The Family Institute of Connecticut and its supporters gathered at the state Capitol Tuesday to lobby lawmakers on a handful of issues, including a bill which will clean up some of the language regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in favor of gay marriage.
“In its current form, the same-sex marriage codification bill makes no provision for religious liberty,” Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute, said.
He said the bill was amended to say churches and church-controlled buildings would not have to rent their buildings out for same-sex marriage ceremonies, but that it “is still very weak.” He said it’s not clear if a Knights of Columbus hall would fall into that category or not.
Wolfgang instructed the group of supporters to not let their legislators tell them religious protections were included in the bill based on the amendment.
“This is about not having their agenda forced on us,” he said. The legislature is going well-beyond housekeeping in the bill, he said.
Anne Stanback, executive director of Love Makes a Family, said it’s common practice in Connecticut to repeal statutory language that is unconstitutional. She said it’s necessary because the Supreme Court didn’t say what should happen to civil unions when it ruled in favor of gay marriage.
The bill which the Family Institute opposes would also transition all civil unions into marriages by Oct. 1, 2010.
While the Family Institute was lobbying legislators Tuesday the state of Vermont became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage, and the first to do so with a legislature’s vote.
Click here to watch video from Airmaria of the Family Institute rally and lobby day event.
