Happy Thanksgiving!

It has been a while since my last post and so much has happened since then.

First off, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! In Connecticut, we have much to be thankful for, especially the recent start to gay marriage. Having attended a rally in New Haven, CT with my partner of 19 years on the day that the state of Connecticut began giving gay and lesbian couples marriage licenses, I must say that the happiness and pride that innundated the crowd was just amazing. I am proud to live in a state that recognizes gay and lesbian relationships as equal to those of our heterosexual counterparts.

Secondly, all Americans should be proud and thankful for the election of our soon to be President Barack Obama. We have high hopes for his administration getting the country back on track and for furthering equality for the GLBT community.

As you know, the recent election resulted in some negatives, too. The people of California voted yes on proposition 8 taking away the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry. This was a difficult setback and definitely dimmed the elation of the Obama win. It is important for us all to help our gay Californian brothers and sisters regain their right to marry. Currently, there are several court cases pending to try and overturn the vote. We have hope that this setback will only be temporary and the courts will reverse the ban.

There were other anti-gay initiatives passed on election day in Florida, Arkansas and Arizona.

We must not let these backward steps falter our progress. In this new administration, we can make many strides and accomplish many of our goals for equality. Today, I am hopeful and I am thankful for what the future holds for GLBT equality.

Now, the question is how do we keep moving forward… Please share your ideas…

Chris Rich
Connecticut’s Gay REALTOR

Connecticut Gay Marriage Workshop 101
For Couples, Lawyers, Justices of the Peace and All Interested Parties

Presented by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and Love Makes a Family

Gay Marriage 101

Tuesday October 28th, 2008
7:00 to 8:30 PM

Wesleyan University
Exley Science Center
Room 150
Middletown, CT

Click here to RSVP

or call Alton Croker @ 617-426-1350 x 59
Wesleyan University Campus Map (pdf)
Directions to Wesleyan University

Everything you need to know about marriage rights and responsibilities under Connecticut state law, including:

• What do I need to think about before getting married?
• What do I need to bring with me when I get my application?
• What if I already have a civil union?
• What if I am adopting internationally or a member of the armed services?
• What if I don’t live in Connecticut?

Presenters include:

• GLAD Attorney Ben Klein , who argued the case
• CT Attorney Maureen Murphy , who co-counseled
• Anne Stanback from LMF

The recent decision by the Connecticut Supreme Court in GLAD’s marriage case is a momentous step toward full equality for same-sex couples in Connecticut and beyond. Along with the excitement come serious  questions about what the decision means for same-sex couples  and the process necessary for couples to enjoy the rights and privileges of marriage under Connecticut state law.

Join us at the first in a series of workshops where GLAD and LMF share all the information you need to access your right to marry in Connecticut.

Sincerely,

Lee Swislow
Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders

About GLAD

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) is New England’s leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity and expression.  Since 1978, through impact litigation and public education, GLAD has worked to create a better world for lesbians, gay men, bisexual, and transgender individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS.

To help GLAD fund the fight for equal justice under law, please make a donation today - visit our Donation Page .  Thank you for getting involved and for supporting GLAD.  

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
30 Winter Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders

CT Supreme Court rules in favor of gay marriage

Today is a momentous day for equality in Connecticut with the long awaited CT Supreme Court ruling that gay and lesbian couples in the Constitution State deserve marriage. Writing for the majority in the court’s 4 to 3 ruling, Supreme Court Justice Richard N. Palmer stated:

“Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same-sex partner of their choice. To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others.”

Connecticut becomes the second state in New England and the third in the United States to open the doors to full marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples with today’s ruling on ‘Kerrigan & Mock et al v. Connecticut Department of Public Health’. Supreme courts in Massachusetts and California also have ruled in favor of gay and lesbian couples, concluding the domestic partnerships were unequal to the rights given in heterosexual marriage.

A great amount of gratitude goes out to our friends at GLAD and the eight plaintiff couples who braved the the public spotlight to fight for marriage equality for Connecticut’s thousands of same-sex couples and their children.

The plaintiff couples are:

• Elizabeth Kerrigan and Joanne Mock
• Damaris Navarro and Gloria Searson
• Carol Conklin and Janet Peck
• Geraldine and Suzanne Artis
• Barbara and Robin Levine-Ritterman
• Stephen Davis and Jeffrey Busch
• J.E. Martin and Denise Howard
• John Anderson and Garrett Stack

“I’m just ecstatic. It’s such a relief, the joy of it,” said plaintiff, Jody Mock of West Hartford, who sued with partner Elizabeth Kerrigan. “I can’t believe it. We’re thrilled, we’re absolutely overjoyed. We’re finally going to be able, after 33 years, to get married,” said Janet Peck of Colchester, who was another plaintiff with her partner, Carole Conklin. 

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the ruling goes into effect Oct. 28 when it is implemented by action of the of the Superior Court. There will be no appeal, he said.

On a personal note, it is wonderful to think that after almost 19 years with my partner, Anthony, we will finally be able to marry and legally call each other husband and be afforded the same state rights as heterosexual couples! Next step… Federal marriage recognition for gay couples!

Christopher Rich - REALTOR
William Raveis Real Estate
Gay Connecticut Real estate

Tags: connecticut, ct, Gay Marriage, glbt ct, homosexual marriage, lesbian marriage