Vermont Freedom to Marry

FlynnSpace “Love Free or Die” Film and Discussion Event, June 18th

 

 

Beth Robinson, Vermont Freedom to Marry co-founder & now Vermont Supreme Court Justice

Join Vermont Freedom To Marry co-founder and now Supreme Court Justice Beth Robinson, Bishop Thomas Ely (Episcopal Diocese of Vermont), and State Senator David Zuckerman for a community discussion in response to the compelling documentary, "Love Free or Die," previewing at FlynnSpace in Burlington, Tuesday, June 18, 7:00 p.m.

 "Love Free or Die" profiles Gene Robinson, who in 2003 became the first openly gay man in a committed same-sex relationship to be ordained a bishop in any Christian denomination. His consecration--to which he wore a bulletproof vest due to death threats--was both celebrated and scorned, opening up thought-provoking questions about the relationship between religion and civil rights, faith and sexual identity.

Mark Andrew & Bishop Gene Robinson, in the movie "Love Free or Die"

The film grapples with the often difficult interaction between Bishop Robinson's love for God and love for his husband, Mark. It follows Bishop Robinson from small-town New Hampshire churches to the Lincoln Memorial to London's Lambeth Palace for a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Along the way, Bishop Robinson challenges people of faith to stand up for LGBT and marriage equality.

 

"Love Free or Die" and the community discussion afterwards is part of Vermont Public Television's Community Cinema Series.

The event is FREE and, with the Supreme Court due to make decisions in two landmark marriage equality cases before the end of June, it's a great time to join together as a community to discuss the important issues raised by the film and Bishop Robinson's work.

For details, visit the FlynnSpace event page.

Watch the Film Trailer here.

Happy retirement to a longtime equality champion

 

Vermont Freedom to Marry is pleased to pass along the news that one of our longtime supporters, the Reverend Brendan Hadash, is retiring from his post as minister of the Cherry Street Unitarian Universalist Church in St. Johnsbury.

Brendan joined the Freedom to Marry movement well before equal marriage rights were secured in 2009, and he was also involved in the years before Vermont passed the civil unions law in 2000.

Brendan lived as a proud gay man in the Northeast Kingdom at a time when it was not easy to be "out" in this rural part of the state.  His cheerfulness and optimism were infectious, and he worked hard to educate both his neighbors in the Kingdom and his fellow clergy in Vermont about the importance of allowing same sex couples to legally marry.

Brendan helped coordinate the filing of a "friend of the court" brief to the Vermont Supreme Court, signed by over 100 members of the Vermont clergy, in support of the right to marry.

He was always upbeat, and always joyful, in all his work with VFM, and we wish him and his husband much happiness and fun in retirement!

Minnesota Makes 12!

 

 

 

Another Exciting Week for Marriage Equality

Rhode Island, Delaware, Minnesota …

Less than one month after Rhode Island made New England an all-equality region, and less than one week after Delaware passed the freedom to marry, the Minnesota legislature passed a marriage equality bill, making Minnesota the 12th marriage equality state, and the first state in the Midwest to include same-sex couples in marriage via the legislative process.

The victory in Minnesota is especially noteworthy because, less than one year ago, an anti-gay constitutional amendment was before Minnesota voters, one that would have enshrined discrimination in their state constitution. Minnesotans narrowly rejected that discriminatory amendment, but few expected the tide to turn so quickly toward fairness. However, equality advocates and supporters, Minnesota legislators, and equality-supportive Governor Mark Dayton seized the moment and worked together to make it happen.

Today, May 14th, Governor Dayton will sign marriage equality into law on the front steps of the Capitol in St. Paul. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman issued a proclamation temporarily renaming the city’s Wabasha Street Bridge the “Wabasha Street Freedom to Marry Bridge.” Rainbow flags fly proudly from the bridge, and May 13-17 has been declared “Freedom to Marry” week in St. Paul.

Beginning August 1, same-sex couples will be able to marry in Minnesota.

… Illinois next?

 With the equality momentum building, which state will be next? The most likely is Illinois. On Valentine’s Day, the Illinois Senate passed a marriage equality bill. Since then, equality advocates have been working with the Illinois House to secure the 60 votes necessary to pass a bill there. Backers say they are close, and Governor Pat Quinn reiterated his support for equality this past weekend, urging lawmakers to get a bill to his desk before their spring legislative session wraps up at the end of May.

Said Governor Quinn, “It's time to vote. Illinois passing marriage equality into law, I think, sends a great signal to the people of our state and the people of America. So it's important to Illinois (that) the House of Representatives get going.”

We hope that Illinois will become the 13th marriage equality state within the next few weeks.

 

What about DOMA and the inclusion of same-sex couples in immigration reform?

As exciting as the state equality achievements are, as long as the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is in place, the marriages of same-sex couples will continue to be excluded from federal recognition.

Among those most affected by this lack of federal recognition are binational same-sex couples. Because of DOMA, legally married gay and lesbian Americans cannot sponsor their foreign-born spouses for residency. As such, they are treated differently than married heterosexual couples. Until DOMA is found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court or repealed by Congress, binational same-sex couples will face the threat of having their families unfairly torn apart.

As the U.S. Senate considers comprehensive immigration reform, Vermont Senator and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy has proposed two amendments intended to help protect binational same-sex couples and their families.

Read Sen. Leahy’s proposed amendments here.

Find out more about the amendments and how immigration inequality has impacted one Vermont couple here.

In a video interview with Politico.com, Sen. Leahy says that discrimination is not the Vermont way: "In our state, we feel very strongly about this, that people should not be discriminated against, and I want to find a way, that couples who are married legally, when one is not an American citizen, they can have the same rights as all other couples married legally."

To share your thoughts with Sen. Leahy on the inclusion of same-sex couples in immigration reform, leave a message at his contact page.

 

VFM will keep you informed

Vermont Freedom to Marry will continue to keep you informed on state equality progress as well as on what is happening nationally, in the Supreme Court and in Congress. Federal marriage inequality is a Vermont issue.

With so much forward momentum, it’s an exciting time to stay engaged and work together toward equality for all American families.

Rhode Island makes ten!

 

It's an exciting week for marriage equality progress in the U.S.

The last few days have seen some important marriage equality progress in the U.S., and there could be more to come in the next weeks and months.

This week, Delaware’s Senate Executive Committee voted to advance a marriage equality bill to the full Senate floor. Great news!

Since, last week, the Delaware House passed their version of the bill, this means Delaware is now only one step away from the freedom to marry. The full Senate vote is scheduled for next Tuesday, a few short days from now, and it is expected to be close. Equality supporters are cautiously optimistic, and Delaware Governor Jack Markell has said he will happily sign a marriage bill if it reaches his desk.

In Colorado, civil unions went into effect May 1st at midnight. Well over 100 happy couples lined up and were issued licenses. This is a big step forward for Colorado, one supporters worked very hard to achieve. While the push for marriage equality will continue, civil unions will enable same-sex couples in Colorado to have crucial protections for their families right now.

Illinois and Minnesota still have bills in the works for this session. The Illinois Senate passed an equality bill in February, and Governor Pat Quinn believes they are within striking distance of a successful House vote. Stay tuned for news from those states.

Last but far from least, on Thursday, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee signed marriage equality into law in Rhode Island!

Speaking to jubilant supporters who were there to watch the historic bill signing, Governor Chafee said, "I know you have been waiting for this day to come. … But I am proud to say, now, at long last, you are free to marry the person you love."

Rhode Island becomes the tenth equality state in the nation, and since it was the last state in New England without the freedom to marry, New England will now be an all-equality region. Rhode Island same-sex couples can obtain marriages licenses beginning August 1.

With two milestone marriage equality cases awaiting a Supreme Court decision, and with this encouraging forward momentum in the states, there is cause to be hopeful that 2013 will be a benchmark year in the fight for the full freedom to marry for all Americans.

As Governor Chafee wrote earlier this week in an op-ed for the New York Times, “Why I Am Signing Marriage Equality Into Law”:

The push for equality will continue to grow stronger in statehouses, courthouses and polling places in every state in America. … As this shift continues, marriage equality will inevitably become law in more and more states. The states that cling to their old prohibitions will then be viewed as the outliers. Like Rhode Island in recent years, they will be seen as islands of old thinking.

May the shift toward justice continue.

The 15th Annual RU12? Dinner is Coming Right Up!

Celebrate 15 Years of LGBTQ community diversity and equality progress at the annual RU12? Community Center Dinner. It is RU12?'s signature event, bringing together community members and allies from across Vermont for a fabulous evening of dinner and entertainment. The night also supports RU12?'s health and human rights programs, social and educational events.

This year's celebration is an Emerald City Extravaganza that includes dinner, a live and silent auction with over 100 auction items, an awards presentation, followed by performances, including a collection of cabaret favorites from broadway and television star, Eric Millegan.

It's a great way to meet up with old friends and new, have fun, and recognize LGBTQ community leadership and achievement.

• When: Saturday, May 4th, starting at 5:00 pm
• Where: Emerald Ballroom, Sheraton Burlington Hotel & Conference Center, 870 Williston Road

For more information and to get your tickets, click here.