Response to CT Marriage Ruling

Washington, DC - Today, the National Stonewall Democrats applauded the Connecticut Supreme Court for recognizing the freedom of all Connecticut couples to marry. In today's ruling, the Connecticut Supreme Court declared that state statute, which denies equal access to civil marriage is unconstitutional under the equal protections and due process guarantees of the state constitution.

"All couples in Connecticut should enjoy the freedom to marry, and we recognize that this ruling allows thousands of committed couples to take the legal steps necessary to secure their unions and deeper their responsibilities to one another," said Jon Hoadley, Executive Director. "This ruling is not only good for thousands of Connecticut couples, but it is good for Connecticut itself as this ruling legally stabilizes existing families and encourages others to take on the legal responsibilities of marriage."

In its ruling, the Connecticut Supreme Court citied the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Loving vs. Virginia which overturned that state's prohibition on interracial marriage.  In that, the Connecticut Supreme Court declared that current civil union law of Connecticut "'entitles same sex couples to all the same rights as married couples except one, that is, the freedom to marry, a right that "has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men [and women]' and 'fundamental to our very existence and surrival'." (Loving vs. Virginia)
Connecticut now joins California and Massachusetts in recognizing civil marriage for same-sex couples.

The presidential campaign of John McCain and Sarah Palin continue to support anti-marriage initiatives on the ballot this year in Arizona, California and Florida. In previous years, John McCain and Sarah Palin have personally campaigned for anti-marriage initiatives in their home states of Arizona and Alaska. In 2006, McCain cut a television commercial which pleaded for Arizona voters to pass such an initiative. Voters rejected the plea and rejected the initiative at the ballot box.