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Loading ...Vermont Senate passes same-sex marriage bill
03.24.2009 8:35am EDT
(Montpelier, Vermont) The Vermont Senate passed legislation Monday that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. The bill passed 26-4.
It now moves to the House where supporters believe it is likely to be approved. But whether Vermont Gov. James Douglas (R) will sign it is unknown.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.
House Speaker Shap Smith (D) said he expects the bill to be approved, but by a narrow margin.
Gov. Douglas chastised the legislature for spending time on the bill when it should be focused on the economy and has said that he believes the civil union law is sufficient for same-sex couples. He has not said, however, if he intends to veto it.
If Douglas were to nix the bill, it is unclear if there are enough votes to override a veto.
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.
Always makes me wonder… The Christians seem to be so against loving couples and yet, let’s look at what Jesus Christ said on the subject. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Yes, indeed that is exactly what JESUS said… Jesus said NOTHING. Yes, Jesus Christ said NOTHING about homosexuality or Gay marriage and at a time when the Romans were marrying same sex couple and yet Jesus (most Christians think Jesus and God are one and the same, so the all knowing) And he says NOTHING!!! So it makes me wonder.. if it was of NO issue to JESUS, then why would it be a issue to anyone else??? Seems the world would be a better place if we all live our lives as Jesus did. (I think a lesson the Christians could sure live by) Very simple here… treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself. Would you want your marriage voted on?? Who’s next?? What’s next?? If were voting on marriage then whats next??? Why not vote on slavery?? Or ban blacks from marrying white people?? Say it can not be done??? It’s being done right now. In Nazi Germany, the Christians said… “it’s okay because they’re JEWS and they supported Hitler, In America the Christians said “It’s okay because they’re BLACK and supported SLAVERY, with the help of Abraham Lincoln the slaves were free, but they were at it again in the late 1950’s when blacks wanted to legally marry whites. ( I know seems bizare now) but the Christians fled to the streets with their bibles and professed if blacks were allowed to marry whites, this would RUIN marriage, thankfully the government stepped in, because had it been left to the will of the people, it would still be illegal for a black man to marry a white woman. Today the Christians are at it again… today they say… it’s okay because they’re GAY!!! Which is so funny considering Jesus said NOTHING at all, so why would the christians be so concerned?
Well, I’m here to tell you, it was NOT okay in Nazi Germany and it surely is not okay in the UNITED STATES of AMERICA in the year 2009!
I think if anything, we should expose the Christian agenda for the past 2000 years and expose them for whom they really are. It should be illegal for them to do the things they do. Heck, Saddam threatened the rights of Americans and we went to War… the Mormons do it and we do NOTHING??? It’s time to educate Americans and expose these hate groups for whom they really are. Nothing more then modern day KKK… truly … nothing more and they should be exposed and jailed for their crimes against American citizens. (I’m serious)
We were married in Massachusetts, but live in legal limbo in NY state ….. waiting for the Christo-crazies who are blocking it in the state Senate to do the right thing. Kudos to Vt. Hopefully the Rupug prick Gov. will sign on.
Opponents “bigots” of marriage equality will never rest until they destroy the very fabric in which America was created.
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness must be for all of it’s citizens and not just the bully “anti family” conservative groups.
Never should a popular vote be used to strip/deny or limit the rights of a minority. Lets remove the tax exempt status for all bigot and bully pulpit groups!
Keep a smile on your face and love in your heart!
Let’s hope the VT House also votes to approve with high enough margin to sustain a possible veto by the (republican’t) governor.
Hmmm…. well here is a little bit of positive new for my Tuesday morning. And what a LAND SLIDE! Great! Awesome! Fantastic! But lets not stop here, we have 47 more states to liberate.
As one of the 18,000 couples married in CA last year, I am so glad to hear that other states are moving forward with same-sex marriage. Now that we Californians have had it taken away from us, we will soon be the only state (God forbid) that doesn’t allow this human right.
Wow! 26 to 4! Even in a ‘blue’ state, that’s very impressive. Can’t wait until the next vote in the house.
Hopefully it will be 47 states to go now and decreasing
No ones civil rights should ever be put up for a popular vote.