October 14, 2008

Friday's decision from the Supreme Court for the State of Connecticut will make the Nutmeg State the third in the nation to allow same-sex couples the right to enter into civil marriages.  Although Connecticut’s existing civil union law granted same-sex couples many of the rights and privileges of married opposite-sex partners, the Supreme Court concluded that marriage carries a “status and significance that the new created classification of civil unions does not embody.”

The National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA) applauds the Connecticut Supreme Court’s decision and would like to congratulate the plaintiffs, their counsel and the numerous organizations, especially the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, who filed amicus briefs supporting marriage equality, for this important victory.

While the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community has much to celebrate after today’s historic ruling in Connecticut, we may soon be dealt a stinging defeat in California and Florida, both states with ballot initiatives that would amend their state constitutions to prohibit legal recognition of same-sex couples.  Polls in Florida have shown support for the amendment just shy of the 60% needed to pass while marriage ban supporters in California have used their fundraising advantage to make significant gains in the Golden State and now lead by as much as 5%. 

We need your help to protect and expand marriage equality!  To learn more about what you can do to defeat Proposition 8 (California) and Proposition 2 (Florida) or to make a financial contribution to these efforts, please visit:

 Sincerely,

D’Arcy Kemnitz

Executive Director