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Loading ...Vermont gov. to veto gay marriage bill
03.25.2009 3:13pm EDT
(Montpelier, Vermont) Vermont Gov. James Douglas (R) announced Wednesday that he will veto same-sex marriage legislation if it, as expected, passes the House.
Until now, Douglas has been silent on whether he would exercise his veto power, saying only that he thinks the state’s civil unions law is sufficient.The gay marriage bill passed the Senate on Monday 26-4. The House began hearings this week on the legislation.
It is expected that the bill will encounter little difficulty in the House, but the vote will be much closer than in the Senate.
Whether it will garner enough House support to override the veto is unclear.
Vermont was the first state in the country to legalize civil unions in 2000. Since then, LGBT groups have criticized the law for creating a “two tiered” system – marriage for opposite-sex couples and civil unions for gays.
Under the marriage bill, the civil unions law would allow 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.
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.
An impact study released earlier this month suggests there is a link between the economy and gay marriage.
The study, by the Williams Institute at UCLA, found that approval of gay marriage in Vermont could generate $31 million in new spending and $3.3 million in state taxes over three years.
Last November, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the Boston-based LGBT rights group that brought the successful legal challenges leading to same-sex marriage in Massachusetts and Connecticut launched the “Six by Twelve” campaign to legalize gay marriage throughout all six New England states by 2012.
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.
Screwed again, Vermont gays–get ANGRY !!
Where does this guy live? I wanna give him some shoes.
Conveniently omitted from this piece is the Republican governor’s reference to Democrat Obama’s opposition to marriage equality. Ranting about nasty Republicans is a defense mechanism against the painful memory that most gays backed a man who doesn’t support our full civil equality.
Our community made no demands on Obama and we’re getting mostly nothing in return. Except Rick Warren and the Vermont governor quoting Obama in opposition to our equality.
Thanks HRC, LGBT Task Force and 365Gay.com.
How many votes does it take to override the veto? What has to happen?
Executive Activism!
He just won another term in office during the 2008 elections. I didn’t vote for him, but I wonder how many other LBGTQ people in Vermont did.
VT made a lot of money as a civil union destination (hence the thousands of them) until Mass passed something better (hence only a few hundred marriages since). The are losing money b/c gay people won’t travel to NH from Mass to gets something less than marriage…this law would have brought back tons of business (nicer marriage location than other places) but thanks to the Gov., there will be no new boom. The governor has not only dashed the hopes of gay people, but hotel, catering, restaurant, etc. business owners as well. They will probably all vote him out…
Given that legislative and judicial branches are not viable options to secure our freedom.. maybe it’s time to resort to pitchforks, torches?
I jest of course. Still, how many times must we allow just one person to cripple hard-won freedom, equality and liberty for so many?
The bottom line here is this. The majority cannot and should not be allowed to quash the civil rights of the LGBT community. As a California resident I fear our Supreme Court will do just that by upholding Proposition 8 in our state. Anyone who justifies their stance in opposition to same-sex marriage based on religious beliefs refuses to recognize separation of church and state and what the framers intended by including such language. It would seem to me that in fact a “conservative” reading of the constitution would grant everyone the basic civil right to marry the one they love. The last time I checked LGBT’s pay taxes, what does it mean to be a citizen of the USA? Thanks for your money here are your limited rights? The reality is this, I truly believe we will have the right to marry and will be treated fair and equally under the law sooner rather then later, IF we all get really pissed off! We need to find someone to unite behind in this fight, a singular voice. So many LGBT’s are contributing yet I fear many; many more have yet to lend their time, effort and money. I found it hard to imagine that in California we could be out spent by the Mormons and other religious bigots (from other states). Doesn’t David Geffen alone have enough money to single handedly fund every single gay rights issue? We need to support gay owned and operated businesses that support our community, encourage our friends to get involved politically; Not just when the right tries to sneak something in that effects us. Lets make sure we get the right people in office the first time, and in every office across the country. There is still a segment of the gay population who seem ambivalent to the issue of marriage, everyone must be brought on board, energized and encouraged to support those in our community who wish to have the right to marry and to ensure we are all treated and protected equally under the law.
Kevin and Jessica – actually the Family Research Council did give an answer on their website:
“How does a homosexual union do any harm to someone else’s heterosexual marriage?
“It may come as a surprise to many people, but homosexual unions often have a more direct impact on heterosexual marriages than one would think. For example, the Boston Globe reported June 29, 2003, that ‘nearly 40 percent’ of the 5,700 homosexual couples who have entered into ‘civil unions’ in Vermont ‘have had a previous heterosexual marriage.’”
So in other words, if marriage is available to same sex couples then clearly straight men will dump their wives to run off with gay guys! And straight women with lesbians! Who knew recruiting could be that easy!
What is it with Republican governors vetoing same-sex marriage when duly passed by their states’ legislatures?
Such stinging irony. This is asinine!
We need to meet a legilature that will pass a marriage bill with a governor that will sign one.
What are the odds that the two most liberal states in the union, the ones that pass marriage bills, are governed by two snubnosed Republicans with a veto pen.
@Sarrellec, Yes and Ahnold said that it was up to the judges to act after he dissed the legislators. They did and now they screwed us with that vote.
@Kevin, Yes, Yes YES!!! If you try to pin them down on how EXACTLY it will force the hetero’s to get divorced or desolve/ruin their marraige they can never, I repeat; NEVER give you an answer that makes sense at all.
Everyone needs to do this. If we keep asking it and they keep not being able to supply an answer other than some esoteric BS about the meaning of marraige people will realize that their marraiges wont be in danger if we wed.
Also it’s just plain old fun to see them sit there dumbfounded if you can manage to keep them on topic. Then you can start to see their brain work slightly when they realize that even they can’t come up with a viable answer!
How Sad. Though I don’t live in VT, nor ever plan too, I felt this was another step forward for our brothers and sisters (GLBT)! My partner and I went to Canada to marry. Hopefully More states will start to recognize that gay (glbt) people are no different than any other human being.
Most assuredly the house and senate will override this brain dead conservative puppet boy. Pandering to your loony fundamentalist base right to the bitter end are we Mr. Douglas? New England Conservatives are on their way out the door, FINALLY, and don’t let the door knob hit you in the a*s on the way out Gov.