Connecticut Same Sex Marriage Advocates Win Vote

CONNECTICUT, November 7, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – On Tuesday Connecticut voters decided against holding a convention to amend the state's constitution, which could have offered marriage supporters a chance to ban same-sex "marriage" from the state. Currently, under a state Supreme Court decision, same-sex "marriages" are set to begin in the state on Nov. 12.

A constitutional convention is permitted in the state every 20 years, and provides an opportunity for delegates to rewrite the state constitution. It was hoped that voters would vote on Tuesday's ballot to call a convention, and then to amend the constitution to prevent same-sex "marriage."

However, while numerous other topics were also slated to be discussed at the convention, opponents broadly publicized the proposed marriage portion of the convention, inciting popular opposition to the ballot measure. Matthew Daly, who headed the campaign to get the convention approved, said "opponents were able to frame the issue as being about special interests and gay marriage."

Same-sex "marriage" was illegal in Connecticut until this October, when four Supreme Court judges in the state struck down the state's same-sex "marriage" ban. Since 2005 same-sex couples have been permitted to obtain a "civil union," but, as LifeSiteNews reported in October, Justice Richard N. Palmer "found that the 'segregation of heterosexual and homosexual couples into separate institutions constitutes a cognizable harm.'"

Focus on the Family judicial analyst Bruce Hausknecht told CitizenLink.com that it was disappointing Connecticut voters were not concerned about retrieving their legislators' authority from what he deemed to be the judicial activism of the Supreme Court justices. "To acquiesce to such judicial tyranny is merely to invite more of it in the future," he concluded.

Regarding the Supreme Court decision, Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family wrote that the ruling "to impose same-sex 'marriage' adds another tragic example of runaway judges trampling on citizens' rights to decide public policy for themselves… We decry this decision by justices unelected and unaccountable to the people, and will do whatever necessary to oppose it."

The rejection of the convention, however, may not be the end of the story for true marriage in Connecticut: the issue can still be put before voters if it receives a three-quarters vote from both General Assembly houses or a simple majority in two consecutive legislative sessions.