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Loading ...Vermont begins same-sex marriage hearings
03.16.2009 1:20pm EDT
(Montpellier, Vermont) — Vermont lawmakers are starting a week of hearings on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.
In 2000, Vermont became the first state in the U.S. to adopt civil unions. House and Senate leaders want to pass the gay marriage bill this legislative session, which ends in May.Supporters say gay marriage would give couples additional rights, such as for insurance purposes and in health care decisions. It also would allow surviving spouses to obtain Social Security benefits.
Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee is hearing testimony about equality issues, other states’ experiences and the conclusions of a study on the matter. More hearings are scheduled for later in the week.
In the U.S., gay couples can legally marry only in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The point Shawn made is a good one. When I lived in MA, we called, emailed, wrote letters, and sent postcards to our legislators constantly to let them know how important the right to marry was to our community. Some of us even scheduled visits to their offices at the state house to speak with them- and some legislators stated that the personal visits were the tipping point that got them to move towards marriage equality. For all of you in VT- keep the pressure on your legislators in any way possible to ensure that this passes with a veto-proof majority.
Let’s all keep our fingers crossed. It wouldn’t hurt either to keep calling/writing your representatives either. Keep buggin’ the sh*t out of ‘em until they pass it! Let’s just hope the legislature can override governor sh*t-for-brains’ veto!!
You can believe that the Right Wing Religious charlatans will be working to prevent the passage.
Religion is a study in Hypocrisy. One of the purposes of organized religious institutions it to promote terror, hate, bigotry, prejudice, intolerance to anything other than their abhorrence. Religion demands complete control of their members mind, thoughts, beliefs, and judgment.
Religion depicts gays as abominable, evil, wicked, immoral, malevolent, sinful, vile, foul, depraved, malicious, etc…… but exactly the opposite is true. Unfortunately, they are instigators in the beatings and murder of gay victims.
Through Fear and Deception religion Legislates and Legalizes Discrimination and prevent Legislation that would give Equal Rights. Just assess what happened in California with Prop 8!
VT is a great state too like MA. If only I liked the cold!
BUT MOMMY WOULDN’T GAY MARRIAGES BE HAPPY MARRIAGES?
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Gay marriage in two states and srprise, surprise – the world has not fallen apart! Quick, someone tell the Mormons and the Catholics! What? They’ve had gay marriage in several other countries for a while now? … and the Earth is still in one piece! Wow! Maybe all those brainwashed idiots were wrong!
Yay! It would be nice to add another state to the marriage-equality roster.
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