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Connecticut begins issuing marriage licenses to gay couples

Today Connecticut officially became the second state in the union, after Massachusetts, to legally recognize homosexual unions as "marriages," reports Kathleen Gilbert, LifeSiteNews.com.

Homosexual couples lined up in front of New Haven's Superior Court to claim marriage licenses, and many others are expected to "marry" later today at town and city clerks' offices across the state.

According to the Associated Press, the new marriage licenses had to be altered to accommodate homosexual couples. Rather than providing spaces for "bride" and "groom," the license simply shows two spaces marked "bride/groom/spouse."

“Today, Connecticut sends a message of hope and promise to lesbian and gay people throughout the country who want to be treated as equal citizens by their government,” said Ben Klein, a lawyer with Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders.

In October, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that homosexual couples are entitled to "marry," despite a civil union law already in effect that gave same-sex partners the same rights and privileges as married couples.

Last week, Connecticut voters decided against holding a constitutional convention, where delegages would have considered a proposal to protect the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman in state law.

Peter Wolfgang, executive director of The Family Institute of Connecticut, vowed to press on with an uphill battle to protect marriage in his state.

"Unlike California, we did not have a remedy," Wolfgang said. The Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex "marriage" "must be overturned with patience, determination and fortitude."

Until recently Connecticut was recognized as the third state to legalize homosexual "marriage." However, marriage proponents in California successfully reversed a court decision to legalize same-sex "marriages" by passing Proposition 8, which amended the state's constitution to protect true marriage.

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TAGS: USA Connecticut Massachusetts homosexual unions marriage Proposition 8

[11/14/2008]

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