Vermont Passes Gay Marriage: How Far We've Come

Right after the Vermont legislature voted (100 to 49, precisely the 2/3 needed) to over-ride Governor Jim Douglas' veto this morning of a law permitting gay marriage, my daughter got a text message, "Yeah, Vermont!"

She was not the only one cheering when the vote was announced. I felt an elation that surprised me. These men and women in the legislature are not professional politicians; they are citizen legislators representing small districts where voters know who they are, meet them at the general store and chat with them at the gas station. The grass roots support that was evident in today's vote signifies strong support for equal rights for our gay and lesbian relatives, friends and neighbors to a degree that has not happened before.

Vermont is the fourth state to enact gay marriage but it is the first state to do so by a vote of the legislature. The three others (Iowa, most recently) did so only as a result of narrow decisions by their state Supreme Courts.

I cannot help but think how far we have come in such a short time to guarantee respect to gay and lesbian Americans. I remember when I was in my second term as Governor I was the only politician to speak at one of the first gay pride parades in Burlington. I stood on the steps of the Unitarian church under a broad banner that said "Gay Pride." The newspaper made certain that both my photo and the banner fit into the picture that was featured on the front page the next day. I later learned that that photo was scotch taped to several cash registers in stores with a red circle and a red slash.

Almost ten years ago Vermont was the first state to enact a law that permitted civil unions, by a margin of one vote. The fact that this law was enacted by two-thirds of the legislators is one indicator of how much has changed. At that time, a dozen legislators who voted for the law lost their seats in the next election. There was a severe back lash, complete with yard signs that read, "Take Back Vermont."

In the public hearings held in 2000, many Vermonters learned for the first time that gay and lesbian Vermonters were their neighbors, not simply "the other." This time, we learned that they are worthy of full citizenship. Not every gay or lesbian person will want to get married, but every gay and lesbian person can feel a little more safe, experience a little more dignity, and most important of all, feel proud -- proud not only for themselves (gay pride), but for the citizens of this small state which has had the good sense to do the right thing.

This was originally posted at Chelsea Green.

Madeleine M. Kunin is the former Governor of Vermont and was the state's first woman governor. She served as Ambassador to Switzerland for President Clinton, and was on the three-person panel that chose Al Gore to be Clinton's VP. She is the author of Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead from Chelsea Green Publishing.

Comments

[david43a]

For those who think "marriage" is anything but a civil issue....
If you are married by a preacher, and have no state issued license...
In the eyes of the law you are not married, no alimony, no employer based dependent heath coverage,
no automatic property or inheritance rights, no automatic hospital visiting rights etc. etc.

If you have the license, you never need to set foot in a church, can be atheist, satanist or pantheist...
and you have the rights above.

I wonder why the anti gay folks dont worry about atheists and satanists getting married?

oh, thats right! its not about marriage at all! its about people not liking gay folks....now it makes sense!

[Doofus]

Just one question, really. Vermont has a
Republican governor. How did that happen?

[Jeff Denman]

It's called "Power of the People" ... we will not be silenced.

[Doofus]

In lieu of a proper answer, I remind myself that there have been
several instances of 'proper' Republicans in office in Vermont.
George Aiken comes to mind, and of course Jim Jeffords. Just
doesn't happen much anymore, anywhere.

[yuenzzzz]

Congrats to VT, how far we've come indeed, but how farther we still must go. 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

[KevinVT]

Thank you Madeleine, and thank you Vermont legislators!!!!
We will remember your vote and continue to support you!

[Jonny38103]

I'm proud of Vermont and the other states that have made this big step. But I need to know. When I went to Vermont years ago and got civilly united (we didn't live there so it was a very symbolic act and had no legal ramification where we lived) all was well. Now I'm told that to get out of this arrangement one of us has to live in Vermont for a year. That's really not an option. Is there another avenue?

[FlamingLibrul]

Rachel Maddow addressed this issue last night- stating that Vermont has no residency requirements for marriage. Not only that, but the District of Columbia voted to recognize same-sex marriages conducted in New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut. Amazing! I think the 'backlash' has been reversed this time around. Prop 8 might have been a blessing in disguise. It appears to have woken up progressives, in a way we needed.

[ldavis24]

I didn't think New Hampshire has legalized same sex marriage. I live in MA and am from Maine, this is the first I have heard of this. Typo maybe?

[Anandas]

That was a lovely article, showing us the history of the Vermont process,
which clearly followed a difficult path while stressing that it was THE PEOPLE,
not some elite powerbroker, who voted this policy in. The message- stay the
course, regardless of the ignorance around you, regardless the issue -
civil rights are civil rights. Meanwhile we must all do all that we can to protect
separation of church and state at this perilous juncture in history.

[georgewetherill]

I have never had a problem with gay people what soever. What people do in thier bedrooms is thier own business as long as they are adults. Gays have never had it better and im glad they feel free to exspress themselfs. When i pick my son up at highschool i see many young people( mostly girls) holding hands, hugging, and kissing. I asked my son if thier gay and he replies without hesitation "oh yea, thier gay" and thats it. So socially no problem and we're in Texas so you know its pretty much exceptable. He said its not cool to say anything! and nobody cares. My only problem is the marriage thing. If same sex couples were meant to be together in marriage why cant they produce offspring. Why? Because nature did not intend for this to be a common practice. Gays have the same rights as myself and thats great. We're all human beings and deserve these rights but marriage is the one right that is intended to be between a man and woman. To produce children and raise them from birth as a father and mother. So please, you have made great stides but you will lose ground more and more as these states allow gay marriage. People are getting angry about this and im afraid anti-gay sentiment will return even stronger!
Please see it from a straight persons perspective.

[Maria Thomas]

If same sex couples were meant to be together in marriage why cant they produce offspring

since when does pro-creation equate marriage.....

[MenaC]

I'm not sure what part of Texas you're from...I'm in Beaumont and it's not as acceptable as you make it out to be! I had a girl in my youth group suspended for holding her girlfriends hand at school. There have been times that I've been followed around the mall by "men" because they glimpsed my hand brushing my partner's. I have a male friend that isn't able to have children. Should we annul his marriage? Or how about the increasing number of straight couples who are married but don't want to procreate? I suppose they shouldn't be married, either, since their marriages won't produce children? I don't have the same rights as you do! I can't be married to the person I love, put her on my health insurance, or even hold her hand without being harassed! I have more friends that are straight than gay...and they certainly don't hold your perspective. Oh, and you can't spell.

[LeftRight]

So you're saying that my own marriage when my wife had her tubes tied before we met is invalid?

Or my father's marriage to my stepmother, where my father had a vasectomy before they met is invalid?

Or my mother's marriage to my stepfather, where my mother was already in menopause is invalid?

Or my father-in-law and step-mother-in-law?

Or my mother-in-law and step-fathe­r-in-law??

Are all of those marriages now invalid since none of us can produce offspring??

The fact of the matter is that marriage is a civil contract between two individuals and the state, because the state finds that it helps society. It has NOTHING to do with children!!

[CJ1]

No, people passed this law, so clearly you are in the minority with your feelings. Regarding marriage, that is your perception of what it is "for". (children). For one, I can have children as easily as you...two, if marriage was just about children, then so many other rights--such as visitation of a sick spouse in the hospital--would not be attached to it. Three, uh, we've been forced to read, hear, experience everything from the straight perspective all our ives, thank you very much. YOU try ours for a change.

[CJ1]

BTW, marriage in many cultures was really so a man could be fairly sure that his female partner's offspring were his. Now we have DNA testing...

[ReardonMetal]

As a native Vermonter, as well as a retired Army Master Sergeant with three combat tours, two Purple Hearts, and a Bronze Star for Valor AND a gay man who has been living with my partner for several years, I am proud to be a Vermonter now more than ever.

It's about time that we acknowledge the civil rights of all. Marriage has nothing whatsoever to do with god (not capitalized for a reason) or religion, but I do respect the rights of any church to not officiate a same sex marriage because of their beliefs, just as I expect them to respect mine.

Thank you Governor Kunin for your stand years ago, and many thanks to our legislators who did the right thing, even after Governor Douglas' statement (we refer to him here in Vermont as Governor 'Does-less').

Now, my partner and I can choose to marry if we so desire -- not that we will, but at least we have the same option as any other couple.

It's about time......

[Pippen]

Thank you for your service Reardon, your appreciated and glad to see your still with us. I served in the US Navy and now support same sex marriage. However I live on the planet Texas and our governor is Bush Lite with better hair so the depth of ignorance is still brewing here. With your credentials you should consider a life in public activism. Maybe this movement could use some military perspective.

[truthartbeauty]

we have come a long way but it is still a country contaminated almost beyond redemption with ignorant religious fanaticism that holds back real progress, foments prejudice and justifies bigotry. the problem is religion. get rid of that monkey off of our backs and we would see REAL progress. the problem is with religion . it always is. but reason and decency are making some ground. against the jesus zombies who cant think for themselves but have to refer to some old book of magic and mythology for thier guidance. pathetic!

[Ronny0303]

Marriage was designed by God to be the basic building block of the basic building block of human life. It is the Bench Mark of successuful Human living. Not all can or will make the mark. That is OK. Man kind has not changed. But it appears that more cannot make the mark today than even 30 years ago. Let all live in peace but do lower the mark. Civilization will suffer.

[mercury613]

Humankind invented marriage.

[RonGallion]

Vermont has wonderful gun laws, but in true fashion their lawmakers are shortsighted and moronic. Vermont has not come along way they are sliding down a hill of decadence.

[cylindar]

Yeah, only now Vermonters will have married homosexuals running around with guns. Now I know what all those guys were doing at hunting camps all those years.

[LeftRight]

OH MY GOD!!! Now Vermont is going to be taken over by married gays toting guns!!! We need to STOP this!!!! Ban all guns in VT!

See how stupid that sounds?

[LeftRight]

Marriage was designed by MAN to both provide for children and to ensure that inheritance and property rights were seen to!

[truthartbeauty]

Oh really? designed by god?? whos god? where is this god? idiot!

[RonGallion]

When your heart beats it's last beat then you will know.

[Pippen]

We're going to vote God out of the legislature. Ronny did you know that this country, America, the country where you live and breath was founded on separation of church and state ? Have you EVER heard that phrase before ? I'm just curious. Feel free to reply.

If you dont believe in separation of church and state then how would feel if entire communities chose to be Taliban and voted for a Taliban doctrine in their state ? Let's suppose their state was Vermont...­.......now how do you feel about Separation of Church and State ?

I'm just curious because it doesnt seem as though you even acknowledge the principle. You did go to grammar school and learned history, yes ?

[MNJim]

One correction to you excellent comments, Governor. We in the Midwest are quite proud of our neighbors in Iowa: the decision made by the Iowa Supreme Court was NOT by a narrow majority. It was a UNANIMOUS decision by justices who were appointed by both Democratic and Republican Governors. Their unanimous decision was that the Iowa Constitution guaranteed Gay & Lesbian people equal protection under the law; therefore, the law which banned them from civil marriage was unconstitutional.
Of course, we will still be hearing from the right-wing nut jobs, a la Michelle Bachmann, who bring religion into the case; we need simply remind them we are not discussing religion-----we are discussing civil marriage. Churches may continue to do whatever they deem appropriate.

[scottowego]

Thank you for informing me that the decision was unanimous. I didn't realize that!

[jhamm1]

I guess you're brighter in the gay marriage department than you are with education.

[M1]

Vermont is the bomb!! THANK YOU VERMONT!!

IT MEANS SOOOO MUCH!!!

[fdavidm]

That was a beautiful piece by Ms. Kunin.

[cidcoart]

Yeah Vermont !!! It's a good day to be gay!
However, we've a very long way to go. 4 out of 50 states is not a very good ratio.

And let's not forget the problems facing some same-sex couples who DID marry. There are couples who are unable to divorce; usually a result of residency complications.
Married same-sex couples are forced to lie when filing taxes (federal returns do not recognize the union). the list goes on.

Until there is a national union available for any couple, there will not be equality.

[crazyv]

Vermont when it was the Republic of Vermont (prior to joining the Union) banned slavery and was thus the only state where slavery was never legal. And yes 4 out 50 is not much but from little acorns grow mighty oak trees.