Marcia Hams and Susan Shepherd. Those two names will go down in gay rights history as members of the first-ever same-sex marriage in the U.S. The couple got married in Massachusetts on May 17, 2004. Despite finding their 15 minutes of fame as the first legal wedding between a gay or lesbian couple, the same-sex marriage movement started years earlier.
Same-sex marriage made national headlines in a 1993 Hawaii case. Judges ruled that the state’s constitution required a persuasive reason not to allow gays and lesbians marriage rights. Instead of a victory for same-sex marriage, though, the ruling led to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. The Act prohibited same-sex couples from receiving the legal benefits extended to members of heterosexual marriages.
Over the years, states have wrestled with the issue of same-sex marriage. Most states refuse to recognize same-sex marriage. Some states recognize domestic partnerships or civil unions. And a handful of states are endorsing same-sex marriages.
Connecticut is one of the six states that recognize same-sex marriages. Connecticut passed a law in favor of same-sex marriages in 2008. Gay and lesbian couples can now enter into legal matrimony in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia.
As of October 1, 2010, preexisting Connecticut civil unions will be converted to marriages. What’s more, Connecticut family laws become essentially completely gender- and orientation-neutral. Same-sex couples may choose to between a civil union or a marriage until September 30, 2010.
But even though more states are beginning to recognize same-sex marriages, issues surrounding the unions are still difficult for gay and lesbian couples to navigate. Connecticut is a strong example.
Although Connecticut has become hospitable to same-sex marriages, legal difficulties arise because of the refusal of both the federal government and numerous other states to recognize same-sex marriages contracted in Connecticut. A myriad of issues may arise as a result of such non-recognition and possible strategies for dealing with them. Same-sex couples may need an attorney to navigate challenging issues such as pre-nup agreements and divorce.
