Gay and lesbian relationships continued to be a political football in the legislatures of two New England states this past month. And while the rhetoric often was hot and heavy, there is a growing sense that perhaps the fever of the body politic has broken and calmer days lay ahead.
The Vermont House passed legislation banning gay marriage March 16 after three hours of highly charged debate. They did so by amending the law to define marriage as between a man and a woman.
That chamber is now dominated by Republicans who won control in the November election with the theme of "Take back Vermont," a reaction to legislation on gay civil unions enacted earlier in the year under pressure from the state supreme court.
But the House vote is likely to have no practical effect. It does not affect civil unions. Furthermore, it is highly unlikely to even come up for a vote in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.
"There is no confusion on what marriage is and what it is not. So why the need to clarify this further?" said openly gay Rep Robert Dostis. His colleague Bill Lippert, who also is gay, called it "a political bill …payback to the right wing."
In Connecticut, the judiciary committee of the State Assembly held a hearing on legal recognition of same gender couples. More than 300 people packed the March 16 meeting that lasted five and a half hours. Supporters wore yellow stickers bearing the word "Equity," while opponents chose teal and the slogan "Marriage has meaning."
Gay and lesbian couples testified that even after years and sometimes decades of a committed relationship they feared being denied access to their partner in times of medical emergency. They told of unequal treatment in dispensing survivor's benefits and the taxing and transference of estates.
Auxiliary bishop of Hartford Peter A. Rosazza spoke for Connecticut's six Catholic bishops when he said, "The indispensable good of family to society is eroded when de facto unions, ie the cohabitation of two heterosexual or homosexual persons with an implied sexual relationship, are considered equivalent to marriage."
Some Republican legislators suggested that legalizing gay relationships would lead to similar recognition of incestuous and polygamous ones. But Republican Gov. John Rowland reserved judgement on the matter until legislation was passed.
No legislation recognizing same gender relationships was pending at the time of the hearing, though openly gay Rep Art Feldman has said he will soon introduce a measure to recognize gay civil unions.
A poll on that subject in the online version of the Hartford Current had drawn a favorable vote from 56 percent of approximately 250 responses, over the course of three days.
"In my opinion, it is just a matter of time before ordinary run-of-the-mill civil marriages are offered to same-sex couples, Rep. Michael Lawlor, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, told the Associated Press. "It's just a matter of how much angst we have to endure to get there."