Connecticut Supreme Court Rules for Gay Marriage

In yet another case where a state supreme court must consider the meaning of full civil equality under the law, the Connecticut Supreme ruled today that civil unions are discriminatory against gay and lesbian couples. It appears that the state legislature is poised to also pass legislation in favor of full marriage equality for gays. If one remembers that we are talking about the CIVIL laws, it should be a no brainer that this is the only possible result if one is applying the state constitution to provide equal CIVIL rights. Of course, this simple reasoning and logic is beyond the mental capabilities of Christianists who cannot separate their religious fanaticism from civil government and civil laws. Needless to say, the will be spittle flying and teeth gnashing among the demented Christianist crowd. The Court's decision can be found here. Here are some highlights from the Hartford Courant:

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The Supreme Court released its historic ruling at 11:30 a.m. Citing the equal protection clause of the state constitution, the justices ruled that civil unions were discriminatory and that the state's "understanding of marriage must yield to a more contemporary appreciation of the rights entitled to constitutional protection."

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"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," the majority wrote. "To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others."

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The [lunatic] opposition will now turn its sights to the November election, when voters will be asked whether the state should convene a constitutional convention. "Connecticut voters will have one opportunity on Nov. 4 to reassert their right to self government.

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The court's ruling today will likely be the final judicial judgment in the case because it it based on the state constitution, rather then the U.S. constitution. But the often emotional, contentious debate over gay marriage is far from over.