Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage Over Governor's Veto

by Deb Cupples |  Ahh, Vermont.  Home of Partick Leahy and Bernie Sanders -- my home during my formative years (30+ years ago).  The Burlington Free Press reports:

"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.

"The vote came nine years after Vermont adopted its first-in-the-nation civil unions law.

"It’s now the fourth state to permit same-sex marriage. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa are the others. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts."

Frankly, active opposition to the rights of homosexual folks just doesn't make sense to me -- especially at the labor-intensive, grass roots level.

Every hour that a family-values minded person spends protesting gay rights is one less hour to spend helping children with homework, making home improvements, or otherwise strengthening one's family.

Every hour that a Jesus-minded person spends protesting gay rights is one less hour for communing with and strengthening one's relationship with God.

But then, who am I to say that building a stronger family or becoming a better Christian should be a bigger priority than persecuting other people?

Last week, the Iowa Supreme Court overturned a ban on same-sex marriage, thereby legalizing same-sex marriage.  UPI thinks that this will be good for business in Iowa:

"Being in the middle of states that have many same-sex couples means Iowa could draw an estimated 55,000 out-of-state couples who spend money on weddings and tourism-related activities, the study said."

Memeorandum has commentary.

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Comments

[Vince]

Leave it to Vermont and Iowa to be the most progressive states in the nation, shame on us here in California for passing Prop 9. Whether you call it Gay Marriage or Civil Union, the basic premise is that every person should have equal rights. It’s good to see that some states are progressing, I made a list on my site of the states I think will legalize Gay Marriage first: http://www.toptentopten.com/topten/first+states+that+will+legalize+gay+marriage