October 2008 Special Edition Justice of the Peace Newsletter

EXCITING NEWS FOR CONNECTICUT JPs:
CT SUPREME COURT DECLARES CIVIL UNIONS DEFICIENT,
WEDDINGS FOR SAME SEX COUPLES TO BEGIN Nov. 12
Attorney General Issues New Rules

WHAT TO DO IF YOU WANT TO OFFICIATE: If you want to perform marriages for gay couples, ask Love Makes a Family to put your name on their list of willing officiants. Send an email with your contact information to carol@lmfct.org. More information on their website http://www.lmfct.org.
Marriage licenses to accommodate couples of the same sex will be available at Town Clerk offices starting on November 12. At 9:15 that day, Superior Court Judge Jonathan Silbert will hold a hearing to enter the final judgment in the case that allows same-sex marriages in the state. Once the hearing ends, couples can pick up marriage license forms at town and city clerk's offices.

The Ruling...   Friday, October 10 was a historic day in Connecticut. The Connecticut Supreme Court decided a case in favor of the eight gay couples who sued the state in 2004 when they were first denied marriage licenses. The Court, in a 4-3 ruling, said that civil unions (which CT first offered to gay couples just three years ago) do not provide equal protection guaranteed by the state Constitution. "The civil union law entitles same sex couples to all of the same rights as married couples except one, that is, the freedom to marry," the Court said. That in effect creates a "second-class citizen status for same-sex couples."
       Connecticut will not appeal the ruling and becomes the third state, after Massachusetts and California, to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.
       Governor Rell said, "The Supreme Court has spoken. I do not believe their voice reflects the majority of the people of Connecticut. However, I am also firmly convinced that attempts to reverse this decision -- either legislatively or by amending the state Constitution -- will not meet with success. I will therefore abide by the ruling."
         Revised licenses for marriage will be available at Town Clerks' offices beginning on October 28, when the law takes effect. Read excerpts from the decision and newspaper articles about it,

What It Means to JPs... More than 1500 civil unions have been performed in Connecticut since 2005. With the Court majority's decision that "gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice," it's a good bet that most of these couples will choose to get married. Furthermore, since NY Governor Paterson recently declared that NY will recognize legal marriages from other jurisdictions (despite their not being offered in NY), gay couples residing in NY will likely head for CT in the near future. That's a lot of new business for Connecticut JPs. (Of course many religious leaders will also be willing to officiate at gay ceremonies, but most Catholic priests and officiants from other denominations will surely refuse.)
The JP Association has revised the home page of both www.jpUS.org and www.findaJP.com hailing the Supreme Court ruling and promoting member Justices of the Peace as ready, willing and enthusiastic about performing marriages for gay couples.

Upcoming Fall Conferences Will Address Gay Marriage... Civil unions had been on the agenda for all three morning conferences scheduled for Oct. 25 (Durham), Nov. 8 (Bristol) and 15 (Norwalk), so we are indeed prepared to help JPs get ready to marry couples of the same gender. Three different speakers will share their unique experiences performing civil unions to help conference attendees find the right words and get comfortable pronouncing gay couples MARRIED. (By the way, which term do you prefer: same-sex, same gender, gay or something else? This question has been a popular topic on the jpUS Discussion Forum. If it matters to you, do let us know your opinion.)
...as well as other topics of importance in these times of challenge. The complete agendas for the three conferences are now online at jpus.org/conferenceregister.htm. Do sign up to attend one of them -- you'll be glad you did!