Vermont Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage!
For the second time in just under one week’s time a State here in the US has legalized same-sex marriage!!! Vermont has just become the 4th State in the US (5th if you count California) to legalize same-sex marriage after the State legislature has voted to overturn the veto by Governor Jim Douglas who publicly opposed the legislature’s ratification of the law. After both houses of the Vermont State legislature voted to allow same-sex marriage in their State last week (an upgrade from the civil unions they already had in place for same-sex couples), Governor Douglas decided to veto that law (his belief is that civil unions are “good enough” for same-sex couples). In the wake of his decision to veto, the legislature has *just* voted to overturn his decision … making same-sex marriage legal in their State!!!!!
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.
This is such amazing news!!! Not only are the winds of change blowing across our great nation but it seems to have turned into a bit of a tidal wave of change. Unlike other States which legalized same-sex marriage in the courts, Vermont has legalized same-sex marriage in the legislature … which is a hugely significant difference. As you may recall, just last week we learned that Iowa became the 4th State to legalize same-sex marriage here in the US and now Vermont joins the ranks of the States who have decided that marriage equality should be afforded to all. To clarify, altho Vermont is the 5th State to legalize same-sex marriage (California was among those States) there are only 4 States out of 50 that currently allow the practice legally. I must admit, my fear was that the Vermont State legislature would not be able to come up with the votes needed to overturn the governor’s veto … I’m so ecstatic that I was wrong! As you may painfully recall, California’s legalization of same-sex marriage was overturned in last November’s election. While we suffered a major setback here in California, this latest ratification in Vermont to allow same-sex couples the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples pushes our country closer to truly allowing freedom and justice for its citizens. On behalf of the rest of the country that still waits for marriage equality to be enacted for all, I salute and send my heartfelt thanks to the people of Vermont for their efforts today. They join the ranks of the other pioneering States (including Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa) who recognize that all couples in the US of A deserve access to marriage equality! What another wonderful, wonderful day!!!
[Source, thanks Amanda]
Tags: Same-Sex Marriage
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April 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Shaking and crying :D
April 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
BOO YA.
April 7th, 2009 at 9:26 am
YEEEEAHHHH!!!!
yes
(so sad still about my CA)
April 7th, 2009 at 9:38 am
THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY!! its about time that change comes to America… we need more of this!
April 7th, 2009 at 9:40 am
I’m from Vermont and I couldn’t be more proud!!! Thanks for the VT love
April 7th, 2009 at 9:55 am
AWESOME!
April 7th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Hell yes! I am so happy woo!
April 7th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Isn’t it odd that Calfornia, supposedly so liberal and openminded, overturned gay marriage rights but now other states are legalizing it?
I’m happy there’s now 4 states where it is legal though! Only 46 to go!
April 7th, 2009 at 10:22 am
<3 equality
<3 vermont!
April 7th, 2009 at 10:33 am
all i can say is YIPPEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! =]
April 7th, 2009 at 10:43 am
@Christine — California is hurt by the fact that laws like this can very easily be put on the ballot, which means that the issue could go back and forth. If and when the issue goes back on the ballot here, I think same-sex marriage will return to Cali … but it’s gonna take a push on the federal level to allow same-sex marriage for all US citizens.
April 7th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I’m so excited!! I live in and grew up in VT and my law firm worked on this legislation. It’s a great day!
April 7th, 2009 at 10:48 am
yay vermont! and iowa!
April 7th, 2009 at 10:52 am
As much as I love this news and am proud to live in the first state to legalize it (yay Massachusetts!), I can’t help be a bit disappointed that there are still so many states where it is illegal and the fact the marriages are not recognized on the federal level. Come on US, it’s time to legalize it for the entire country!
April 7th, 2009 at 10:54 am
OMG
This is so amazing, I’m so happy!
I was also really worrried Trent that they would not have have enough votes to overturn the evil governors veto, but they did! They did!!!
April 7th, 2009 at 11:26 am
yay!!! I was in college in VT when they started it all by allowing civil unions… Vermont is SO SO COOL! Seriously, the coolest politics in the country. Goooo VT!!
April 7th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Again this is just great news… It’s 2009 we shouldn’t have laws saying who we can and can’t marry… It seems like the New England states (along with the lone wolf Iowa) are leading the way for the turnaround in our government and it is my only hope that other states will soon follow suit and get rid of this absurd stigma our country has over same sex marriage!
April 7th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
If only Obama were proving his promise of support… I’m afraid this Vt victory could be in vain in the long run/big picture. But for now… YES!
April 7th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Trent, I agree, there’s no way all US citizens will be able to marry without something done at the federal level. However, all these small steps will hopefully create the awareness that will take it there. Unfortunately, I don’t think 4 states legalizing gay marriage is enough for it to pass on the feeral level. But baby steps will make it happen!
April 7th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Way to go, Vermont!
With respect to action at the federal level, I think once a bit more time passes, and folks in those 4 states have been living with this new legislation for awhile, they’ll grow to understand how it just becomes a natural part of the way things are, just another element of society, like crosswalks and recycling and McDonald’s.
As that consciousness becomes elevated and unfolds in these now-enlightened states, I think the state leaders will be able to speak from the heart and find the words to let other states know – and eventually let the White House know – that in the grand scheme of things it really isn’t anything to be too worried about at all, and that there exists no reason why equal rights are not & cannot be shared by all.
April 7th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
California isn’t actually all that liberal. There’s a lot of very rich people there, and unfortunately the rich (unless they’re creative types, which is why Cali SEEMS like it should be so liberal) tend to lean conservative.
I voted against the ban on same-sex marriage when we had it in Oklahoma back in 2004, but it obviously passed. Couldn’t in good conscious just sit back and not vote on it though.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:10 am
Yay! *happy dance*
April 8th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Hello decline of civilization!
April 9th, 2009 at 2:08 am
I’m curious about something. If a gay couple is married in 1 state, do other states legally recognize that marriage?
I’m wondering because when hetero couple move to another state they never have to prove their marriage – they are taken at their word for legal & medical issues. I’m just wondering what will happen if a legally married same sex couple in 1 state has a medical situation in another state, will the hospital recognize the spouse’s rights to make medical decisions?
April 9th, 2009 at 6:06 am
@Val — the States where it is not legal will not recognize the marriage at all. all of the legal rights of marriage are not valid in the other States. The District of Columbia doesn’t have same-sex marriage yet but they have decided to recognize same-sex marriages that take place in States where it is legal.
April 9th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Represent! We’re kind of the best state everrr