Connecticut gay rights decision is right on the mark

In 2004, a day before the national election and on my second attempt to become a State Representative in Connecticut's second district, a direct mail piece arrived in my mailbox on gay marriage. 

The campaign literature was actually sent by my opponent--a right wing Republican who did not have the courage to take authorship of the mailing--who wanted the literature to appear as if it had originated from my campaign. Why? Because the content of the mailing was to promote same sex marriage. In fact, my opponents had made up quotes and statements from me to look like I had gone on record to say that I would vote for same sex marriage.

The problem was that I was still in the closet about my sexual orientation and had avoided taking a position throughout the campaign. When surveyed on marriage, I always answered with civil unions as the solution.  I was cowardly and determined not to take a position because I did not think my district was ready to accept gay marriage. (Not unlike the Presidential candidates' position on the issue this year). Sending the mailing was my opponent's tactic of outing me and trying to sway a couple of hundred votes against me.  It worked. I lost by 87 votes.

My district is composed of more Republicans than Democrats, and a large percentage of white Catholics. But my district, the State of Connecticut and I have come such a long way in such a short period of time. I have since won election to the legislature on the third try and "come out" to my constituents. As part of my campaign platform, I took a written pledge to vote for same sex marriage in the legislature and was endorsed by "Love Makes a Family." 

Today, the Connecticut State Supreme Court ruled that "civil unions" represent a pernicious discrimination against gays and lesbians. After the California same sex marriage decision, I was hopeful that Connecticut's Supreme Court would follow suit; but I also worried that they would punt.

I recall having a conversation with a leading Senate Republican in the legislature who told me privately that he would vote for same sex marriage but that he also hoped that the Supreme Court would not force him to do this. Well, today he got his wish, and I will be calling on him to show leadership and to help endorse the necessary legislative changes to make this ruling enacted into law.

In fact there are many challenges that lie ahead for Connecticut, as is true in so many states across the country that are standing up for equality amongst all their citizens. As the Connecticut Supreme Court said, "Equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice. To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others." 

Today's decision will be challenged by the demagogues who still lurk in Connecticut and in my home district.  They will appeal to voters to support a constitutional convention so that they can overturn the ruling. They will also devise and scheme against candidates like myself who will vote to enact the necessary changes in our law to bring equality to same-gender-loving people.

Already this election year, I have watched as the First Selectman of my hometown has been a party to those who call me a sexual deviant because I am gay.  The desperation against me has caused the Town Chairman of my hometown to admit that he broke the law when he disregarded the State's new campaign finance rules and distributed a flier carrying a message from the First Selectman that asked voters to: "VOTE FOR ANYBODY BUT BARTLETT! The personal invective against me in this campaign can only be explained by their biases and homophobia against gays and lesbians.

Barack Obama's historic nomination, Hillary's run, the California decision and now the Connecticut's Supreme Court all demonstrate our country's push to move beyond stereotypes and personal biases and to work for the greater good and equality for all.  Back in '04 when my constituents received the same sex marriage literature, many voters came up to me and thanked me for sending it. I was embarrassed at the time because the flyer did not originate from my campaign and I wasn't prepared for their gratitude. I am reminded of those well wishes now and embrace them. 

Clearly, we are ready to treat one another with respect and I am so grateful that we are maturing as a country and recognize that same-gender-loving people should be treated equally and fairly in the eyes of the law.