Hidden Nook
"Because in Cyberspace, no one can hear you scream."
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Civil Union's For Gays In CT
[Media Source*] (Posted on BNN)
Interesting.
HARTFORD, Connecticut (AP) -- The state Senate easily approved a bill that would make Connecticut the first state to recognize civil unions between same-sex couples without being pressured by the courts.
Although this is not something that will thrill those of faith, the fact that the legislature is carrying this out (instead of the courts) is something to be relieved about. Although many residents in Connecticut support Civil Unions, over half oppose gay marriage according to a poll. The bill will most likely pass the house which will grant gay partners some of the rights as married folks.
Update: Somewhere In the Middle responded to my link challenge below (providing this article from Slate). Interesting article...I wonder what Dobson would say to it (although I will verify their claims and post about it probably in the future).
From CNN:
"We stand today before a portal to history," said Democratic Sen. Andrew McDonald, one of a handful of openly gay lawmakers. "I ask you to pass through it."
Although Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell has not made her stance on the bill clear, she is an advocate of civil unions so it is expected to pass into law. Although gay marriage proponents hoped to pass a bill advocating gay marriage like in Massachusetts but politicians agreed that their was more clout towards extending rights through civil unions than in granting the marriage licenses.
We may soon have a country divided between "gay and straight," something that will not be too healthy for our nation. Andrew Sullivan has an interesting take on this scenario, and gives his two cents regarding the issue.
We may well soon have a situation in which there are states that are safe for gay couples, and states that are unsafe. Gay people can move to the free states, rather as inter-racial couples moved across country to states where equality and freedom were respected. And in the process, we can see whether the gay-friendly states see marriage collapse, as opposed to the flourishing of marriage in those states which are constitutionally hostile to gays.
Although it too early to tell how gay marriage has affected Massachusetts, one can simply look overseas towards our European neighbors to see how this "new trend" has affected the culture of marriage.
MARRIAGE IS SLOWLY DYING IN SCANDINAVIA. A majority of children in Sweden and Norway are born out of wedlock. Sixty percent of first-born children in Denmark have unmarried parents. Not coincidentally, these countries have had something close to full gay marriage for a decade or more. Same-sex marriage has locked in and reinforced an existing Scandinavian trend toward the separation of marriage and parenthood...
More precisely, it has further undermined the institution. The separation of marriage from parenthood was increasing; gay marriage has widened the separation. Out-of-wedlock birthrates were rising; gay marriage has added to the factors pushing those rates higher. Instead of encouraging a society-wide return to marriage, Scandinavian gay marriage has driven home the message that marriage itself is outdated, and that virtually any family form, including out-of-wedlock parenthood, is acceptable.
If marriage is simply a "convenience between partners" that can be simply updated then accepting homosexuals into the fold will not be such a big deal. If on the other hand marriage is merely the "foundation of our society" then changing it could alter it for the worse.
Heterosexual marriage generally serves a purpose since it provides a nurturing environment to rear up children (since most couples can have them without state assistance) as well as guard the family economically and socially. Gay marriage has not proven to be as stable throughout mankind's history and if someone would provide a link pointing where it has (over a ten year period) then this blogger would consider changing his faith. Any takers?
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By Darnell Clayton ⢠1:52 PM ⢠Email Post ⢠â¢
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