Half-Empty in Hartford 2

A day of scrambling seems to have followed Connecticut's attorney general saying the state would recognize others' civil unions, but not Massachusetts' same-sex marriage. Reports in the Hartford Courant and on 365Gay got opinions from those directly affected and politicians.

The former suggests that the state will see how civil unions work for a few years before reconsidering full same-sex marriage. Sen. Andrew McDonald, a principal in the civil union law, said that the legislature would begin to examine the law and the AG's interpretation in its next session.

Meanwhile, "some activists said (AG) Blumenthal's opinion highlights inequities under current law." For example, a homosexual couple married in Massachusetts that moved to Connecticut or where one spouse works in each state can lose. If the company provide health benefits and the state provides favorable tax treatment only for spouses or civil unionists in Connecticut, they can deny these.

The emotional shock and sense of betrayal is more common, as with Brian P. Rice and Jason Kelliher quoted in 365Gay. They married in Massachusetts and th moved to Connecticut for work.

"It's just amazing to me," said Rice. "We've been hopeful that Connecticut would treat our marriage with the same respect that it has treated the marriage of my co-worker, who was recently married in Massachusetts. We feel like we're being forced into a civil union when we've already made the ultimate expression of our commitment through our marriage."