Connecticut Legalizes Civil Unions

By Christina Rentz

Published on October 03, 2005

On Saturday, same-sex couples who were anxious to legalize their relationship stood outside Hartford City Hall, which held special hours this weekend because of the new law. City Hall officials issued same-sex couples documents that are identical to marriage certificates, except "husband" and "wife" are replaced with "party 1" and "party 2."

The new civil union law makes Connecticut the first state to legalize same-sex unions without being forced to do so by the courts. In the only other states with laws legalizing same-sex unions, Vermont (legalized civil unions) and Massachusetts (legalized gay marriage), the higher courts mandated these laws.

Same-sex couples in Connecticut now have the all the same legal rights as married couples, including access to employer benefits. However, this law does not legalize gay marriage, as the Connecticut constitution now explicitly defines marriage as a union between a man and woman.

Connecticut's new law is a landmark in the gay rights movement.

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