Leave it to Seaver » Vermont

Dean’s Progress on Marriage Equality

dcnick — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:53:53 +0000

Ben Smith raises a really good point showing the progress of gay rights as seen in Howard Dean’s career.

Here’s a marker of the warp-speed change in the politics of same-sex marriage: Back in 2000, Howard Dean was a gay rights hero for signing a civil union measure — forced on him by the courts — into law.

The gay financial support that flowed to him early helped light a fire under his longshot campaign in 2003 and 2004.

Four years later, civil unions are the fallback for the center-right, and Vermont is considering same-sex marriage, and Dean was campaigning for it in Burlington last weekend.

Why Marriage Equality Matters

dcnick — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:53:35 +0000

Following up on my previous post, I wanted to share a video that shows what I think to be the real reason marriage equality is so important. Yes, the benefits for loving couples is essential. But it’s the message that it sends to young people that really matters. As much measurable impact as marriage equality will have in the lives of individuals , the tone it sets in society is immeasurable.

I can’t imagine that anyone who watches this debate will forget the courage of James Neiley.

H/T Towleroad

The States of Marriage Equality Part 2

dcnick — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:19:50 +0000

After an busy week for marriage equality in Vermont where the State Senate passed gay marriage legislation. The bill still has to pass the house, but Gov.Douglas said he will veto the bill if it comes before him. If Douglas does go through with his promise, he can still be overridden with a two-thirds vote in favor in both house of the legislature. I’m not sure what sort of majority supports the legislation in light the Senate, because it was passed by a voice vote without a debate.

The States of Marriage Equality

dcnick — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:37:13 +0000

Most people know that legal challenges to Prop 8 were heard in California last week, but there are several other states that are dealing with the issue of marriage equality as well.

In Maine, the Associated Press is reporting that there seems to be a surprising amount of support for marriage equality in the State Legislature.

The author of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine says more than 60 legislators from both parties have signed on as co-sponsors.

Democratic Sen. Dennis Damon of Trenton said those lining up in support of his bill include representatives from Maine’s smallest towns and its largest cities.

He said many legislators sought to have their names associated with the bill, prompting leadership to open it up to unlimited sponsorship. Normally, no more than 10 lawmakers can be listed as co-sponsors of a bill.

In Vermont, lawmakers have pledged to make marriage equality a priority, and expect it to pass. Gov. Douglas has not indicated if he would veto legislation (having said he thinks it’s unneccessary and stated his opposition, citing more pressing problems).

In Minnesota, a bill to legalize same sex marriage has been submitted and sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee. In a move clearly meant to undercut one of the more effective lines of attack in the Prop 8 battle (the fear that children will some how be taught to be gay in school), the Minnesota Star Tribune reports that:

“In an apparent attempt to soften some opposition, the new bill states that nothing in it “mean[s] the state of Minnesota condones homosexuality or bisexuality or any equivalent lifestyle,” or allows it to be promoted as such in the state’s public schools.”