Eagleionline

A BC Law student started a campaign the other day urging participants to ask the Attorney General candidates in Connecticut if they would be willing to defend state law — marriage equality — and legally support the lawsuit against the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which denies all 1,138 federal marriage benefits to same-sex married couples of Connecticut.

George Jepsen (pictured), a candidate for Attorney General, just emailed me yesterday after having researched the DOMA lawsuit. He now joins Cam Staples in stating he would legally support the federal DOMA lawsuit. Now we’re only waiting to hear from Democratic candidate Susan Bysiewicz for her final opinion.

[The responses thus far from the 3 Democratic AG candidates are below the fold.]

Cam Staples (D): “I agree with [Coakley’s] position that DOMA violates the equal protection clause…I certainly think all Connecticut citizens deserve the same federal rights they enjoy under state law. I would certainly if we can join that suit…or find the right way to participate…Pursuing a suit against the federal government is certainly consistent with our responsibility to our citizens under state law.”

George Jepsen (D): “I have had the chance to get up to speed on the Massachusetts DOMA suit, and am fully supportive. As Connecticut’s AG I would be willing to file an amicus brief in support, and would solicit the AGs of other states to do so as well. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

Susan Bysiewicz (D): “As attorney general, I would uphold the marriage laws of our state, which allow a man and a woman to marry, two women to marry and two men to marry. I have not seen the lawsuit the attorney general of Massachusetts has brought. I would like to look at that closely before I make a decision on this issue. I do not know what particular principles she is relying on.”