Gay Family Advocacy' groups. Fight ignorance, intolerance and lies with the truth! Spread the word!
Integrity Applauds Vermont Legislature
Listen to NPR
Report
ROCHESTER, NY--Integrity
USA commends Vermont lawmakers for today overriding the governor's veto of a
same-gender marriage bill, making the state the fourth in the nation where
gay and lesbian couples can now wed.
"This is sign of great hope to all of us working to end marriage
discrimination in society and in the church," said Integrity President Susan
Russell. "I hope the General Convention of the Episcopal Church will pass
similar ecclesiastical marriage-equality resolutions in Anaheim during
July."
"This victory in Vermont is a reminder that the Episcopal Church needs to
seriously update it's marriage canons and rites," added John Clinton
Bradley, Integrity's Acting Executive Director. "If we are going to continue
letting our clergy act as agents of the state when performing marriages, we
must allow them to marry all couples--heterosexual or homosexual--who are
legally entitled to wed."
Visit the Washington Post's write up on the historic event.
Related News:
D.C. Council Votes to Recognize Other States' Gay Marriages
The D.C. Council voted today to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, on the same day that Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex unions.