Gay couples start to marry in Connecticut

While there’s anger and recriminations in California’s gay-rights movement after voters there banned same-sex marriage, gay couples in Connecticut are at the opposite extreme: They’re getting ready to pick up marriage license forms.

Superior Court Judge Jonathan Silbert has scheduled a hearing Wednesday morning to enter the final judgment in the case that allows same-sex marriages in Connecticut. Once entered, couples can pick up marriage license forms at town and city clerk’s offices.

It’s unclear how many couples will wed. According to the state public health department, there have been 2,032 civil union licenses issued in Connecticut between Oct. 2005 and July 2008.

The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Oct. 10 that same-sex couples have the right to wed rather than accept a civil union law designed to give them the same rights as married couples.

The health department had new marriage applications printed that reflect the change. Instead of putting one name under “bride” and the other under “groom,” couples will see two boxes marked “bride/groom/spouse.”

Only Connecticut and Massachusetts have legalized gay marriage.