Vermont becomes the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through the legislature. And they did it big:
The Legislature voted Tuesday to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto of a bill allowing gays and lesbians to marry. The vote was 23-5 to override in the state Senate and 100-49 to override in the House. Under Vermont law, two-thirds of each chamber had to vote for override.
That’s a serious vote. And the fact that same-sex marriage is now legal in Vermont because of overwhelming support from the legislature is a major milestone, and will certainly shift the terms of the debate.
It’s a good day.
That is the BEST news to start off the day. Hooray!
Wow, this is amazing! Hooray for the Vermont legislature and all those who worked for this to pass!
As a Californian, while I am thrilled that Iowa and Vermont are being all kinds of awesome, it also sort of heightens my disappointment with Prop 8. It’s like other states are taking great bounds forward but our so-called liberal state is taking steps back. I do believe same-sex marriage is on the way to being legal in CA again soon, as well as the entire nation in my lifetime.
Again, I’m so excited about this! Hearing this news is better than a huge cup of coffee to begin my day!
As a Tennessean who will probably not see my gay and lesbian friends legally married until the SCOTUS steps up, I am so excited for Vermont.
Yay for love! Yay for equality! Yay for Vermont!
i was having such a crappy morning. it’s so much brighter. yay VT!
“That’s a serious override.”
No it wasn’t. The override needed 2/3 in both houses to pass. There are 149 members in the Vermont House, and 100 voted to override, which is just slightly more than 2/3. 99 out of 149 is slightly less than 2/3 (it comes to about 0.664, approx 0.002 less than the 0.6 recurring that equates to 2/3).
So the override only passed by one vote!
Of course, the closeness of the margin should not detract from this wonderful, inspiring piece of news.
It was a very, very close call, but we did it! I’ve sent thank you notes to all my legislators, as well as to those who changed their original “no” votes to override the veto. Vermont has now ended religious discrimination against those whose churches support same gender marriage, and has voted to uphold equal protection under the law. Not bad for a day’s work!
And the fact that same-sex marriage is now legal in Vermont because of overwhelming support from the legislature is a major milestone, and will certainly shift the terms of the debate.
I wish I believed that. Sadly, something tells me that outside of feminist/other progressive circles, the debate will continue to be about ‘activist’ judges and how ‘even California voters wanted to preserve blah blah blah.’
Here’s hoping you’re right and I’m wrong.
@Fuzz: I was thinking the same thing about the House override. But the Senate override was pretty serious — 82% support compared to just under 67% required.
Again, I shout my rallying cry: Delaware River to the North Pole. Just five states to go.
Lance, California’s stupid government-by-referendum giveth as easily as it taketh away. An ordinary majority wrote discrimination into the California constitution, but an ordinary majority can take it out, too. And when, upon due consideration, the people of the state of California change their minds and vote in favor of equality, what will the proponents of exclusive marriage rights say? (Something, I’m sure, but something that will only persuade people who already agree with them).
This train is going to keep rolling, state by state, for a long time yet.
The DC Council also voted today to recognize same-sex marriages in other states!
It’s coming, I can feel it. Let it come soon!
Vermont is a big victory for sure. Especially the legislature part. And with Iowa (in the heartland no less) just behind us and DC’s vote, we’re on a bit of a roll here. And I’m loving every second of it.
It’s a long, slow process — but momentum is on our side. It’s like 1943 — the die is cast and you know the Allies are going to pull out the war, but goodness gracious, is there still a lot of bloody fighting left before what dear Dick Cheney calls the “dead-enders” finally acquiesce to the inevitable and inexorable power of love and reason.
I get the feeling this one will end with a whimper rather than a roar. Theres a ton of public support and only a small subset of the population opposed actually care enough for it to influence their votes. Especially right now with a lot of crises going on and a general leftward swing doing a press on state legislatures would probably be pretty effective. If those putzes at HRC would just take a page from the NRA’s playbook and focus their lobbying at the state level we’d probably be seeing an endgame by now.
In Vermont, a veto override itself is a rarity. This was our first in 19 years, and if I’m not mistaken just the 6th or 7th in VT history. Also, prior to the veto, the house was still shy of a veto proof (2/3rds) majority.
If you would like to see the example of the difference that one individual can make, watch Democracy Now’s interview with an inspiring 12 year old girl who swayed at least a couple of key votes in the house with the story of her family.