Connecticut civil unions law goes into effect

HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut began recognizing same-sex civil unions Oct. 1, making it the fourth state to grant homosexual couples the legal benefits of marriage. Vermont also has civil unions, while California offers something similar but calls them domestic partnerships. Massachusetts remains the only state to recognize “gay marriage.” The civil unions bill passed the House and Senate and was signed into law by Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell in April.

It includes language defining marriage as between a man and a woman, although a judge could strike down the definition as unconstitutional. Conservatives are promoting a constitutional marriage amendment — which would trump any court ruling — but it faces an uphill climb in the liberal-leaning state. Homosexual activists in Connecticut applauded the move but said they would continue working toward the legalization of “gay marriage.” Two groups — the American Civil Liberties Union and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) — have filed suit in state court seeking “gay marriage” legalization. GLAD is the same group that successfully sued in Massachusetts for “gay marriage” and in Vermont for civil unions. Pro-family leaders said the law was nothing to celebrate.