Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage

[TampaYankee]

Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage, Overrides Governor's Veto

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/07/v...r_n_184034.html

DAVE GRAM | April 7, 2009 12:16 PM EST | AP

MONTPELIER, Vt. — 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."

Craig Bensen, a gay marriage opponent who had lobbied unsuccessfully for a nonbinding referendum on the question, said he was disappointed but believed gay marriage opponents were outspent by supporters by a 20-1 margin.

"The other side had a highly funded, extremely well-oiled machine with all the political leadership except the governor pushing to make this happen," he said. "The fact that it came down to this tight a vote is really astounding."

Also in the crowd was Michael Feiner, a farmer from Roxbury and gay marriage supporter, who took a break from collecting sap for maple syrup-making to come to the Statehouse.

"I'm taking a break to come and basically make sure that I was here to witness history," he said.

The House had initially passed the bill last week with a 95-52 vote.

[TotallyOz]

This was a great victory and I am thrilled for this. The first state to have the legislature legalize gay marriage. Does this mean we are on a roll?

[MsGuy]

This was a great victory and I am thrilled for this. The first state to have the legislature legalize gay marriage. Does this mean we are on a roll?

"It is not the end. It is not the beginning of the end. But it is the end of the beginning." Churchill, after Rommel's defeat at El Alamein.

This was an historic victory for which you are right to be thrilled. The clear endorsement of legal and social equality for Gays by the Vermont legislature signals a sea change in America's perceptions of people who are gay. One decisive legislative victory, vigorously and openly contested, neighbor argueing with neighbor in bars, work places and VFW halls all over Vermont, is worth a dozen court opinions.

Oz, you are too young to remember, but I lived through the 180 degree reversal of American attitudes toward race. Not all that many had the full 'road to Demascus' experience, but an overwhelming majority, including most racists, came to believe that rascism in the law and in the public forum was unfair and un-American.

We about half way through a similar reversal in America's understanding of gays. This particular culture war aint near over yet (and some areas of the country will hold out longer than others,) but I truly believe that we have made it to the mountain top. The promised land is in sight.

Hey, less than 50 years ago, Bull Conner was rolling folks down the street with fire hoses. Now Obama sits in the White House. Maybe there's some cute gay Eurasian baby in Hawaii right now that will wind up in the Oval Office. I hope he twirls his baton all the way down Pennsylvania Avenue.