Vermont legalizes gay marriage with veto override

[Barack_America]

Source: AP

Vermont Legislature legalizes gay marriage by overriding governor's veto.

Updated story:

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont has become the fourth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature's vote.

The Legislature voted Tuesday to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill allowing gays and lesbians to marry. The vote was 23-5 to override in the state Senate and 100-49 to override in the House. Under Vermont law, two-thirds of each chamber had to vote for override.

The vote came nine years after Vermont adopted its first-in-the-nation civil unions law.

It's now the fourth state to permit same-sex marriage. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa are the others. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hesb4aHbI1j_7LkIVzStq6u_hqbgD97DMT400

---

Developing...


ETA: Updated story and title (originally there was no official title, it was just an "AP News Alert".

[Barack_America]

1. Edit. NOT a dupe.

The Vermont House apparently just overrode the veto.

Wow. "Developing" news is crazy!

[Mass]

55. Congratulation to Vermont, the first state to establish gay marriage by a law.

[Barack_America]

71. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Vermont gets the prize!

:D

[roughsatori]

103. I did not grasp the full importance until I read "first state to establish gay marriage by a law."

Thank you very much.

[babylonsister]

2. Yay! Excellent news! nt

[happygoluckytoyou]

113. LAST TERM FOR THIS USELESS GOV ! ! !

[Barack_America]

3. Other threads showing how this story unfolded.

Which involved the legislature passing the measure, the Gov. vetoing the measure and now the legislature overriding the veto.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3814387

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3819721

[Spazito]

4. Wow, that is great news!

I read posts from Vermont DUers that it would be a squeaker, I am so glad they were able to garner the needed votes to override the repub Governor!

Recommended.

[Beetwasher]

5. Cool!!! Way To Go VT!!

:thumbsup:

[Barack_America]

9. Let's celebrate with some Ben & Jerry's!!

;)

[awoke_in_2003]

72. I got

some Cherry Garcia in the freezer.

[customerserviceguy]

135. You use Ben and Jerry's

I'll use Wolaver's certified organic ale from Otter Creek Brewing in Middlebury, VT!

[No Elephants]

6. Does my heart good. Vermont is very cool in many ways.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. What wonderful news!!

[tandot]

8. Fantastic News! Yeah!!!

:toast:

[bullwinkle428]

10. Joining Iowa to make it two states within the course of a week!!

:party:

[progressoid]

48. They're stealing our lime-light!!

Congrats Vermont! :toast:

Hope it spreads to some more states soon.

[xchrom]

11. recommend

:applause: :woohoo: :applause:

[Twinguard]

12. Hooray for Vermont!

Well done, Vermonters!

I'm not keeping score, but how many states now have legal gay marriage?


Edited for grammar, and then edited again for spelling. I need some coffee.

[TommyO]

15. Four, five if you count the 18,000 marriages in California

which are legal and aren't going away.

There is a likelihood that more states will join with those that have marriage equality. Come on New Jersey, come on New Hampshire!

[Twinguard]

19. Excellent.

It's not a huge number, but you have to start somewhere. Thanks for the info.

Way to go Vermont!

[greeneyedboy]

76. the more encouraging news...

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/04/will-iowans-uphold-gay-marriage.html">Nate Silver of 538.com estimates that by 2012, more than half of the states in the U.S. would reject anti-marriage laws and amendments, and even Mississippi would do so by 2024.

[Bluenorthwest]

13. Soon the anti-marriage crowd

will be down to Dobson, McClurkin, Obama and Kaine. The country says 'we are all Americans' while those backward thinkers claim some of us are not worthy of equality.

[swimboy]

14. And it's not "the judiciary legislating from the bench"

It's legislators legislating from the legislature!

Good on them!

[TommyO]

16. No, but you know they'll be accused of ignoring their constituency

by the right-wing haters.

[swimboy]

86. We will hear that those elected are not representing the people

and that the only way to effect this change is through direct referendum.

Those unhappy people must be starting to get a clue that they are on the losing side, however.

[cali]

120. that'll be hard, considering that acording to a poll in January

Vermonters strongly support marriage equality.

[Barack_America]

43. Absolutely. This is such an important point.

It's giving me a :wow: moment!

[Rhythm]

17. A sweet, sweet victory for equality

:woohoo:

[bigwillq]

18. Awesome!

Great news! :bounce: :toast:

[Zenlitened]

20. Sweeeeeet!!!!

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[Bleacher Creature]

21. Holy crap. Getting 2/3rds of a chamber is tough on any issue, let alone this one.

Very, very impressive. Vermonters should be very proud today (except when they think of their governor).

[Eric J in MN]

35. Very close. 100/149= .67 (NT)

NT

[TommyO]

39. In all honesty, I think we would have been a few votes short

on the veto if the Governor hadn't interfered with the original votes on the issue by preemptively stating that he would veto the measure. That rubbed some House members the wrong way, thankfully in our favor.

[rurallib]

123. I had read that there were over 50 solid anti-marriage votes

What happened? Douglas must have really pissed some reps off. Way to go!

[cali]

121. There have been 145 vetoes in state history and this is only the 7th override.

[2Design]

22. terrific!!!! Great day for equal rights!

[Glorfindel]

23. Hip, Hip, Hooray!!!

It's a great day for the USA!!!

:toast:

[Soylent Brice]

24. YES!!!!!!!!! that's friggin SWEEEET!!!

the tide is slowly turning folks.

[democrank]

25. Wonderful news, wonderful state.

~PEACE~

[cliffordu]

26. Two in two days.

Fucking awesome!!!!!

:bounce:

[sutz12]

27. Thank you Vermont!

Just one more nail in the coffin of the idea that somehow the religious whackos are the "majority" in this country, and that they have the right to force their jaded, dysfunctional "morality" on the rest of us.

Render unto Ceasar and all that....

[pinto]

28. kick

:kick:

[Barack_America]

33. Thanks. Just so you know, I updated the post with the full story and new title.

Because there was no official title to begin with. After that story today about AP suing sites reposting their stories (like Google), I wanted to make sure to title and quote the story accurately.

Please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to change.

Thanks.

[HereSince1628]

29. Will the victories of Iowa and Vermont be durable?

As we saw in California, the opposition never rests nor assumes there is a law that they cannot change.

[feslen]

34. re: all right!

this puts smiles to my face.

Way to go vermont!!

hopefully California will overturn that ignorant proposition....but, one step at a time!

today is a good day to live!

[TommyO]

42. California has a ridiculously easy amendment process, too easy

Iowa has a much more difficult to amend Constitution, and Vermont's is even tougher:

Section 72 details how the Constitution can be amended. The process can be quite lengthy. Starting in 1975, and every four years thereafter, the Senate can propose an amendment, by two-thirds vote. The House of Representatives must concur with a majority vote. The amendment must be held over until the next session of the General Assembly (following elections). In that session, a majority of both the House and Senate must reapprove the amendment. Following that, the amendment must be put to the voters, and upon a majority vote of the voters, the amendment will become a part of the Constitution. Amendments may only be proposed by legislatures convening in the following years: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and every four years thereafter.

The earliest possible action in Vermont would be in 2011, and I don't think they'll get the 2/3rds concurrence in the Senate which easily passed marriage equality this year.

[HereSince1628]

59. Sounds good.

[cecilfirefox]

81. This means it's here to stay. Connecticut, Vermont, and Massachusets will have same sex marriage.

Even if the SCOTUS rules that same sex marriage is not a 14th amendment right(An opinion we all disagree with) that would still not invalidate the state rulings or state law. This means that short of a federal amendment for as long as this nation is still thriving Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts will have equal marriage rights.

The times they are-a changing....

I wonder what the freepers are saying. I'd look but I seriously refuse to go to that site. ^_^

[cali]

122. the victory in VT is completely durable. The majority here

support it. it's a done deal. And in CA, they couldn't override the gov's veto.

[Oak2004]

151. Vermont has A) a difficult referendum process and

even in the highly unlikely event that the Legislature thought it would like to drag this issue out even further and decided to put it on the ballot B) there would be a good chance that the referendum would fail. After all these years of civil unions (the right wing claiming they'd be the end of marriage and the state would become the new Sodom and all, none of which, of course, occurred), many Vermonters who would normally not be counted among supporters of equal rights just don't care enough about the issue anymore.

Whooopeee!!!!!

[Eric J in MN]

30. Gov. Howard Dean became less popular after he implemented a court order for civil unions.

Things are changing fast in this area.

[BanzaiBonnie]

31. This is good news

We just watched "Milk" and now only thirty years later...


Yes, we want equality now. But historically, social change is usually a slow process.

[customerserviceguy]

136. What a powerful film

"Milk" was one of the very best films of last year, the message was deep and enduring, it was what we needed until we got to this week!

[davsand]

32. Finally! So nice to see good news here in LBN!

Seems like it has been too long since I opened this forum and found completely positive news.

:woohoo:


I will celebrate today but look to the next state tomorrow.


Laura

[tomm2thumbs]

36. WOW!!!!!!!!

I guess that override is going to quell any idea of thoughts of going back to the old days. Congrats Vermont

[Oak2004]

153. I am so proud of my state

Now we need to "override" that damned governor and get someone more in keeping with our values.

[Deep13]

37. Awright you 46 other states, you're letting these 4 get wa-a-ay in from of you!

Time to step up and join the 21st century!

[kid a]

38. Hopefully this trickle will develop into a flood of states seeing the light.

:)

[soleft]

40. Wow, they did it!!!!! This is great!

Iowa, Vermont - awesome! Come on NY/NJ

[KamaAina]

94. CT already on board

the "Tri" in the Tri-State Area. It is now possible to drive U.S. Route 7 all the way from Norwalk on Long Island Sound to the Canadian border and stay bigotry-free! Also, since MA still has the damnable segregation-era residency law, CT is the only equality state that couples could move to and commute to a major metro area (much of southwestern CT enjoys an easier commute to NYC than your own!)

[TommyO]

112. Massachusetts' residency requirement was repealed last July

[KamaAina]

115. Yay! I never did understand that one

since Mass. always had free blacks (e.g. Crispus Attucks) and was a leader in the abolitionist movement.

[Rockholm]

138. The 1913 law was stuck down. Back out in front, we are Massachusetts.

[slay]

41. Best news I've heard all day!

I may not be gay, but I recognize equality in human rights, love, and compassion when I see it! Congrats Vermont - hopefully more will follow soon! :grouphug:

[joanmj]

46. Yeah!

Indeed great news!:bounce:

[swimmernsecretsea]

44. Yeah, Baby! That's what I'm talkin bout

Now, can we get California on board?

[DrZeeLit]

45. Hoooooray for my state! This is TERRIFIC! I think I'd like to run for Justice of the Peace!

I'm very pleased that all the emails and phone calls to reps won the day!

It's good to be a Vermonter!

(now.... if only Spring would... Spring)

[Barack_America]

79. You totally should.

I have a feeling that there is going to be an influx of people looking to get married, both gay and straight. Vermont might get overwhelmed, lol.

[FraDon]

98. Go for it ! • My daughter's a new JP in Burlington ...

and this summer will officiate at her third wedding,
that of her brother / my son ••• woohoo.

Proud of our Vermont Legislators this fine day!

[Jefferson23]

47. Is this great or what, Congratulations Vermont !!!!!!!!!!!

:toast: :party: :fistbump: :yourock:

[Richd506]

49. Good Job Vermont!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[debbierlus]

50. Yeah Vermont!

About time!

[t0dd]

51. DAMN THOSE ACTIVIST, LIBERAL... UH.. ELECTED LEGISLATURES!?!?!

Hahah, I hope the right wing still supports their exercise of discretion!!!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

52. Since this was done by the legislature and not the courts,

the decision will have the FULL approval of conservatives.

[I Have A Dream]

53. Wonderful, wonderful news!

:)

K&R!

[MellowDem]

54. 2 states within one week!

Yea! :)

[Theobald]

56. This is the way it should be done

Every state should have civil union and/or marriage rights for same sex couples, but I do think that in some cases the judiciary has overstepped its bounds to legalize same sex unions. With the legislative process there is no question as to the legitimacy of the law.

[RDANGELO]

57. Another example of how America is moving culturally left. n/t

[Maat]

58. I rejoice; however, as a Californian, I hate this way of putting it.

Vermont is the FIFTH state to legalize it. California was in there; we legalized it. It's just that the bad guys got a state constitutional amendment in there, and it's no longer legalized.

We will get rid of Prop. 8 - soon!

[ronnykmarshall]

61. I'm hoping the Cal Supremes will see the light.

But I'm not going to hold my breath.

[Maat]

140. Ditto - I'm ready for a ballot fight (n/t).

[ronnykmarshall]

60. Great news AGAIN !!!

Iowa and now Vermont!!!

Fantastic!

[Veruca Salt]

62. YES!!!

GO VERMONT!! :woohoo: :applause: :yourock:

[Kajsa]

63. Excellent, Excellent news!

Iowa last week and now Vermont!

Way to go Vermont!

:applause:

The change is coming, hop on board
or get the hell out of the way!

:D :woohoo:

[SurfingScientist]

64. WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

:party: :toast:

GO EAST COAST!!!

Up yours, Douglas!!! :kick:

[Barack_America]

77. Nice smilies!

;)

[skygazer]

65. Thank you Vermont!

I love my home state! :cry:

[Barack_America]

70. Absolutely. But it's causing a bit of a conundrum for me.

My fiance and I are getting married this year and our family is in the Detroit area. Michigan has, however, passed one of those disgusting gay marriage bans. I don't want my marriage being certified by such a state. So we may just have to go to Vermont and elope instead.

Hmmm...

[hangman86]

66. Half of New England has now legalized gay marriage!

Got love this territory.:toast:

[gorbal]

126. We can change the name to "New Gay Land"

Or maybe "Fairyland" since Maine has this "fairy houses" fetish.

[bread_and_roses]

67. Oh ALL RIGHT! YES! Great news! (n/t)

[leastcmplicated]

68. YAY!!!!!

Georgia's not too far behind! :rofl:

[greeneyedboy]

80. Nate Silver estimates 2019 for GA. :-)

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/04/will-iowans-uphold-gay-marriage.html

[Barack_America]

84. 2024 for Mississippi, I see.

Thanks for that link. It's interesting.

[leastcmplicated]

111. Interesting!

so only 10 yrs behind half of the USA... not bad! Lets hope he was a little too conservative with those estimations :)

[Politicub]

69. Fantastic news! Go Vermont!

[droidamus2]

73. fantastic!

Not gay but I moved to Vermont (from California) 3 years ago and it makes me damn proud of my adopted state. Now if they could just get the courts in California to override Prop. 8.

[LynneSin]

74. It still freaks me out that IOWA is in the same progressive list as CT, MA and VT

And it gives me hope that the rest of the country will eventually come around. If Iowa can do it then so can the rest of the country.

[lisa58]

75. Way to Go Vermont!

[cecilfirefox]

78. I'm so happy! Yay! But how does the ballt process work there?

Do they have to go through the legislature? Or just collect signatures all willy-nilly and throw whatever to a vote??

[cali]

124. it won't happen. The strong majority of Vermonters support marriage equality.

[Fire1]

82. Out Freakin Standing!!!!

[LeftHander]

83. AWESOME!! ...but 2/3rds is not a mandate to the GOP.....

They will keep introducing legislation to find some way of keeping LGBT people down.

[Barack_America]

85. Unless it's in their favor.

They will certainly try to do what you said, but I think they're beginning to realize that this is an uphill battle. This only makes them more desperate, however, as their time to impose their views on us is limited.

[cali]

125. nope, not here they won't.

there are only a handful of wingnuts among the repugs in our state legislature. sure, most of the repugs weren't going to vote for it, but I can only think of a handful who strongly oppose it.

[graywarrior]

87. Awesome!

[Barack_America]

88. VIDEO link.

http://www.wptz.com/video/19117148/index.html

See how history unfolded.

Warning, it is long. The voting begins about halfway through. Also, the end will make you cry as you see people realize they've been granted a right that was always rightfully theirs to begin with.

[closeupready]

89. There goes Obama's second term.

:mad: :sarcasm: :rofl:

[ronnykmarshall]

90. When is Gov Asshole up for re-election?

How did that prick elected in FIRST place?

[redqueen]

104. The left split the vote. Had a Dem and an Independent / Progressive on the ballot.

At least that was the cast in his latest re-election.

[Tesha]

150. He got elected because Vermont passed Civil Unions.

There was a tremendously nasty campaign and a large Republican
backlash afterwards.

Tesha

[Betty]

91. I'm so proud to be from New England

I'm proud of my home state, MA, and proud that two other New England states are out front on this. I hope the others are not far behind.

[garybeck]

92. The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

I live in vermont and it's raining hard today. I'm sure it's because God is mad at us.

:sarcasm:

[Oak2004]

152. That's just the sprinkler system

trying to control the flames from when God destroyed us by sending fire and brimstone 'cause we adopted civil unions years ago.

Oh wait. We're still here, rated near the top in livability, and the CDC calls us one of the healthiest places to live. Our only apparent penance for that one is Douglas.

Hmmmm...

Those are the heavenly fire boats, spraying a salute as God and his new husband, Gabriel, are pronounced man and man by a Vermont Justice of the Peace :)

[redwitch]

93. Yay Vermont! Woo Hoo!

Hubby and I went to MA a month ago to witness lesbian friends marriage, it was lovely and moving. Vermont rocks! Iowa rocks! (who'd a thunk it!)
So hard to believe California and New York haven't gotten their acts together but I have a feeling it won't be long.

[John Kerry VonErich]

95. The battle isn't over, not by a long shot.

This will be ultimately challenged which the opposition will press hard that marrage is a privildge and not a right due to licencing. Thats why I always believed that marrage should be de licenced.

[Duncan Grant]

96. Wonderful news!

:party: :party: :party:

[TechBear_Seattle]

97. President Obama: Now will you address DOMA?

More and more states are legalizing full, equal marriage -- and not the Jim Crow, separate and unequal marriage substitute that you endorse. The federal law put in place by the previous Democratic president is a roadblock to equality, a road block that you have said you would help remove "eventually."

That "eventually" is fast approaching, Mr. President.

[anonymous171]

99. WOOT! nt

[GoddessOfGuinness]

100. Congrats Vermonters!

You've stepped up a rung on the evolutionary ladder! :toast:

[roughsatori]

101. A big thank you for posting and a recommend! NT

[Reeta77]

102. Congratulations Vermont!!

This is EXCELLENT news.

[No More Bushbots]

105. When will the Republicans learn that they are irrelevant?

America has been taken back by Americans.
We will do what we want, when we want to.
Get it through your head, what you want or think no longer matters.

[Vidar]

106. Way to go, Vermont!

[keepCAblue]

107. REC, REC, REC, REC.....Way to go VT! Show that lame-ass Guv the door! n/t

[Dappleganger]

108. Take THAT, Jim Douglas!

The PEOPLE have spoken and they want fair civil rights for ALL.

:headbang:

[AllyCat]

109. Way to go VT! What a concept...recognizing all kinds of people love each other

[Rebubula]

110. Good for Vermont

:bounce:

[pleah]

114. K&R

[RedCappedBandit]

116. GJ Vermont. May the rest of this damn country wake up soon..

[JerseygirlCT]

117. YES! This is so great... may it continue, and quickly! nt

[sakabatou]

118. Horrah for VT!

[BobTheSubgenius]

119. Fan-f'ing-tastic!!!!!

Welcome, Vermont, to the rest of North America! 46 to go.

[Starry Messenger]

127. Isn't it amazing?

What a wonderful year this is!

[northofdenali]

128. I was SO hoping for this!

YEEEEEEEEHAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

:toast::hug::toast::patriot::toast::hug::toast:

State by state, district by district, WE WILL WIN THIS ONE, TOO!!

[Betsy Ross]

129. G-d Bless Vermont. Overwhelmingly good news. n/t

[cboy4]

130. New England is really handing the right wing their asses on

a platter.

Well done.

:bounce:

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

131. Cool.

I hope it passes in Maine this year too!

[momdogz]

132. I LOVE MY STATE!!!!!!!!

Vermont Rocks!!!!

:party: :toast: :party: :toast: :party: :toast: :party: :toast: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[DrZeeLit]

133. YES! YES! YES! I think we need a big state party, don't you? I am soooo ready to party on this!

Aren't you proud?
I am sooooo proud to live in a state that is not only fair, but civil.
Everyone (mostly) is very political, AND nine times out of ten, even with differing views, people are courteous and civil and compassionate with each other.

Go Green Mountain State!
Rah! Rah!

[momdogz]

149. yes - very proud

and grateful that the political process is so alive in Vermont.

NOW.....lets be the first state to pass single payer healthcare legislation, even before the feds get to it!!

[and-justice-for-all]

134. Kick Ass!!! Congrats VT!!

I am sure Freeperville is awash with stupid over this and Iowa.

[defendandprotect]

137. This was wonderful news to hear today -- is our world waking up???

Great show by Vermont legislature in overriding the Repug Governor - !!!

:nuke:

[MrSlayer]

139. Excellent!

Equal rights for all is to be celebrated.

:applause:

[lonestarnot]

141. Jubilation Vermonters!

:happydance: :applause: :bravo:

[MindMatter]

142. WOOHOO!!! Actually I don't care that much about gay marriage, but

I just love to see right wing heads explode.

[ihavenobias]

143. K & R n/t

[DuaneBidoux]

144. Even after California I felt things were still going our way. Everyone else was dark but I had...

still the feeling the cultural Big-Mo was shifting our way.

Yes, I am sure it is. Can you even imagine the embarrasment factor that California will now feel? Look for Prop 8 to go next election or one more election at most.

When things looked worst for African-American civil rights we were right before the dawn. For GLBT rights I do believe we are watching the sun rise.

[HughMoran]

145. Great news!

Be nice to see more legislatures do this...

[Norrin Radd]

146. kr

[emmadoggy]

147. I'm a little late to the party...

But Congratulations, Vermont!! Welcome to the Club!!

[cali]

148. We're thrilled to join the club

And even more thrilled to be the first state to do this through the legislative process.