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Loading ...Vt Gov flooded with mail over gay marriage veto threat
03.31.2009 9:20am EDT
(Montpelier, Vermont) Some called him a homophobe. Some accused him of spreading hatred. Some thanked him, or applauded him for showing “backbone” in the face of pressure from gay rights advocates.
In the first two days after he pledged to veto a same-sex marriage bill, Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas’ mailbag and e-mail inbox runneth over, with about 1,500 letters and messages pouring in.Some were critical:
- “(Vetoing the bill) would clearly show the deep feelings of discrimination, bigotry and hate you feel for a group of Vermont people who have already had to wait for equal marriage rights in our state too long,” wrote a Newport man.
-”Being ahead of one’s time is what brought slavery and racial discrimination to an end … please support the Freedom to Marry bill,” wrote a Putney man.
- ” … your choice to veto is a slap in the face and a firm reminder that in your opinion, my partner and I are worth less than others simply because we are of the same gender,” wrote a South Burlington man, saying he refuses to be “a second class citizen in this state.”
Some were supportive:
- “It takes courage,” wrote a woman from Ovando, Mont. “Keep up the fight. Our prayers are with you. You are setting an example for other states.”
- “Our children, grand children will be harmed by this bill,” wrote a Milton woman. “I’ve seen what their teaching can do to a impressionistic teenage (sic) like my nephew, who is very confused. Please, please, please veto this bill.”
- “Your stance is reasonable and not unkind,” wrote a Burlington woman. “It must have been a difficult political decision, but right nonetheless. There are many Vermonters who are with you, but simply don’t how to articulate it. Hold firm!”
The missives, made available in response to an Access to Public Records Act request filed by The Associated Press, show the ardor of both supporters and opponents on the issue and on Douglas’ planned veto of a bill legalizing marriage for gay and lesbian couples.
Democrats in the Legislature say they plan to pass the bill, but the Republican governor said Wednesday he will veto it if they do. His announcement has galvanized forces on both sides of the issue, prompting the flood of mail from around the nation.
The state Senate has approved the measure, and the state House of Representatives is expected to vote on it Friday.
Vermont would become the third state allowing same-sex marriage, after Massachusetts and Connecticut. The California Supreme Court lifted a ban on same-sex marriage there last spring, but voters restored the ban six months later.
“This is an emotional, divisive issue,” Douglas spokeswoman Dennise Casey said.
Before Douglas’ announcement, the letters and e-mails on gay marriage were running about 70 percent against the bill to legalize it, Casey said. Since the announcement, supporters of same-sex marriage have been outnumbering opponents, with 60 percent of the letters and e-mails received speaking in favor it and 40 percent against, she said.
Some supporters pledged to take out their displeasure at the ballot box, threatening to vote against Douglas.
“You have disappointed me,” wrote a Middlesex man. “I will vote against you in the primary if you choose to seek re-election, and I will not vote for you again in any election,” said the man, who said he was from a family now turning from “formerly loyal Republicans into Democrats.”
Hang in there, same-sex marriage opponents told him.
“I know you are under great pressure from all sorts of pro-gay lobbies/groups, but it’s time that people used some backbone and stood against these pressures, no matter what the cost,” wrote a man from Indianapolis.
Marriage Equality is Constitutionally protected. To write discrimination against one group into the Constitution is a violation of oath of office, “to protect and defend the Constitution” against those who want to alter it for their own selfish purposes. It’s an equal rights thing, no different from Black equal rights.
We had “Arnold” veto marriage in Ca. also. I am sure so much of the against arguers echo what people have said about slavery, intergration, the rights of women to vote, interacial marriage.
Also for the Milton woman’s nephew, He is most likely gay and would do so much better in a state with less discrimination. If this were another era he would just stay closeted and I am sure she would feel so much better. He would move away to a big city and she would wonder why he never visits his good church going Auntie.
Tom in Long Beach
Treating any group of people differently based on prejudices (even if the prejudices are wide held) is just wrong. When will people realise this?
I do not support politicians, business or other organisations or people that discriminate. I vote for those who support equality and purchase products and services. Every vote counts, and every dollar bill is a ballot sheet.
It is particularly disappointing that USA Pres. Obama does not support marriage equality. In such instances, one must vote for the ‘lesser evil’, but still demand support.
We need to be more vocal in contacting politicians and businesses and demand equal treatment. The squeaky wheel gets oiled!
Well, I will be sending him a letter in a few minutes to let him know that I will not be visiting the state any time soon, and will not buy Vermont-made maple sugar products, if he vetoes the measure. If the only thing that these bigots understand is the hurt that it will cause to their wallets and pocketbooks, then so be it.
Here is how to contact Vermont’s governor, in case anyone else would like to:
http://www.vermont.gov/portal/help/governor/contact.php
We as a community need to stop ovationing such small achievements and be realistic about what will change politician’s minds. I worked for the Democratic Party for five years, dealt with hundreds of politicians and sat in dozens of war room meetings. It is in those war rooms where politician change their minds, votes, and vetoes. I hate to say it but 1500 letters is not enough to help even the most progressive operative fuel that change.
The population of Vermont is 621,254. 1500 hundred letters is about .2 of one percent of voters in that state. Vermont is very a progressive State; the kind of place where a High School GSA standing at a supermarket can1500 letters
We have HRC, The Task Force and many other organizations with budgets in the millions. What are they doing to move the governor? How many letters are they generating? Why are we set to loose in a progressive state? 5 percent of the State’s eligible voters amount to about 30,000 people. Most elections in the State is decided by a five percent margin, because of this it will get the governor’s attention. Because it can make a difference when he is up for reelection. We as a community can generate 30,000 letters and win marriage equality for the people of Vermont.
And here is what I said to the governor:
Dear Governor:
I am very disappointed to hear that you plan to veto a same-sex marriage bill should the legislature approve of the bill. This is an issue of fairness towards a minority group of citizens of your state; although the civil unions law of 2000 was an admirable attempt to equalize the rights and responsibilities afforded to same-sex couples, they have fallen short. This conclusion has been borne out by the CT Supreme Court, as well as the NJ Civil Union Commission. I love Vermont and have visited many times, but I will not visit the state, or purchase any products that are produced by the state if this legislation fails, especially when both MA and CT now offer same-sex marriages and produce many of the same products that I could get from Vermont. Also, MA and CT have similar tourist attractions, and I will consider a trip to the Berkshires in lieu of a trip to the Green Mountains if a veto occurs. I urge you to reconsider your decision.
- “Our children, grand children will be harmed by this bill,” wrote a Milton woman. “I’ve seen what their teaching can do to a impressionistic teenage (sic) like my nephew, who is very confused. Please, please, please veto this bill.”
Woman the only reason your nephew is confused is because you you bigotry. Try opening your heart and closing your bible. Wake up, reality is that the gay community is treated as second class citizens. How easily we forget where we were 40 years ago, STOP CONTROLLING PEOPLE AND LET THEM LIVE THEIR LIFE. Who are you to tell me who to love? O what because your “God” tells you it is wrong? Well last time i checked we had the freedom to chose our religion in this country, obviously not. Typical republican government trying to conform this country’s citizens into Christians. BACK OFF!
Vetoing gay marriage is a denial of equality. I am glad people are letting him know what he is planning on doing is wrong.
http://stuffqueerpeopleneedtoknow.wordpress.com/
Exactly how many votes are needed to override in the House and exactly how many do we have at this point?
I guess the str8 folks who vote against this must feel very powerful. It must be nice to sit back with your favored positon in society and arbitrarily vote of the happiness and well being of a whole segment of your own society. A large percentage of these people have no douby been brainwashed by their cult (religion) of choice. Many an evil has been done “in the name of God”. I pity these sad people. History will not look favorably upon them.
It sounds to me like the GLBT people of Vermont need to start funneling more time and money into their groups if they are to change the outcome of this issue going foward.
John, they need either 100 or 101 votes to override the veto.
Patrick, sorry, but I totally disagree with you about a boycott. The legislature has done a phenomenal job of getting this marriage bill going. I’ll be directing my anger at the one stupid man who’s standing in the way of equality.
Thanks for the information, Phil.
Phil in Colorado,
I agree with you that the legislature has done a great job so far, but it will all be for naught in this session if the governor gets the opportunity to veto the bill. The point of telling the governor that I will not spend money there is to hopefully weigh in on his mind that his action could hurt his state financially. That said, it is not an empty promise-I will follow through with a change of plans- if he does veto the bill, I will inform those people with whom I make my vacation plans that I have made different vacation decisions, and I will inform them of why I have done that. This is one way to make marriage equality very real for people who otherwise would not necessarily care about this issue. People always care when it hurts their pocketbook or wallet. There are other ways to address this issue too, such as lobbying the legislature for a veto-proof majority (as we did in MA when I lived there), and I will support VT any way taht I can to do that. However, I think that multipronged approaches are usually better at getting the job done rather than simply working one angle. I will choose to boycott VT tourism and products, as well as support the lobbying process and any other ideas that our community comes up with to ensure marriage equality in VT. You are free to make other decisions about how to address this issue, and if you want to take a vacation to VT or buy some VT maple syrup- go ahead.
WE SENT THE HONORABLE MR DOUGLAS A LETTER HOPING HE WOULD BE A LEADER IN THE FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS.