Political Update

It's time for our leaders to understand that justice has been too long delayed.

The week before Thanksgiving, Windsor Senator John Campbell announced his intentions to reintroduce and push a civil marriage bill in 2009. Governor Douglas reiterated his opposition, stopping short of saying he would veto a bill. Some legislators have indicated to the press that they are not sure whether this will be a priority in 2009, and some have questioned whether the Legislature can address our civil rights and deal with the economic challenges in the same session. What to make of it all?

• First, remember it’s still early. The legislative session begins in January. These conversations are just starting, and it would be a mistake to read too much into the machinations of any one news cycle.
• Keep in mind that legislation starts in the Legislature. We need our legislators to be leaders on this critical civil rights issue. It’s up to them to lead by passing a bill to give Governor Douglas the opportunity to do the right thing.
• Don’t forget that our Legislature works through committees, and can juggle dozens of balls at once. The House and Senate “money committees” will focus their energies on the critical economic and financial issues facing this state. The marriage bill will likely be referred the judiciary committees. There’s no tension between the Legislature’s attention to critical economic issues and its effort to ensure that all Vermonters are treated fairly. That argument is a smokescreen.
• Plus, the Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection has worked hard over the past year, taking testimony from hundreds of Vermonters and publishing a thoughtful and thorough report. The judiciary committees don’t need to get bogged down; the Commission has done much of the work.
• And remember, eliminating the discrimination in marriage won’t cost the State a penny, will give our businesses a competitive advantage, and will help buttress our tourism industry.

Martin Luther King’s celebrated plea to white moderates to move beyond their rhetorical support for civil rights into the realm of action echoes in our ears today:

“For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait!’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’ We must come to see . . . that ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied.’”

Now is the time to make sure our own leaders understand that justice has been too long delayed, and it’s time for Vermont to embrace full civil rights for its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens and our families.

Go to our Take Action page to find out how you can help!

Fifty-eight percent of Vermonters support Equality!!

A Macro International poll released in October 2008 demonstrates that 58% of Vermonters support legal marriage for same-sex couples, while only 39% either oppose legal marriage for same-sex couples or are leaning that direction.  This poll reflects that marriage equality for same-sex couples is no longer a divisive issue in the state and that Vermonters want to treat their gay and lesbian neighbors fairly and equally. (Download PDF of poll.)

Contact your legislators today! Email Gov. Jim Douglas and your local legislators to let them know that you support marriage equality and to encourage them to vote YES on the anticipated marriage equality bill in 2009.

Hearings Held in Vermont from August 2007 to April 2008 Demonstrates Support for Marriage Equality

House Speaker Gaye Symington and Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin launched the Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection to study same-sex marriage in Vermont. The Commission consisted of 11 volunteer members and was chaired by Tom Little of Shelburne, an attorney and a former member of the Vermont House.  The Commission held eight public hearings around the state to provide Vermonters the opportunity to have their say on whether Vermont should continue to deny same-sex couples the right to marry.

Testimony in support of marriage rights for same-sex couples outweighed the opposition 20 to 1. Download the Commission's final report issued in April 2008 Download commission_pdf.

2007 Doyle Poll Reflects that Vermonters are ready for Marriage Equality!

The 2007 Doyle Poll demonstrates that Vermonters support marriage rights for same-sex couples. Nearly 7,000 Vermonters across the state took the Doyle Poll on Town Meeting Day and 54% support same-sex marriage, while only 37% oppose it.

Read WPTZ's news coverage of the Doyle Poll.

Another 2007 Poll Demonstrates that Vermonters support Marriage Equality!

A poll released in March of 2008   by ORC Macro demonstrates that support for marriage equality out paces the opposition by a 20-point margin.  Vermonters support for equal rights continues to grow.