Briefly: Rell signs state bill legalizing gay marriage

Months after the State Supreme Court ruled that Connecticut’s ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed legislation amending state law to guarantee equal protection for same-sex couples. Rell, a Republican who is personally opposed to same-sex marriages, signed the bill only after it included a provision allowing vendors and religious institutions to avoid participating in marriage ceremonies. The bill was one of four bills signed by Rell on Thursday.