Hopefully not, but here’s what WCAX-TV News had to report about the matter.
Will Vermont Allow Same-Sex Marriage?
By Bianca Slota
It has been nine years since Vermont lawmakers and residents were embroiled in a bitter battle over civil unions. In the meantime two states -- Massachusetts and Connecticut -- have granted same-sex couples the right to marry. New Jersey and New Hampshire started offering civil unions, and California performed same-sex marriages until voters passed Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage, on November 4, 2008.
Now Vermont could be on the cusp of becoming the next state to grant same-sex couples the right to marry. Senator John Campbell, D-Quechee, has introduced a bill that would do just that. It also grants religious institutions the right to deny performing the marriages.
"I believe very strongly that the people of Vermont do support equality for all people," says Campbell.
For the Senator this bill is a personal matter. He introduced a similar bill last legislative session. It led to the creation of the Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection, a group tasked with holding hearings across the state and creating a report for lawmakers on whether the public supports gay marriage and whether it is needed. After hearing testimony at the commission's public hearings, Campbell says he became convinced the state needs to take the next step to granting full marriage rights to same-sex couples.
Campbell's hope is that the bill would pass during the first half of the legislative biennium. He says support in the Senate is strong and believes he has support in the House as well. He's also getting help from gay marriage advocates who say they will work hard to make sure the bill passes.
Related Links:
Will Vermont Allow Same-Sex “Marriage?”
Vermont: Call to Defend Traditional Marriage
New Vermont Group to Oppose Gay Marriage
LetVermontVote.org
Vermont Marriage Advisory Council
