Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage

From the AP:

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont has become the fourth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature's vote.

The Legislature voted Tuesday to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill allowing gays and lesbians to marry. The vote was 23-5 to override in the state Senate and 100-49 to override in the House. Under Vermont law, two-thirds of each chamber had to vote for override.

The vote came nine years after Vermont adopted its first-in-the-nation civil unions law.

It's now the fourth state to permit same-sex marriage. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa are the others. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts.


Excellent news! Civil unions are not marriage. They're in the same category as as the old separate-but-equal school segregation system. Separate is never equal.

H/T to Crapaud in the comments.

UPDATE: From Roseann in the comments:

Being Peace said...

I long for the day when the term "gay marriage" goes away and we just say marriage. I love my gay friends and I pray for full equality under the law for them.
The 14th Amendment says, "Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

It is time for equal rights and equal protection in all states. Stand up Obama. Get over this civil union crap. Marriage is marriage is marriage between two people, not just a man and a woman.

I love you my gay friends and I stand with you until you have justice. None of us are free until all of us are free!


To which we all say, "Amen!"

16 comments:

  1. I long for the day when the term "gay marriage" goes away and we just say marriage. I love my gay friends and I pray for full equality under the law for them.
    The 14th Amendment says, "Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

    It is time for equal rights and equal protection in all states. Stand up Obama. Get over this civil union crap. Marriage is marriage is marriage between two people, not just a man and a woman.

    I love you my gay friends and I stand with you until you have justice. None of us are free until all of us are free!

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  2. Thus spaketh Roseann, and Roseann speaketh truth. Well said, love.

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  3. Amen, amen and amen.

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  4. I think I'll celebrate with a bottle of Jack Daniels and some bacon.

    Thanks Vermont!

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  5. Counterlight, JD Black Label, I hope. Save the bacon for after the booze.

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  6. The Arc of Time is bending towards Righteousness ;=)

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  7. That is wonderful news indeed. Maine and New Hampshire and likely to be next with NH ahead in the time line.

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  8. Catherine in JapanApril 8, 2009 at 1:03 AM

    This is such good news. Ah, New England...

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  9. As the song says:

    Inch by inch, row by row.
    Gonna make this garden grow.
    All it takes is a rake and a hoe.
    And a piece of fertile ground.

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  10. I am so, so grateful for our straight friends and allies. Without your support, I doubt that equality would be a reality. Thank you all.

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  11. Suzer, we are the ones who are grateful that you allow us to share in the movement toward full inclusion and equality. It's a wonderful thing to be part of.

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  12. Leave it to Vermont and Iowa to be the most progressive states in the nation, shame on us here in California for passing Prop 9. Whether you call it Gay Marriage or Civil Union, the basic premise is that every person should have equal rights. It’s good to see that some states are progressing, I made a list on my site of the states I think will legalize Gay Marriage first: http://www.toptentopten.com/topten/first+states+that+will+legalize+gay+marriage

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  13. Vince, welcome. Shame on California, indeed! Shame on all the states where gay marriage is not legal. Here is your list:

    # State
    1. Massachusetts
    2. Iowa
    3. Vermont
    4. Oregon
    5. Connecticut
    6. California
    7. New York
    8. Louisiana
    9. Maine
    10. Rhode Island

    I must ask why Louisiana is so high on your list? I don't see gay marriage legalized in Louisiana any time soon. They will be amongst the last to make it legal, and it will probably only happen if the Supreme Court says that all laws banning gay marriage are unconstitutional.

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  14. Mimi, here's a more realistic (IMO) analysis: Time is On Our Side [Be sure to follow the link to 538.com : Nate Silver is (a) God!]

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  15. JCF, that's much more realistic.

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