Civil Unions Goes to Senate Judiciary Committee

Civil Unions Goes to Senate Judiciary Committee

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its first hearing on a civil unions bill this Thursday.

The bill, which is sponsored by Rep Peter Petrarca, D-Lincoln, would grant gay couples all of the rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities that married couples now receive under state law.

Gay marriage advocates say it still denies full civil rights to gay couples because it denies them the use of the word marriage. Opponents, on the other hand, say it is a stepping stone to gay marriage.

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The bill was passed by the House earlier in May after House Speaker Gordon Fox said he was throwing his support behind the compromise. Fox said he withdrew support from gay marriage legislation because he believed it could not pass the Senate.

The hearing is in Room 313 at approximately 4:30 p.m.

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