Rell Signs Gay Marriage Bill (CT Post)
Friday, April 24, 2009
By: Ken Dixon

HARTFORD -- On Thursday, Gov. M. Jodi Rell became the first governor in the United States to sign gay-marriage legislation, less than 24 hours after the House and Senate aligned state statutes to last year's historic state Supreme Court decision. Rell signed the bill without comment.

The two chief proponents of the legislation, Sen. Andrew J. McDonald and Rep. Michael P. Lawlor, said they were appreciative of the governor's swift approval of the legislation, which was voted in the House and Senate on Wednesday night.

"Four years ago this week, Gov. Rell signed our ground-breaking, civil-union law, which had broad bipartisan support," McDonald, D-Stamford, recalled. "Today she signed another landmark piece of bipartisan legislation affirming the rights and dignity of all Connecticut's citizens. 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."

"I thank Gov. Rell for helping our state take the final step in this 10-year-long process and for being fully supportive of our efforts to achieve this important goal," said Lawlor, D-East Haven. "For the first time, gay and lesbian citizens of Connecticut can experience true equality under state law."

He said the effort dates back to 2000, when lawmakers approved legislation to allow same-sex partners to become co-parents in adoptions.

"For 10 years, the people of Connecticut have considered whether and how to legally recognize the committed relationships of same-sex couples," Lawlor said. "Over time, public opinion acknowledged a simple fact: Gay and lesbian couples deserve the same recognition as committed straight couples. At each milestone along this road, a bipartisan consensus endorsed legal recognition of gay and lesbian relationships." Massachusetts' 2004 gay-marriage law was ordered by its highest court. Vermont lawmakers adopted the measure, which takes effect next week, by overriding a governor's veto. Iowa's Supreme Court recently ordered the measure.

Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, said the bill supports civil-rights protections for homosexuals, while also promoting religious freedom. It also removes discriminatory language from existing Connecticut law.

"I think the General Assembly, and now the governor, passed strong, sensible and important legislation in a difficult atmosphere where emotions and tensions have run high," Donovan said in a statement.

Anne Stanback, president of Love Makes a Family, the organization of gay activists and civil-rights supporters, said she was pleased the governor acted so quickly.

"The approved bill includes reasonable exceptions to ensure religious freedom for clergy and religious organizations, exceptions that already exist in state law," Stanback said.