Vermont closer to legalizing gay marriage
Nine years after becoming the first state to permit civil unions, Vermont moved a step toward legalizing gay marriage Friday.
A bill that would allow same-sex unions was introduced in the Legislature, causing a crowd of about several hundred supporters to gather at the Statehouse in celebration.
“This really is a great day and a part of moving forward to a time when all Vermont couples will be treated equally under our laws,” said a sponsor, Rep. Mark Larson.
A similar bill is expected to be introduced later in the state Senate.
The House legislation has 59 sponsors, none of them Republican, though some GOP lawmakers have said they’ll vote for the bill, Larson said.
“I know that there’s broad support in the House,” he said.
Despite the enthusiasm, it’s unclear if the measure will see any action this session, with lawmakers preoccupied with the state’s fiscal crisis that has led to voluntary pay cuts, court closings and Gov. Jim Douglas’s proposal to lay off more than 600 state workers.
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Lawmakers to introduce gay marriage bill
Two Vermont House members are introducing legislation to move Vermont from civil unions to full marriage for same-sex couples.
Reps. Mark Larson, a Democrat, and David Zuckerman, a Progressive, both from Burlington, plan a Friday news conference to detail their proposal.
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Fox44 News - Colchester,Vermont,USA
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