The Connecticut Supreme Court handed down a major legal victory for LGBT people and their supporters Oct. 10. The court’s 4-to-3 decision voids the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, making Connecticut the third state to legalize gay marriage, following Massachusetts and California.
|
The ruling is the result of decades of struggle by the LGBT liberation movement. Activists in Connecticut and around the country have fought in the legislature and come out in the streets to demand equality for the oppressed LGBT community. In the absence of a fighting movement, the government, courts and media only perpetuate bigotry and anti-LGBT hatred. Victories like the Connecticut Supreme Court ruling are won through militant struggle, not handed down by enlightened legislatures or sympathetic politicians.
The presidential candidates from the two capitalist parties oppose equal marriage rights for LGBT couples. Democratic nominee Barack Obama and his running mate Joe Biden oppose same-sex marriage. Despite claiming support for civil unions, Obama proposes a “balance” that would leave marriage rights to individual states. This “balance” is an opportunist attempt to short-change the mounting struggle of oppressed LGBT people to score votes without taking a principled stand for equal rights.
John McCain, the Republican nominee, also espouses the viewpoint of allowing the states to decide individually on same-sex marriage, but strongly opposes civil unions and supported a proposed amendment to the Arizona state constitution in 2006 that would have defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.
In contrast, the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s 2008 presidential and vice presidential candidates, Gloria La Riva and Eugene Puryear, celebrate the Connecticut ruling and support equal rights for LGBT people, including the right to marry.
Despite victories in California, Massachusetts and Connecticut, these hard-won rights are not guaranteed and must be defended against the right-wing counteroffensive. In November, the people of California will vote on Proposition 8, an anti-gay-marriage referendum that could overturn same-sex marriage rights. In Connecticut, a proposition to have a state Constitutional Convention will be on the ballot.
Connecticut’s Constitutional Convention proposition is being supported by the right-wing Family Institute of Connecticut and Constitution Convention Campaign. The convention would open the doors to racist and reactionary forces to alter the state constitution and target not only LGBT rights but also the rights of women, African Americans, immigrants and others.
Members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the ANSWER Coalition attended a counter-demonstration at the Connecticut capitol Sept. 28 to oppose the right-wing attempt to gain new constitutional guarantees for bigotry. More demonstrations are planned, and all LBGT people and their supporters must stand in the streets to fight for and defend their rights.
Defend LGBT rights! Vote “No” on California’s Proposition 8! Vote “No” on Connecticut’s Constitutional Convention!
