{news} Fw: Connecticut Set to Become 2nd State to Pass Same-Sex Civil Union Bill

[edubrule]

(Scott Harris has an excellent radio program on WPKN.)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Harris"...Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 2:32 AM
...
Subject: [ctgp] BTL Q&A 3-14-05: Connecticut Set to Become 2nd State to Pass 
Same-Sex Civil Union Bill


> > Between the Lines Q&A
> A weekly column featuring progressive viewpoints
> on national and international issues
> under-reported in mainstream media
> for release March 14, 2005
> http://www.btlonline.org
>
> Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions
> http://www.squeakywheel.net
> ===================================
> Connecticut Set to Become
> 2nd State to Pass
> Same-Sex Civil Union Bill
> http://www.btlonline.org/btl031805.html
>
> Interview with Anne Stanback,
> president of the group Love Makes a Family,
> conducted by Scott Harris
>
> Listen in RealAudio:
> http://www.btlonline.org/stanback031805.ram
> (Needs RealOne player or RealPlayer)
>
> Connecticut's state legislature is now considering a bill that could
> make the state the second in the nation, following Vermont, to adopt
> civil union protections for same-sex couples. Backers of the legislation
> predicted final passage after the powerful Judiciary Committee endorsed
> the measure in a 25-to-13 vote and Republican Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell
> openly gave her support.
>
> Civil unions provide same sex couples with many of the same rights and
> responsibilities as traditional marriage, including a voice in medical
> care issues and legal standing to inherit money and property. But civil
> unions are not recognized across state borders or by the federal
> government. Whatever the final outcome of the legislation, Connecticut's
> courts will also be weighing in on the issue after deciding a lawsuit
> filed by seven gay and lesbian couples after they were denied a
> Connecticut marriage license in August.
>
> A coalition backing gay marriage in the state originally opposed the
> civil union bill, but changed course when supportive legislators
> promised that they would not abandon the fight for full marriage rights
> for gay couples. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Anne
> Stanback, president of Love Makes a Family, Connecticut's main coalition
> working for same-sex marriage equality. Stanback explains the shifting
> debate on the legislation and why she views gay marriage as a civil
> rights issue.
>
> Anne Stanback: The original bill that was raised in the Judiciary
> Committee and had a public hearing back on Feb. 7, I believe, was a bill
> entitled, "Marriage Equality." It was a pretty straightforward marriage
> bill that would allow same-sex couples to have access to all the rights
> and protections of civil marriage in the state.
>
> It had a wonderful public hearing. There actually wasn't  a single
> person on either side, I don't think, that said that they supported
> civil union, because all the people who were there  to speak in favor of
> the bill supported marriage and the supporters didn't support civil
> unions because they didn't think it was the same as marriage. The
> opponents said very clearly that they opposed civil union because they
> do view it as the same as marriage. So it was sort of an ironic
> situation.
>
> The vote that happened in the Judiciary Committee was on an amendment to
> strip out the marriage language and actually turn that marriage bill
> into a bill that allowed for civil unions, very similar to what passed
> in Vermont five years ago. And it did pass overwhelmingly ,  and I
> certainly recognize that that is a huge step forward in terms of the
> support that we have in the Judiciary Committee. But probably from our
> perspective, what was most heartening about that debate and that vote,
> was first of all, the very sound defeat of two DOMA amendments -- the
> so-called Defense of Marriage Act, that defines marriage as between a
> man and a woman. By over a 2-to-1 margin both, what they call a
> statutory DOMA and a constitutional amendment were defeated. And that
> was great news and I think showed that Connecticut is really very
> different from much of the rest of the country based on what we saw in
> the last election cycle.
>
> But as optimistic as anything we heard that day were the strong
> statements of support by many of the legislators, many who voted for the
> civil union bill and one who voted against it, all saying that this is
> not equal, this is not enough. They pledged to stand with us to continue
> the fight for full equality and for full civil marriage.
>
> So, after that vote, Love Makes a Family's board met again. We had
> opposed the civil union legislation, but we decided that we would not
> stand in the way of this legislation and withdrew our active opposition.
>
> Between The Lines: Anne Stanback, what are the essential features in
> this civil union bill approved by the Judiciary Committee in terms of a
> partner's ability to make decisions in medical issues or inheritance, or
> other issues that are primarily addressed in marriage?
>
> Anne Stanback: There are a whole range of things that the civil union
> bill would cover, things like the automatic right to make medical
> decisions for your partner or your spouse if they are incapacitated or
> to have hospital visitation. The right to a whole range of employment
> benefits everything from employee health insurance on one's partner's or
> spouse's health care plan, to the ability to use family and medical
> leave to take care of your partner or a family member.
>
> There's significant tax benefits, particularly tax benefits that deal
> with home ownership, inheritance rights, pension rights -- much of this
> can be covered under federal law, which civil unions don't cover -- but
> there are definitely significant advantages that civil unions will
> offer.
>
> Between The Lines: Anne Stanback, what's the significance nationally of
> what it looks like the Connecticut state legislature is about to do in
> voting in a civil union bill? Might it mean that Connecticut joins
> California as the only state where the legislature voted in a civil
> union bill?
>
> Anne Stanback: I think it does. And I think that we know that both the
> legislature and the judicial branch have their roles to play in civil
> rights movements. Many of the marriage fights that are going forward
> around the country, with the most prospects of success are doing so
> through the courts. It's very important that we have some wins in the
> legislature. I do know that California is moving forward with marriage
> legislation. I think the fact that Connecticut is doing this, while it's
> not everything we want and it's not the full equality and protections of
> marriage, it is an important message. I think that it is going to be a
> steppingstone to marriage.
>
> As Evan Wolfsen, who is one of the leaders of this movement often says,
> "wins trump losses" and yeah, there were losses in the election of 2004,
> but there are going to be significant wins in this next year. And I
> think that they are going to actually carry much more power than some of
> these constitutional amendments (banning gay marriage) that were simply
> reiterating laws that had been passed in state legislatures.
>
> I think the future looks optimistic. We can't let down our guard, but we
> have more and more fair-minded Americans who understand that this is
> simply a matter of fairness and of civil rights.
>
> Contact Love Makes a Family by calling (860) 525-7777 or visit their
> website at http://www.lmfct.org
>
> Scott Harris is executive producer of Between The Lines, which can be
> heard on more than 35 radio stations and in RealAudio and MP3 on our
> website at http://www.btlonline.org. This interview excerpt was featured
> on the award-winning, syndicated weekly radio newsmagazine, Between The
> Lines for the week ending March 18, 2005. This Between The Lines Q&A was
> compiled by Scott Harris and Anna Manzo.
>
> ========================
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