Bill would update same-sex marriage

Hartford (WTNH) - A legislative committee voted in favor of a bill that would update state law to conform with a court ruling allowing same-sex marriages.

The bill would remove gender references in state marriage laws and transform existing same-sex civil unions into legally recognized marriages as of October 2010.

Ever since same-sex marriages began in November after the ruling was finalized in New Haven, lawmakers have been working on changing the old law. But some see the language as forcing religious groups that rent what are called 'public accommodations,' like banquet halls, to rent their halls for same-sex ceremonies.

"This happened up in Canada; the Knights of Columbus were sued for not wanting to rent their hall to a lesbian couple for their wedding ceremony," said Peter Wolfgang, Family Institute of Connecticut. "Our concern is that religious institutions and individuals not be coerced, not be told either you follow this agenda or it will cost you your livelyhood."

"If an organization, be it the Knights of Columbus, or anyone else, rents a facility to the public, it is a public accommodation and they can't discriminate. They have the choice not to rent it at all, but if they offer it up to the public, they have to offer it to everyone," said Anne Stanback, Love Makes a Family.

The bill still needs to be approved by the General Assembly before going into effect.