We Did It! Vermont Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
|
Tweet this story! Support our efforts for a sustainable world.
|
|
“That’s awesome,” I called over my shoulder to Web Editor Jesse McDougall when I read the news.
“It’s more than that, man. It’s f***ing heroic,” he replied. “I love this state more and more every day.”
Mark it on your calendars, folks: today, April 7, 2009, Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. (Four down, forty-six to go!) State legislators needed to vote their conscience today, and most of them decided they wanted to be on the right side of history. The state House of Representatives scraped up the narrowest of narrow majorities to override Republican governor Jim Douglas’ veto, while the measure sailed through the Senate easily.
I’m proud of us, Vermont. And take note, California: get back in the game, would ya?
From the AP:
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont on Tuesday became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature’s vote.
The House recorded a dramatic 100-49 vote — the minimum needed — to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto. Its vote followed a much easier override vote in the Senate, which rebuffed the Republican governor with a vote of 23-5.
Vermont was the first state to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples and joins Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa in giving gays the right to marry. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts.
Tuesday morning’s legislative action came less than a day after Douglas issued a veto message saying the bill would not improve the lot of gay and lesbian couples because it still would not provide them rights under federal and other states’ laws.
House Speaker Shap Smith’s announcement of the vote brought an outburst of jubilation from some of the hundreds packed into the gallery and the lobby outside the House chamber, despite the speaker’s admonishment against such displays.
Among the celebrants in the lobby were former Rep. Robert Dostis, D-Waterbury, and his longtime partner, Chuck Kletecka. Dostis recalled efforts to expand gay rights dating to an anti-discrimination law passed in 1992.
“It’s been a very long battle. It’s been almost 20 years to get to this point,” Dostis said. “I think finally, most people in Vermont understand that we’re a couple like any other couple. We’re as good and as bad as any other group of people. And now I think we have a chance to prove ourselves here on forward that we’re good members of our community.”
Dostis said he and Kletecka will celebrate their 25th year together in September.
“Is that a proposal?” Kletecka asked.
“Yeah,” Dostis replied. “Twenty-five years together, I think it’s time we finally got married.”
