ACTION: Defend the Law Campaign Urges Connecticut Attorney General to Sue Government Over DOMA

A focus to get Attorneys General to actively defend the marriage equality law in their states where it is legal has come underway through an active campaign called Defend the Law.

Recently, Massachusetts AG Martha Coakley announced that her state would be filing a lawsuit in federal courts, challenging the U.S. government over the Defense of Marriage Act. Defend the Law has taken its cue from Coakely and is now setting its sights on Connecticut's AG Richard Blumenthal, whose state became the second to legalize marriage equality last year.

The goal of Defend the Law is pursue the other states that recently legalized marriage equality, but their focus right now is on Bluementhal. Their site states:

Marriage Equality has also been the law of the land in Connecticut since November 12, 2008. The Attorney General of Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal, states prominently on his website, “As the public’s lawyer, I am here to defend state laws.” Since marriage equality is indeed the law in Connecticut, we strongly urge Attorney General Blumenthal to follow Massachusetts’ lead and stand up for the citizens and laws of his state by filing a lawsuit against the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

In addition to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal having a duty to defend state law, defending marriage equality just so happens to be the politically expedient thing to do as well. The majority of Connecticut citizens support marriage equality and those numbers continue to grow.

Why such focus on Blumenthal though? 22-year old Paul Sousa, a Boston College student who started the campaign, told the Connecticut paper the Courant, "He hasn't shied away from provocative national cases in the past and hopefully he won't in this case. He's pretty liberal and progressive and he's a friend of the LBGT community."

Blumenthal is aware of the campaign and responded to the Courant through an email, "We are monitoring Massachusetts' action and listening to views and opinions expressed by advocates on all sides of the issue."

So he's listening. Let's give him more to listen to.

DefendtheLaw.org has action steps you can take.

Urge CT Attorney General Blumenthal to file a lawsuit against DOMA

Join the facebook event so we know you’re taking part.

Actions to take during August 10th-14th from home:

Call: (860)-808-5318 & Fax: (860)-808-5387

Email: attorney.general@po.state.ct.us

Actions to take during August 10th-14th in person:

The Attorney General’s office is located at:
55 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106 (see map below).
Feel free to stop by in person and relay your message urging Blumenthal to file a suit against DOMA.

In the coming days, Maryland AG Douglas Gansler will rule if his state's law demands recognition of same-sex marriage performed in other states legally. Change.org has a petition you can sign urging him to rule in favor of marriage equality.

Connecticut Bill Makes Room for Same-Sex Marriage in the Law Books

The new bill, which passed 28-7 in the Senate and 100-44 in the House, will update the Connecticut's marriage law books to conform to the state's Supreme Court ruling that made same-sex marriage legal in the state. Before, the law defined marriage as a union between a man and woman.

The bill wasn't needed to allow same-sex marriage, but supporters said it was needed to phase out civil unions. The bill calls for such unions to be transformed to marriages on October 1, 2010, unless the couple applies for a marriage license beforehand.

Naturally resistant to the end, same-sex marriage foes, ignorant of the protections that they already have, were given added protection for their religious liberties through an amendment to the bill. It states religious organizations and associations are not required to provide services, goods or facilities for same-sex wedding ceremonies.

"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," said openly gay Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford.

Vermont Senate Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill 26-4

The first state in the union to issue civil unions to same-sex couples is now a step closer to issuing same-sex marriage licenses, possibly joining Connecticut and Massachusetts as the only states legalizing same-sex marriage.

Impassioned pleas came from supportive senators, including Sen. John Campbell, who went to last week's public hearing, where opposition claimed that straight marriage was like a cruise ship full of heterosexual couples, and that homosexuals followed the vessel in their tiny dinghies but wanted to get on the straight marriage ship, not carrying whether or not they sank it. The underlining theme of this metaphor, said a senator, was the appalling inequality, and what was most offensive was that the opposition felt this was acceptable, and on top of that, proclaimed it.

An alternate bill was presented to the floor stating that the issue should go to the people in a referendum instead of being decided by the legislature, urged by the belief that the legislature was moving too quickly on the issue. Opposing views claimed that it could be very expensive and referred to the millions and millions spent in California on Proposition 8, and that more pressing issues, such as the economy, needed the state's full resources instead of it being distracted by the marriage debate. This was countered that if same-sex marriage was approved by the people of Vermont, then the institution would have more sound standing and acceptance than if only approved by the legislature. This bill was voted down.

The approved bill must move the House for a floor vote, and though it's expected to be a tight race, the house speaker believes it will be approved. It also must clear the obstacle of Republican Gov. James Douglas' desk where a veto threat is real. It is not clear whether or not a enough votes exist in the state legislature to overturn a veto.

If the bill does in fact clear all obstacles, same-sex marriage will begin in the state of Vermont, September 1, 2009.

Poll: Connecticut Voters Support Same-Sex Marriage

Source: Advocate.com

A new poll shows that a majority of registered voters in Connecticut support same-sex marriage, which the state's supreme court legalized in October. According to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday, 52% of voters support the ruling, 39% oppose it, and 9% are undecided, Newsday reports.

A stronger majority -- 61% -- oppose banning same-sex marriage via a state constitutional amendment, the paper reports. Marriage-equality foes had hoped voters would approve a constitutional convention so state legislators could discuss the matter, but the proposal failed at the ballot box on Election Day.

The poll surveyed 1,445 registered voters between December 11-15 and includes a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points.

Congratulations Connecticut!

We are happy for you! Keep up the fight!

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