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Loading ...Vermont gay marriage bill advances to Senate vote
03.20.2009 5:45pm EDT
(Montpelier, Vermont) The Vermont Senate will vote next week on legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, following acceptance of the bill in committee on Friday.
Hundreds of people filled the Statehouse as the Judiciary Committee voted 5-0 to advance the measure.The measure would replace Vermont’s first-in-the-nation civil unions law with one that allows marriage of same-sex partners, beginning Sept. 1. Civil unions, which confer some rights similar to marriage, would still be recognized but no longer granted after Sept. 1.
Earlier this week, the committee held public hearings on the legislation, hearing impassioned pleas from people on both sides of the issue.
Supporters cast the debate as a civil rights issue, saying a civil unions law enacted by the state in 2000 has fallen short of the equality it promised same-sex couples. Its appeal has declined, too: In 2001, the state granted 1,876 civil unions, compared with only 262 last year.
Opponents say gay marriage would undermine traditional male-female marriage, rendering men and women interchangeable and destroying the connection between children and marriage. They want the question put to voters in a referendum.
If the Senate passes the bill it would then require approval by the House. Gov. Jim Douglas has said he opposes the measure, but has not indicated whether he would veto it.
Same-sex marriage will also be up for a vote next week in neighboring New Hampshire.
Same-sex marriage is legal in two New England states – Massachusetts and Connecticut. Vermont and New Hampshire are among the four others that Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders has targeted to legalize gay marriage.
GLAD won marriage equality in court rulings in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Last November, it launched the “Six by Twelve” campaign to legalize gay marriage by 2012.
Lydia: you really need to give up that home schooling! It’s “weakining” ya!!
LYDIA: God loves you in his perverted way!
Lydia, you need to stop. I mean you really need to stop or have someone that you can send over here to wipe the milk and cookie crumbs off of my screen which you caused to leave my mouth in an explosive burst of mirth.
When you were talking to God, did you ask him why, if he dislikes gays like your preacher man said that he does, he keeps making so many of them. The next time you talk to him could you as him why straights find two women kissing each other so hot and gay men doing the same thing so not so hot. That has always seemed so unfair to me.
I am eagerly awaiting your return from you next audience with him/her so you can provide the answers from on high or being high, which ever is appropriate.
Bob,
1. If the bill passes in the house and senate, can it become law if the governor doesn’t sign it, but doesn’t veto it either?
The governor does NOT have to sign it in order for it to become law. He has three choides: veto, sign, or let it become law without his signature.
2. If it should become law, what becomes of the current Vermont civil unions? Do they stay as civil unions or to they get changed to civil marriage? Will couples who have civil unions have to “re-marry”?
CU licenses would stop being issued on the date marriage becomes law. VT would still recognize all three statuses: single, married, in a CU.
Those in a CU who want to get married will have to get married. CUs will not convert to marriage because they aren’t equal.
I hope the bill becomes law in Vermont. Although I think civil unions is a weak substitute for marriage, if Vermont can FINALLY evolve from civil unions to same-sex marriage, that might give hope for other states where same-sex marriage seems impossible now, but where civil unions seem possible today (that will then eventually be turned into same-sex marriage).
Oye, I hope that made sense.
• Bob Said: March 20th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
o Lydia,
Unless you’re married to someone of the same sex, this has nothing to do with you and if God doesn’t like it, we’ll discuss that at those pearly gates.
Bob: Are you saying that only homosexuals should be interested in marriage equality? That’s almost on the same intellectual level as the drivel against which you were railing.
Shall I tell my three straight friends who wrote to their Penna. reps. on behalf of extending discrimination protection to the GLBT community that they should take them back? Shall we tell all straight lawmakers not to bother with legislation concerning us because we’ll take care of it ourselves?
Imagine we have homophobes like “Lydia” coming onto a gay website to spew their hate. This just goes to show how desperate the opposition is.
On the article…it will be interesting to see how far this bill progresses in the Vermont Senate. Judging from the past, many GLBT rights bills die in the Senate of State legislatures across America. It will also be interesting if the Republican governor signs it.
Do the right thing Vermont! Like they say “Marriage Is Gay”.
Lydia,
Don’t you have anything better to do than trolling a gay web site?
Unless you’re married to someone of the same sex, this has nothing to do with you and if God doesn’t like it, we’ll discuss that at those pearly gates.
Lydia: how ’special’ for you that you know what God thinks.. about anything. How did you get on HIs e-mail list?
Just curious….
lydia: I’m so impressed that you know what God wants for us… how did you get on his e-mail list?
How ’special’ (and, so egotistical…)
Lydia,
“gay marriage is satan way of weakining America this is why muslim groups fund it.”
LOL. You dear made my week with that howler! Thanks much madam! And by by the way: is your name really Lydia?
kisses
James
Several questions:
1. If the bill passes in the house and senate, can it become law if the governor doesn’t sign it, but doesn’t veto it either?
2. If it should become law, what becomes of the current Vermont civil unions? Do they stay as civil unions or to they get changed to civil marriage? Will couples who have civil unions have to “re-marry”?
Can someone familiar with Vermont law shed some light on these issues? My partner and I have a civil union, live in Texas (where it won’t be recognized), but that’s another issue.
In Gods eyes gay marriage will never exist. gay marriage is satan way of weakining America this is why muslim groups fund it.
This is good, it shows that we (and others) are making progress. Hopefully the Six by Twelve campaign will be successful by 2012.