Vermont's largest newspaper (a Gannett paper at that) strongly endorses same sex marriage

[cali]

This is a great editorial, even if it does come from the corporate media. And Vermont business groups and most religious leaders have also strongly endorsed the same sex marriage legislation currently under consideration in the legislature.

EDITORIAL: The time has come for marriage equality
March 17, 2009

With legislative leaders set to take up a bill that would grant same-sex couples the full legal right to marry, the time has come for Vermont to move forward with this important piece of civil rights legislation when it comes before the Legislature. We should no longer deny that which is offered to a selected portion of the population.

Gov. Jim Douglas would do much to bring Vermonters together on this still controversial matter by signing such a bill into law if and when it is presented to him. If he opposes the concept of same-sex marriage, he must articulate his reasons beyond saying it is unnecessary with our civil union law and that he wants to avoid a divisive issue.

In an April 1999 editorial, the Free Press editorial board wrongly warned Vermonters against gay marriage. The years since then have proven our position to be unfounded.

Ten years ago, as the case that would eventually lead to Vermont adopting civil unions was making its way through the courts, we argued that our laws discriminate when a valid reason is found to do so, giving the 21-year drinking age as an example. We also argued that marriage was not a right.


Our state Supreme Court saw things differently, saying that the state must provide at least the legal equivalent of marriage to same-sex couples. The ruling gave birth to the first-in-the-nation civil union law, a compromise that was best for the times.

In the 1999 editorial we spoke of the need to bridge the cultural divide to reach a consensus if we were to embark on such a major change to a fundamental social institution. We went so far as to warn that becoming the only state to allow same-sex marriage would make Vermont a target hostile to the idea, solemnly predicting, “there will be violence.” That prediction of course was pure nonsense.

<snip>

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090317/OPINION/90317043/1006

[rox63]

1. Us folks in Massachusetts can reliably tell Vermonters

that the sky has not fallen because of all the same-sex marriages that have happened here.

[cali]

3. Vermonters already know this

After all, Vermont's SC decision paved the way for the MA decision, which came years after it. And Vermont will become the first state to enact marriage equality through through the legislative process rather than through a court mandate.

I think people forget, or never knew how truly revolutionary VT's court ruling was 10 years ago. And the majority of Vermonters support marriage equality.

[rox63]

5. I know - I was very proud of our neighbor to the north when they legalized civil unions

What are the chances that marriage equality will make it past the governor's desk?

[cali]

6. There's virtually no doubt that it will pass.

The question is will Doesless veto it, and will the legislature override the veto.

[ccharles000]

2. lovely

[cali]

4. it is lovely watching the support for marriage equality

that's being demonstrated by Vermonters. A far cry from what went down 10 years ago.