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.
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!
Republican governor. How did that happen?
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.
We will remember your vote and continue to support you!
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.
Please see it from a straight persons perspective.
since when does pro-creation equate marriage.....
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......
See how stupid that sounds?
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.
IT MEANS SOOOO MUCH!!!
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.