Connecticut
governor signs civil unions bill

Connecticut on Wednesday became the second state to offer civil unions to gay couples--and the first to do so without being forced by the courts. About an hour after the state senate sent her the legislation, Republican governor M. Jodi Rell signed into law a bill that will afford gay couples in Connecticut many of the rights and privileges of married couples. "The vote we cast today will reverberate around the country, and it will send a wave of hope to many people, to thousands of people across the country," said Sen. Andrew McDonald, cochairman of the legislature's judiciary committee and one of a few openly gay state lawmakers. The legislation will give gay and lesbian couples the rights and privileges of marriage under Connecticut law--with the exception of an actual marriage license. Wednesday's senate vote came on Catholic Day at the state capitol. Catholics and opponents of same-sex marriage plan a massive rally on Sunday at the capitol to show their opposition to the bill. The group sees civil unions as same-sex marriage but with a different name. Vermont has approved civil unions, and neighboring Massachusetts has same-sex marriage, but those changes came about only after gay couples won court battles. Last summer seven gay couples filed a lawsuit in Connecticut after being denied marriage licenses. That case has not been resolved, but Connecticut legislators who backed the civil unions bill claim they weren't influenced by it. They said they acted to extend more rights to same-sex couples and their families. "I am personally overwhelmed by the notion that the people of Connecticut have said yes to equality, and that speaks volumes about the character of this state," McDonald said. "I'm very proud to be a citizen and legislator of Connecticut today." (AP)