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***UPDATE: HRC’s David Smith, vice president of programs, just sent out this congratulatory statement to the HRC family:
Just moments ago, Vermont representatives joined their colleagues in the State Senate in voting to override the governor’s veto and make Vermont the first state in the Union to enact marriage equality through the legislative process. Lesbian and gay couples can begin marrying in the Green Mountain State on September 1.
As with most legislative victories, this one did not happen overnight. In fact, today’s votes are the result of years of work. At the Human Rights Campaign, we sent several action alerts and phoned our members in Vermont more than once over the past weeks and months. And we’ve been having strategic conversations with leaders at the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force since last year. Perhaps most significantly, our national field director Marty Rouse has travelled to Vermont several times this year and has been on the ground since yesterday calling in every chit he has from his many years helping elect Democrats to the State Senate and House. We are inspired by the many courageous lawmakers who stood their ground today and stood for equality, and we are proud that our own Marty Rouse helped elect so many of those lawmakers during their first campaigns for office. It is certainly no exaggeration to say that today’s result would not have been possible without Marty’s efforts.
We will soon go to the roof (twice in one week!) to hang the flag of another state that recognizes that all loving and committed couples should be treated equally.
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- groups:
- News, News and Politics, Politics, Culture, 4 more
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- uroborus8
- added this
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I can not begin to explain how excited I am to hear this fantastic news. Clearly reason is winning over bigotry, equality over injustice, and freedom over oppression.
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yay good news :D
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horray! 46 more to go!!
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Washington D.C. will now recognize other state's gay marriages.
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The connies in Vermont can't whine about a make-believe "judgocracy" now.
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- FallenMorgan
- 8 months ago
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this is horrible news..but i think gay marriage will eventually gain all the rights gay people ask for..since its "discrimination" to not give these different people their rights and also society is always pushing for new boundaries..is gay marriage right.i don't think so...and who determines whats right and wrong?..well that's a whole different argument..but actually if we can answer that question..this issue along with many others would be solved
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This is great news! It shows that equality can be maintained not just by judges but also by the demand of the people themselves. I hope this trend of marriage equality gets the other 46 states to realize that popular opinion in favor of equality can be codified into law through legislation.
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- InformedTexan
- 8 months ago
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I think Diana Ross said it best: "Be careful that you don't abuse that right" - These laws are new and very vulnerable to abuse. We need to make sure they are protected. WTG Vermont Legislation.
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Yay Vermont!
Boo California :( -
Hurray!
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- DeliaTheArtist
- 8 months ago
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Ah, Vermont. Proving once again that they are, in fact, awesome.
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I don't find this awesome or important. There should be no hurray nor any restrictions....
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i LOVErmont! woot woot so happy when i heard this.
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- lukewarmenthusiasm
- 8 months ago
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They spoke and so it was....
In my own words, while I don't approve of being gay, i would die to defend your right to be so.
The Republic in action if I've ever seen it, Good On Ya!!!
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I needed to read this today, another victory for equality!
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- fauxsherrrr
- 8 months ago
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And that is really what it's all about, TheEmpireGuy. The idea that I had in my head before my Great Disillusionment was that everyone in America knew that to secure your own rights you had to secure the rights of others even if you "don't approve". The only obstacle to an action by anyone, in my way of thinking, is whether or not it violates anothers liberty. Since no one's right to act or not be acted upon is even addressed by homosexuality, this entire issue is a shame to every one of us. Though I must say I'd prefer not to die in defense, if possible.
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- Giganticus
- 8 months ago
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Yay... only 46 more to go
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This is really great news! Another step forward.
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why cant they make up their own shit..marriage is for a man and woman. go make up gayiage or something
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- Kuklamania
- 8 months ago
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Speaking of ... What's the Story in CA now? Did the Supreme Court ever rule on Prop 8? Tell me I wasn't sleeping! <blush>
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If homosexuals want to get married i don't see why we are stopping them. Let the queers be happy. Everyone deserves to be happy.
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Vermont AND Iowa! So So SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo amazing
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- katharinekov
- 8 months ago
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The real reason to not have gay marriage: think of the poor judges in divorce court!
:-} No?
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Gosh what joy. Good for Vermont.
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- Fanofsinatra
- 8 months ago
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I think time will come to show that gay people don't have a disorder since there has been a progression towards accepting gay people. Also homosexuality is no longer, at least in the United States, considered a mental disorder by the APA.
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- NorthboundToLoop
- 8 months ago
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