Marriage Advances in Vermont and D.C.

To the delight of LGBT Americans the Vermont Legislature this morning voted to override Governor Jim Douglas' veto and made Vermont the first state to legislatively grant gays and lesbians full marriage rights equal to those of heterosexual couples. I applaud the action although I confess I was more than a bit worried that the 100 required votes in the Vermont House might fall short. With modern medical and mental health experts affirming that one's sexual orientation is immutable and not a choice, nothing less than full marriage affords LGBT couples equality under the CIVIL marriage laws. The reality is that there is no reason to bar same sex marriage other than religious based bigotry - something that has no place in the civil laws as noted by the Iowa Supreme Court this past Friday. Here are some highlights from the Burlington Free Press:

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Vermont has become the fourth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature’s vote. 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.

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Tuesday morning's legislative action came less than a day after Douglas issued a veto message saying the bill would not improve the lot of gay and lesbian couples because it still would not provide them rights under federal and other states' laws.Gov. Jim Douglas, who vetoed legislation, said, "I prepared myself for this outcome and predicted it. The outcome was not unexpected."He had called the issue of gay marriage a distraction during a time when economic and budget issues were more important.

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House Speaker Shap Smith's announcement of the vote brought an outburst of jubilation from some of the hundreds packed into the gallery and the lobby outside the House chamber, despite the speaker's admonishment against such displays. The true jubilation didn't start until everyone gathered downstairs where they congratulated legislative leaders who championed the cause.

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Adding to the day's amazing results was the vote of the Washington, D.C., Council to recognize marriages that are legitimate in the states in which they were performed. The District already provides domestic partnerships for its LGBT couples, but today's vote will now cause relocated gay married couples as married. With Congress having the final say - since D.C. does not afford its citizens full self rule as would be the case in any of the 50 states - the vote will likely cause Republicans and Christianists to exert efforts to override the Council vote. Here are some highlights from the Washington Post:

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The D.C. Council voted today to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, on the same day that Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex unions. Domestic partnerships are already legal in the nation's capital. But today's vote, billed as an important milestone in gay rights, explicitly recognizes relocated gay married couples as married.

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The initial vote was 12-0. The unanimous vote sets the stage for future debate on legalizing same-sex marriage in the District and a clash with Congress, which approves the city's laws under Home Rule. The council is expected to take a final vote on the legislation next month.

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Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), who is also gay, predicted it was only a matter of time before the council also takes up a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the District. "It's no secret that I have been working on legislation that would take us further," he said. "This is the march toward human rights and equality. This is not the march toward special rights. This is the equality march and that march is coming here."

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Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), who has been chipping away at barriers for same-sex couples for years, said he saw the legislation as one that is in keeping with the city's laws. "Some are saying it's an important step. I am saying it's a simple step," said Mendelson, who authored the legislation.