Same-Sex Marriage Bill Seen as Long Shot
By David Brensilver
Madison CT Shore Publishing
Published on 2/25/2005
When it comes to the same-sex marriage debate and a pair of bills in the legislature's Judiciary Committee, legislators are echoing their constituents' sentiments. Earlier this month, S.B. 963 and H.B. 6601 brought the same-sex marriage debate to the state level. And while same-sex marriage advocates are lobbying hard for nothing less than the big prize, legislators are talking about civil unions.
Both state Sen. Andrea Stillman (D-20) and state Rep. Ed Jutila (D-37) talked in terms of civil unions, based in large part on their charges of representing the voices of their constituents. Neither sits on the Judiciary Committee. Jutila said he'd support legislation that would afford same-sex couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples. Specifically, Jutila said he'd be inclined to support civil unions.
But advocates for same-sex marriage equality won't be satisfied with civil unions. Asked about the Senate bill that would recognize same-sex marriages, Jutila said, "I'm not there." Jutila would not support any federal legislation that would essentially ban gay marriage. "It's not a national issue," Jutila said. "Marriage is an issue that states should be deciding on their own." Jutila believes same-sex marriage advocates would be better served lobbying for civil unions.
Stillman said she too, supports civil unions, though the majority of people she hears from either support same-sex marriages or not, without mention of civil unions. She did say she would keep an open mind to the idea of same-sex marriage. Stillman too, said, "I would never support a Defense of Marriage Act," but thinks same-sex marriage advocates are making a mistake in bypassing civil unions in favor of the big prize -- especially since there seems to be what she called overwhelming support for civil unions in Connecticut.
State Rep. Lenny Winkler (R-41), who does sit on the Judiciary Committee, agrees that same-sex marriage advocates are shooting for the moon. "I think they are reaching for the stars," she said, adding she doesn't believe there are the necessary votes to get a marriage equality bill out of committee. Winkler does think a civil unions bill could find its way out. From a personal perspective, Winkler said, "To me, marriage has always traditionally been between a man and a woman," though she does support the idea of civil unions.
State Rep. Betsy Ritter (D-38) lands in the same place, albeit from another direction. In an ideal world, she said, "I'm not sure we'd be having this discussion. "I have no personal opposition to the idea of same-sex marriage," Ritter said, calling it a civil rights issue. Still, she said she thinks civil unions are the way to go for the legislature, adding she's not ready to offend those impassioned on the other side of the debate.
State Rep. Marilyn Giuliano (R-23) said her constituency represents that impassioned other side. Overwhelmingly, Giuliano said, her constituency opposes same-sex marriages and that she's not received much feedback about civil unions. She said she thinks it's safe to say if people are not in favor of same-sex marriages, they're likely not in favor of civil unions.
The heavyweight lobbyists in this debate are Brian Brown and Anne Stanback. Brown, the executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, said civil unions are the same thing as same-sex marriage under a different name. To him, it's largely about the children. "Same-sex marriage requires that children will never have the chance to have a mom and a dad. Just on that level, it is a catastrophic public policy decision," Brown said. "What is at stake is the fact that the model, the ideal of Western civilization for thousands of years, will be essentially replaced," Brown said.
For him, the issue has nothing to do with civil rights. Brown said nobody is being denied his or her rights. "There is no right to construct marriage any way we see fit," he said. He said if that were the case, polygamy would be acceptable. Brown called the same-sex marriage debate a social experiment, and said children are the guinea pigs. "Kids will have to be taught that it is the same thing, and it is not the same thing," Brown said. He said his position is based on altruism.
Brown's foil is Stanback, president of Love Makes a Family. Stanback talked about marriage, as opposed to civil unions. She said civil unions would create a separate and unequal class of people in Connecticut, and in fact, went as far as to say her organization is opposed to any civil union legislation. "Civil unions are a step backwards," Stanback said, adding that there is no reason for the state to take an incremental step. She said, "We believe it won't be a stepping stone to marriage, it will be a stopping point." Stanback did say that expectations are that a civil unions bill could come up as a compromise, one she's not interested in.
With regard to same-sex marriage opponents, Stanback said, "For most opponents, it's not about marriage, it's about homosexuality." She challenged those legislators talking in terms of civil unions. "What reason do legislators have to withhold the full equality of marriage, and why do they feel they have to stop at civil unions?" she asked rhetorically. "They can lead one of the key civil liberty fights of our time, or be reluctant followers," Stanback said.
Madison CT Shore Publishing
Published on 2/25/2005
When it comes to the same-sex marriage debate and a pair of bills in the legislature's Judiciary Committee, legislators are echoing their constituents' sentiments. Earlier this month, S.B. 963 and H.B. 6601 brought the same-sex marriage debate to the state level. And while same-sex marriage advocates are lobbying hard for nothing less than the big prize, legislators are talking about civil unions.
Both state Sen. Andrea Stillman (D-20) and state Rep. Ed Jutila (D-37) talked in terms of civil unions, based in large part on their charges of representing the voices of their constituents. Neither sits on the Judiciary Committee. Jutila said he'd support legislation that would afford same-sex couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples. Specifically, Jutila said he'd be inclined to support civil unions.
But advocates for same-sex marriage equality won't be satisfied with civil unions. Asked about the Senate bill that would recognize same-sex marriages, Jutila said, "I'm not there." Jutila would not support any federal legislation that would essentially ban gay marriage. "It's not a national issue," Jutila said. "Marriage is an issue that states should be deciding on their own." Jutila believes same-sex marriage advocates would be better served lobbying for civil unions.
Stillman said she too, supports civil unions, though the majority of people she hears from either support same-sex marriages or not, without mention of civil unions. She did say she would keep an open mind to the idea of same-sex marriage. Stillman too, said, "I would never support a Defense of Marriage Act," but thinks same-sex marriage advocates are making a mistake in bypassing civil unions in favor of the big prize -- especially since there seems to be what she called overwhelming support for civil unions in Connecticut.
State Rep. Lenny Winkler (R-41), who does sit on the Judiciary Committee, agrees that same-sex marriage advocates are shooting for the moon. "I think they are reaching for the stars," she said, adding she doesn't believe there are the necessary votes to get a marriage equality bill out of committee. Winkler does think a civil unions bill could find its way out. From a personal perspective, Winkler said, "To me, marriage has always traditionally been between a man and a woman," though she does support the idea of civil unions.
State Rep. Betsy Ritter (D-38) lands in the same place, albeit from another direction. In an ideal world, she said, "I'm not sure we'd be having this discussion. "I have no personal opposition to the idea of same-sex marriage," Ritter said, calling it a civil rights issue. Still, she said she thinks civil unions are the way to go for the legislature, adding she's not ready to offend those impassioned on the other side of the debate.
State Rep. Marilyn Giuliano (R-23) said her constituency represents that impassioned other side. Overwhelmingly, Giuliano said, her constituency opposes same-sex marriages and that she's not received much feedback about civil unions. She said she thinks it's safe to say if people are not in favor of same-sex marriages, they're likely not in favor of civil unions.
The heavyweight lobbyists in this debate are Brian Brown and Anne Stanback. Brown, the executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, said civil unions are the same thing as same-sex marriage under a different name. To him, it's largely about the children. "Same-sex marriage requires that children will never have the chance to have a mom and a dad. Just on that level, it is a catastrophic public policy decision," Brown said. "What is at stake is the fact that the model, the ideal of Western civilization for thousands of years, will be essentially replaced," Brown said.
For him, the issue has nothing to do with civil rights. Brown said nobody is being denied his or her rights. "There is no right to construct marriage any way we see fit," he said. He said if that were the case, polygamy would be acceptable. Brown called the same-sex marriage debate a social experiment, and said children are the guinea pigs. "Kids will have to be taught that it is the same thing, and it is not the same thing," Brown said. He said his position is based on altruism.
Brown's foil is Stanback, president of Love Makes a Family. Stanback talked about marriage, as opposed to civil unions. She said civil unions would create a separate and unequal class of people in Connecticut, and in fact, went as far as to say her organization is opposed to any civil union legislation. "Civil unions are a step backwards," Stanback said, adding that there is no reason for the state to take an incremental step. She said, "We believe it won't be a stepping stone to marriage, it will be a stopping point." Stanback did say that expectations are that a civil unions bill could come up as a compromise, one she's not interested in.
With regard to same-sex marriage opponents, Stanback said, "For most opponents, it's not about marriage, it's about homosexuality." She challenged those legislators talking in terms of civil unions. "What reason do legislators have to withhold the full equality of marriage, and why do they feel they have to stop at civil unions?" she asked rhetorically. "They can lead one of the key civil liberty fights of our time, or be reluctant followers," Stanback said.
posted by R Lathrop at 8:08 PM
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