One of the Judiciary Committee Co-Chairman framed the 27 to 15 vote on gay marriage Thursday as “historic.”
Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, urged the members of the committee to look into the future and try to imagine how history will judge their vote because “no matter who you are or how you vote on this issue, this vote today will stand out in your mind in the future.”
The weight of Lawlor’s opening remarks resonated with both proponents and opponents of the legislation.
Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, said he sees the state as “abundantly tolerant” and there’s something in the core of his heart that makes him want to vote in favor of this because it makes sense, but at the same time he’s beholden to his constituents who feel the legislature may be moving too fast on this issue.
It was two years ago to the day that the legislature approved a bill allowing civil unions.
Kissel, who voted against the bill said the state should “wait and see how this plays out.”
But for those couples who have a civil union it’s not soon enough. As Lawlor said in his opening remarks “this is a very simple bill in many ways,” because it “takes civil unions and calls it marriage.” The current system is an example of separate, but not equal.
The bill will move forward to the House and then the Senate.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who was raised in a Baptist church, has said “marriage is between a man and a woman,” and would veto the bill if it got to her desk.