Welcome, Connecticut!

After a decade long struggle to legalize gay marriage, Connecticut has become the 4th state to legalize gay marriage, joining the ranks with Massachusetts, Vermont and Iowa. Connecticut had already legalized same-sex civil unions, and the bill states that as of October 1, 2010, all those civil unions will become same-sex marriages.

Connecticut did something that I found very interesting. To appease some gay marriage opposition, "lawmakers amended the bill to show they want to protect religious liberties. For example, it says religious organizations and associations are not required to provide services, goods or facilities for same-sex wedding ceremonies." I'm glad to see that they also took into account that religious institutions in this bill. Many of the main arguments that are against same-sex marriage are purely religious based (or so they say), and I feel this bill is a nice compromise between both sides.

Senator Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, had this to say on the amendment to the bill:

"We wanted to make it completely clear that the state of Connecticut fully embraces not only the rights of same-sex couples to marry, but we fully embrace the rights and protections afforded by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the Connecticut Constitution to the free exercise of religion."

While I sincerely doubt the battle against same-sex marriage is over in Connecticut (or in any other state that has already legalized same-sex marriage), this is a major victory for all, even if they do not realize it yet.