Vermont Moves Toward Legalizing Gay Marriage

[Icefrisco]

Link

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- A Vermont Senate committee is voting to advance a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state.
The senate Judiciary Committee voted 5-0 on Friday to advance a bill that was the topic of an emotional public hearing on Wednesday that drew hundreds to the Statehouse.

Among those voting in favor was Republican Sen. Kevin Mullin, of Rutland County, who had proposed an amendment to the bill that would have called for a statewide referendum on the topic. The amendment was defeated.

The full Senate is expected to take up the bill next week.

Gov. Jim Douglas has said he opposes the bill, but has not indicated whether he would veto it.

Four of the five members of the committee were in the Legislature during the emotional debate in 2000 that led to Vermont's passing the nation's first civil union bill.

Three voted for the civil union bill. The one committee member who wasn't in the Legislature nine years ago co-sponsored the pending gay marriage legislation.

During committee testimony on Thursday, gay marriage opponent Steve Cable urged the panel to delay its vote so it could spend more time studying the issue.

But Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Sears says postponing the vote wouldn't change the outcome.

The public also tried to sway lawmakers one final time during the fourth day of testimony in the same-sex marriage debate Thursday.

A Richford High School student, whose mother is a lesbian, told the committee the bill would help other children raised by homosexual parents.

"I want my parents to be able to say they're married to prove to people their love isn't wrong and that their home state is supporting them," said Gabrielle Benham, 17.

But opponents urged the committee to slow down, complaining the bill is on the fast-track to becoming law.

"I look at your language and I look at this language and they're in conflict," said Bishop Richard Callahan of the Maranatha Christian Church, as he held up a Bible.

Gov. Jim Douglas doesn't support the bill but told legislators to get it over quickly so they can focus on the state's economy.

Once Vermont legalizes gay marriage half of the New England States will have legalized gay marriage. Does this mean that it is only a matter of time before Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine legalize gay marriage?

Also, I surprised about the lack of Republican opposition. I guess the remaining Republicans fear that if they come off as too Conservative they will be voted out.

[GuineaPig]

Good on Vermont.

[MaryPoppinCaps]

Good on Vermont.

What this guy said.

[Pallantides]

Good on Vermont.

What he said.

[CtrlAltDe1337]

New England might as well join Canada, they would get along better with them than the southern half of the US...

[Scar Face]

New England might as well join Canada, they would get along better with them than the southern half of the US...

Hm? We barely legalized Gay marriage a few years ago, and given the rapidly growing strength of the Conservatives, we will probably declare it illegal again in a few years.

@Nikos: Marriage is not a guaranteed freedom in America, it really has nothing to do with equality or rights, just the law and what society thinks marriage means, and what it should mean.

[MaryPoppinCaps]

Hm? We barely legalized Gay marriage a few years ago, and given the rapidly growing strength of the Conservatives, we will probably declare it illegal again in a few years.

Now why would they want to do that?

[Scar Face]

Now why would they want to do that?

The same reason the right resists it in America, religion and old social traditions. Hell, the liberal party in the late 1990's made a reaffirmation [practically unanimously] that marriage was between a man and a woman. Their turn around was rather sudden and random, and the debate never really happened. AFAIK most Canadians are opposed to it still.

@Liberals: Of course the Government should step in, unless you think its ok if I marry an eight year old girl, so long as she agrees? Regulation of the legality of contracts is an essential part of Government.

[jsktrogdor]

The same reason the right resists it in America, religion and old social traditions. Hell, the liberal party in the late 1990's made a reaffirmation [practically unanimously] that marriage was between a man and a woman. Their turn around was rather sudden and random, and the debate never really happened. AFAIK most Canadians are opposed to it still.

@Liberals: Of course the Government should step in, unless you think its ok if I marry an eight year old girl, so long as she agrees? Regulation of the legality of contracts is an essential part of Government.

^^^^ could someone explain this to me? Do people think that gay people are just gonna give up one day?

"Well weve been trying for equal rights for a few decades now but you know its just gettin so darn'd hard. Weve decided were just gonna settle for second class citizens, its better than third right? lolz"

This isnt the kind of argument you win, when its someones equality at hand they just dont give up the ghost; you dont convince them that they deserve different rights than you. Could I convince you that you dont deserve the same basic privliges I get just because your a little bit different? I didnt think so. So how can you sit there and try to ask someone else to take the same fall you would never be willing to?

The fact of the matter is, weither you like it or not gay marriage will eventually happen. The only way you could stop it is to quarentine them because they're not just gonna stop asking for equality.

[justicar5]

The same reason the right resists it in America, religion and old social traditions. Hell, the liberal party in the late 1990's made a reaffirmation [practically unanimously] that marriage was between a man and a woman. Their turn around was rather sudden and random, and the debate never really happened. AFAIK most Canadians are opposed to it still.

@Liberals: Of course the Government should step in, unless you think its ok if I marry an eight year old girl, so long as she agrees? Regulation of the legality of contracts is an essential part of Government.

consenting ADULTS.

[Nikos]

@Nikos: Marriage is not a guaranteed freedom in America, it really has nothing to do with equality or rights, just the law and what society thinks marriage means, and what it should mean.

Really? So forbidding the right to a group of people doesn't have nothing to do with equality?

@Scarface
I'm not a Liberal

[Ivan6]

... Marriage is not a guaranteed freedom in America, it really has nothing to do with equality or rights, just the law and what society thinks marriage means, and what it should mean.

Actually, I think it is.
Anything that has not been explicitly given to government is a retained right, and clearly sexual matters like marriage, are covered under the rights of privacy.

The law is not supposed to have anything at all to do with personal life or anything it is not absolutely required to deal with.
Marriage is one of those things that is supposed to be totally up to each individual to decide.

[jankren]

Vermont? Isnt it a religious redneck state?

[Kiljan Arslan]

Vermont? Isnt it a religious redneck state?

and I think this is great a step in the right direction!

[Fluttershy]

Vermont? Isnt it a religious redneck state?

Since when have New england states been religous redneck states? Even NH which was once the most conservative NE state has gone blue.

[Barry Goldwater]

Don't really care either way...although I oppose it from a religious POV, a real conservative wouldn't be (and, in my case, I suppose you could say isn't ) meddling in other people's affairs.

[Nikos]

As I have said before, I oppose Homosexual marriage religiously, but I cannot in good conscience call myself an American and oppose it. The USA was founded on a dream of equality. We should not let religious fundamentalists influence our policies. There is seperation of Church and state for a reason. If I wanted to live in a theocracy I would move to Iran.

[Zephyrus]

As I have said before, I oppose Homosexual marriage religiously, but I cannot in good conscience call myself an American and oppose it. The USA was founded on a dream of equality. We should not let religious fundamentalists influence our policies. There is seperation of Church and state for a reason. If I wanted to live in a theocracy I would move to Iran.

Agreed, although I need to state my amazement that a homosexual union has still not been defined as different from marriage.

[Nikos]

Agreed, although I need to state my amazement that a homosexual union has still not been defined as different from marriage.

That's because it would make too much sense to give Homosexual unions the same rights as marriage.

[ginge51]

Who cares?
If you're gay n want to marry some1 else who looks like you n has a tash, go for it.
It is wrong imo, buyt doesn't effect me so why should i be bothered ffs?