The day of the Vermont Pride Festival is an appropriate day to celebrate not only who we are, but how far we’ve come.
Back in 1996 the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force produced this
informational video. At the time, the subject of marriage equality was
completely new to almost everyone and this video was one method we used
to introduce the topic. It was created by volunteers, and produced on a
tiny budget—all of which was used to pay for studio time doing the
final edit.
It’s interesting to watch this piece after fifteen
years; to celebrate how far we’ve come; yet to recognize just how much
still needs to change. While more progress still needs to be made, such
as ending DOMA so that all Vermont marriages receive equal federal
recognition, the power of sharing our personal stories remains our most
convincing and effective means for creating change.
The folks
who produced and appeared in “A Freedom to Marry: A Green Mountain View”
were, in some ways, pioneers in the Freedom to Marry movement. After
failed efforts in Hawaii and Alaska, Vermont stepped up to the front
and, eventually, achieved great things for equality. This was the
beginning, and many of the people who participated in the creation of
this video went on to be true leaders in our movement. We think you’ll
recognize the voice of the narrator and some faces.
