REP. FISHBEIN DRIVES INITIATIVE TO REMOVE RACE DESIGNATIONS FROM LAND RECORDS, RACE DECLARATIONS FROM MARRIAGE LICENSES 

Yesterday, State Representative Craig Fishbein (R-90), Ranking Member on the legislature’s Judiciary Committee, led his colleagues in supporting a bill he helped draft which prohibits the use of race designations on Connecticut land records, and abolishes the requirement that one declare their race in order to obtain a marriage license.

“I was shocked to learn of these awful and exclusionary race designations, and proud to work toward their elimination,” Rep. Fishbein said. “The laws and rights of our state must apply equally to all, and certainly without restriction based on the color of one’s skin, or any other God-given trait. I’m glad we’re addressing and removing this antiquated and immoral way of thinking from state statutes and records.”

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled such land covenants illegal in 1948, yet many remain hidden, buried in the deeds and paperwork of Connecticut homeowners. House Bill 6665 – An Act Concerning the Removal of Restrictive Covenants Based on Race and Elimination of the Race Designation on Marriage Licenses – will prohibit “unlawful restrictive covenants” – defined as “an instrument affecting the title to real property that purports to restrict ownership or occupancy of such real property on the basis of race” – from land records.

“This legislation will allow homeowners, and even home purchasers, the ability to rectify a disgusting part of our nation’s history and remove any offensive or discriminatory language from the deed to their home,” Rep. Fishbein said. “Despite generally being hidden in legal papers and unenforced, no one should have to live on property with a deed that is blatantly discriminatory or racist, especially those persons and families that are considered prohibited by that very same deed.”

The bill also removes the requirement that a race be declared in order to obtain a marriage license. Incredibly, current Connecticut law also states that marriage license applicants “shall” provide their race or have their application denied, a questionable practice that continues even though the Department of Public Health stated it does not use the data.

“This is another small change that will have a very large impact on the people of our state, and it signals Connecticut’s willingness to confront and reject antiquated and racist policies from our past,” Rep. Fishbein said. “With passage, Connecticut will affirm the rights of each of its citizens to be free marry who they love without the previously-sanctioned racist overtones.”

The bill passed unanimously with strong bipartisan support, and currently has 17 cosponsors. It has been placed on the House Calendar and awaits further action. The legislative session ends at midnight on Wednesday, June 9^th.