Same-sex marriage in Connecticut
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Same-sex marriage in Connecticut has been legally recognized since November 12, 2008, following a state court decision that found the state's civil unions failed to provide same-sex couples with rights and privileges equivalent to those of marriage. Connecticut was the second state to legalize same-sex marriage, after the neighboring state of Massachusetts.
Civil unions[]
The state enacted a civil union law in 2005 that provided same-sex couples with the same rights and responsibilities under state law as marriage. Connecticut became the second state in the United States, following Vermont, to adopt civil unions, and the first to do so without judicial intervention. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on April 13 in a 85–63 vote and by the Senate on April 20 in a 26–8 vote. Governor Jodi Rell signed the bill into law later the same day, and it went into effect on October 1, 2005.[1]
Prior to the passage of the civil union legislation, Connecticut had recognized same-sex relationships solely for the purpose of providing benefits to same-sex partners of state employees.[2]
Following the Supreme Court of Connecticut's October 2008 ruling which found that civil unions failed to provide same-sex couples with the rights and responsibilities of marriage, all existing civil unions were automatically transformed into marriages on October 1, 2010.[3]
Same-sex marriage[]
Statute[]
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On January 31, 2007, State Senator Andrew J. McDonald and State Representative Michael Lawlor, co-chairpersons of the Judiciary Committee, announced the introduction of a bill that would give same-sex couples full marriage rights in the state of Connecticut. The bill, HB 7395,[4] passed the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 27–15 on April 12, 2007. Governor Jodi Rell said she would veto any same-sex marriage legislation.[5] The bill was never submitted to the full House or Senate prior to the adjournment of the 2007 legislative session.
On April 22, 2009, Connecticut legislators, both in the House (by a 100–44 vote) and in the Senate (by a 28–7 vote), agreed to replace all statutory references to marriage with gender-neutral language. Governor Jodi Rell, a Republican, signed the law on April 23. The definition of marriage in Connecticut is now the following:[6]
Marriage means the legal union of two persons. [CT Gen Stat § 46b-20]
On October 1, 2010, civil unions ceased to be performed, and existing civil unions were automatically converted into marriages. Before that date, couples in existing Connecticut civil unions could convert them to marriages voluntarily.[7][8][9][10] Same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships from other jurisdictions are legally treated as marriages in Connecticut.[3]
Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health[]
In August 2004, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) representing eight same-sex couples from Connecticut filed a lawsuit in state court, challenging what they described as the state's discriminatory exclusion of same-sex couples from the right to marry. They argued that this discrimination violated the equality and liberty provisions of the Constitution of Connecticut and were supported by the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union. The case was opposed by the Family Institute of Connecticut, which was denied intervenor status in the case.
On July 12, 2006, a Superior Court judge ruled against the plaintiffs finding that:
Civil union and marriage in Connecticut now share the same benefits, protections and responsibilities under law. ... The Connecticut Constitution requires that there be equal protection and due process of law, not that there be equivalent nomenclature for such protection and process.
The judge concluded that denying same-sex couples the right to marry did not violate the Connecticut Constitution.[11]
The Supreme Court of Connecticut heard an appeal by the plaintiffs in Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health on May 14, 2007. On October 10, 2008, the court released an opinion guaranteeing marriage rights to same-sex couples.[12][13] The court ruled 4–3 that denying same-sex couples the right to marry violated the equality and liberty provisions of the Constitution of Connecticut.[13] The court also held that it would be unconstitutional to relegate same-sex couples to a status less than full marriage by enacting legislation treating same-sex unions as civil unions rather than marriage:
Despite the truly laudable effort of the legislature in equalizing the legal rights afforded same sex and opposite sex couples, there is no doubt that civil unions enjoy a lesser status in our society than marriage.
On November 12, 2008, the first marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples in Connecticut. Among the first couples to obtain marriage licenses were the plaintiffs in the Kerrigan case, Robin and Barbara Levine-Ritterman in New Haven and Elizabeth Kerrigan and Joanne Mock-Kerrigan in West Hartford.[14][15] The court decision made Connecticut the third state to recognize same-sex marriage, but by the time the first same-sex marriages were solemnized in Connecticut, California voters had approved a same-sex marriage ban by referendum.
Before the court issued its decision, a coalition of groups that included such opponents of same-sex marriage as the state's Roman Catholic bishops and the Family Institute of Connecticut supported a November referendum on a proposal to convene a constitutional convention.[16][17] On November 4, 2008, voters opposed calling a constitution convention by a 2 to 1 margin.[18][19]
Mueller v. Tepler[]
On July 16, 2014, the Connecticut Supreme Court, reversing judgments in lower courts, ruled unanimously that a same-sex couple in a relationship established before the state afforded legal recognition to their relationship has the same rights as other married couples. In the case of Mueller v. Tepler, it allowed a woman to pursue a medical practice claim for the loss of income and companionship based on the care her female partner received between 2001 and 2004.[20]
Statistics[]
From 2009 to 2019, 12,704 same-sex marriages were performed in the state of Connecticut:[21] 543 in 2008, 2,706 in 2009, 1,791 in 2010, 1,262 in 2011, 668 in 2012, 1,356 in 2013, 1,057 in 2014, 689 in 2015, 704 in 2016, 672 in 2017, 639 in 2018, and 617 in 2019.[22]
The Connecticut Department of Public Health has included the towns and counties of occurrence for same-sex marriages in their annual vital statistics report since 2016, as shown below:[23]
Year | Fairfield | Hartford | Litchfield | Middlesex | New Haven | New London | Tolland | Windham | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 145 | 174 | 41 | 32 | 181 | 88 | 19 | 24 | 704 |
2017 | 142 | 161 | 46 | 34 | 183 | 71 | 16 | 19 | 672 |
2018 | 140 | 141 | 35 | 43 | 167 | 65 | 26 | 22 | 639 |
2019 | 149 | 154 | 22 | 39 | 169 | 55 | 14 | 15 | 617 |
Public opinion[]
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
% support | % opposition | % no opinion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Religion Research Institute | April 5-December 23, 2017 | 659 random telephone interviewees |
? | 73% | 20% | 7% |
Public Religion Research Institute | May 18, 2016-January 10, 2017 | 1,073 random telephone interviewees |
? | 70% | 20% | 10% |
Public Religion Research Institute | April 29, 2015-January 7, 2016 | 872 random telephone interviewees |
? | 70% | 24% | 7% |
New York Times/CBS News/YouGov | September 20–October 1, 2014 | 1,284 likely voters | ± 3.3% | 61% | 26% | 13% |
Public Religion Research Institute | April 2, 2014-January 4, 2015 | 565 random telephone interviewees |
? | 67% | 26% | 7% |
Public Policy Polling | July 26–29, 2012 | 771 voters | ± 3.53% | 55% | 33% | 12% |
Public Policy Polling | September 22–25, 2011 | 592 voters | ± 4% | 55% | 32% | 13% |
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute | March 29-April 4, 2005 | 1,541 registered voters | ± 2.5% | 42% | 53% | 6% |
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute | May 26-June 1, 2004 | 1,350 registered voters | ± 2.7% | 45% | 50% | 5% |
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute | October 1–7, 2003 | 1,519 voters | ± 2.5% | 44% | 50% | 6% |
See also[]
- LGBT rights in Connecticut
- Same-sex marriage in the United States
- Same-sex marriage legislation in the United States
- Same-sex marriage law in the United States by state
- Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States
- Same-sex marriage status in the United States by state
- Rights and responsibilities of marriages in the United States
- History of civil marriage in the United States
References[]
- ^ "Same-sex marriages and civil unions in Connecticut". Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ National Conference of State Legislatures: "States offering benefits for same-sex partners of state employees", accessed April 16, 2011
- ^ a b "GLAD guide to Connecticut Civil Unions" (PDF). GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 31, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
- ^ "Raised H.B. No. 7395". Connecticut General Assembly. Archived from the original on January 17, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ "CT. Lawmakers Gear Up For Nup Battle". Queerty. January 31, 2007. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
- ^ "CHAPTER 815e MARRIAGE Sec. 46b-20. Definitions". Connecticut General Assembly. Archived from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
- ^ "Substitute for Raised S.B. No. 899 Session Year 2009". Connecticut General Assembly. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ "An Act Implementing The Guarantee Of Equal Protection Under The Constitution Of The State For Same Sex Couples" (PDF). Connecticut General Assembly. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 8, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ Matthews, Chase. "Connecticut Gov. signs gay marriage into law". ChicagoPride.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ "Conn. gov. signs bill updating marriage laws". 365gay News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ "Gay Couples Lose Connecticut Marriage Case". 365gay News. July 12, 2006. Archived from the original on July 2, 2008. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ "Advance opinion from the Connecticut Supreme Court" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 30, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ a b Michael Levenson and Andrew Ryan (October 10, 2008). "Connecticut Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
- ^ Foderaro, Lisa (November 13, 2008). "Gay Marriages Begin in Connecticut". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ Szep, Jason (November 12, 2008). "Gay weddings begin in Connecticut as debate rages". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ Altimari, Daniela (September 29, 2008). "Rally Pushes Constitutional Convention". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
- ^ Hladky, Gregory B. (November 3, 2008). "Conn. ballot masks a battle". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
- ^ "Connecticut Voters Reject Convention, Preserve Marriage Equality". The Advocate. November 6, 2008. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
- ^ Hladky, Gregory B. (November 7, 2008). "Newcomers Boost Democratic Numbers". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
- ^ Collins, Dave (July 16, 2014). "Connecticut Court Affirms Pre-Gay Marriage Rights". ABC News. AP. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ^ How many same-sex marriages in the U.S.? At least 71,165, probably more
- ^ "Connecticut, Registration Report-Births, Deaths, and Marriages Calendar Year 2015" (PDF). portal.ct.gov. July 2018.
- ^ "Vital Statistics (Registration Reports)". Connecticut State Department of Public Health.
- 2005 in LGBT history
- 2008 in LGBT history
- Same-sex marriage in the United States by state
- LGBT rights in Connecticut
- 2008 in Connecticut