Vermont Becomes Fourth Marriage Equality State
This morning the Vermont House of Representatives voted 100 - 49 to override the Governor’s veto of the marriage equality bill. The Senate passed the override 23 - 5.
This makes Vermont the fourth marriage equality state in the US, and the third in New England. It is also the first state to achieve marriage equality through the legislature.
GLAD congratulates Beth Robinson and Vermont Freedom to Marry, the courageous legislators who stood up for equality, and the entire community in Vermont.
GLAD worked with Beth Robinson on the historic case Baker v. Vermont, which resulted in the nation’s first civil union law in 2000. After nearly ten years of civil unions, and with momentum moving toward marriage equality across New England (and, with last week’s court victory in Iowa, the country), Vermonters knew it was time for full equality for same-sex couples. “There’s only one thing truly equal to marriage, and that’s marriage,” said Vermont Representative Johanna Donovan. “Now is the time to give civil unions a respectful burial.”
Read more in the Burlington Free Press.