Vermont Senate Approves Marriage Bill
The first state in the country to approve of civil unions for same-sex couples may also be the first to legislatively enact inclusive marriage laws. Following a heated debate, the Vermont state Senate today approved a bill that would open marriage to same-sex couples by a margin of 26-4. The next stop is the Vermont House, where debate on the bill begins tomorrow. Largely Democratic, the House is expected to approve the bill.
Though governor Jim Douglas publicly opposes same-sex marriage, he has not yet issued any official statement about his likelihood to veto the bill. As Family Fairness recently discussed, overcoming Douglas's veto would require a 2/3 supermajority in both houses. The Senate's vote surpassed this mark, but we will have to wait for the House to vote before we can be confident that Vermont's same-sex couples will be able to wed in the coming months.
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I am so happy to hear of this! My partner and I got a civil union in VT many years ago. I am thrilled for VT!!
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