The United States Constitution grants equal rights under the law to all citizens, but it does not grant homosexual persons the right to marry or, for that matter, any special rights. For a man to obtain the right to marry a man, or a woman the right to marry a woman, requires a re-definition of "marriage" by act of the State Legislature.

First, Vermont. In 2000, the Vermont legislature passed a statute that gave same-sex partners the right to join in a "civil union." Though not called "marriage," the civil-union law is treated in all respects under Vermont law as marriage.¹

Next, Connecticut? In 2001, the fight for same-sex marriage moved south, to Connecticut. In March 2001, a committee of the Connecticut General Assembly heard testimony from people outside of Connecticut, and within, supporting civil-union legislation. The legislation was opposed by many who believe that families and our culture are best served by preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman and affirming the importance of both a mother and father in a child's development. No legislation was passed in 2001, but legislation has been proposed in the 2002 legislative session; and those who supported the bill in the past have made it clear that they will not stop working until they have redefined marriage in Connecticut.