On Tuesday, April 7th the Vermont legislature overrode the governor’s veto of a law legalizing same sex marriage in the state. The Progressive Party’s five state representatives and one state senator all contributed in the effort to pass the original bill and override the veto.
Combined with a recent court decision legalizing gay marriage and a D.C. city council vote that recognized gay marriages from other states, the gay rights movement is said to have reached a turning point. The Progressive Party does not think that their role in reaching that point should be ignored:
In 1993, Burlington’s Progressive Mayor Peter Clavelle lost his re-election after he gave domestic partners of city employees full benefits. He came back in 1995 to win and serve another 11 years.
As the Civil Union bill took shape in the House Judiciary committee, then Progressive Representative Steve Hingtgen (a member of the committee) held firm that separate was not equal. He wasn’t successful, of course, but advocates widely credit him with making the civil union bill as strong as it could be.
When the Civil Union bill came to the House floor in 2000 then Progressive Representative Dean Corren offered an amendment to grant full marriage rights. The amendment got just 22 votes.
Since 2000, Rep. David Zuckerman has been the lead author of a marriage bill each session.
As Vermont and the nation celebrate this breakthrough we should remember that change takes endurance, determination, and stamina. Congratulations to the many many people who made this victory possible, we are proud to have been part of the movement since the beginning.
16 responses so far ↓
1 Rocky Eades // Apr 9, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Good on the Vermont Progressive Party!
2 Trent Hill // Apr 9, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Vermont Progressives have certainly played a major role in this movement.
3 Donald Raymond Lake // Apr 9, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Yeah, but they COULD HAVE HAD a sitting vice governor instead of an ‘almost’ governor.
4 Trent Hill // Apr 9, 2009 at 8:20 pm
“vice governor”? Is that like the leader of pornography?
Lt. Governor is the term you’re looking for Mr. Lake, but I am pleased you’re crafting full sentences now.
5 Ross Levin // Apr 9, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Since when is pornography a vice!?
6 Trent Hill // Apr 9, 2009 at 9:37 pm
haha. Ohk, prostitution.
7 Ross Levin // Apr 9, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Well, I guess that’s a good compromise! After all, I’m a heathen
8 Rocky Eades // Apr 9, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Since when is prostitution a vice, Trent!?!?
9 paulie // Apr 10, 2009 at 12:00 am
Extremism in the pursuit of vice is a virtue.
That’s how that saying goes, right?
10 Ross Levin // Apr 10, 2009 at 12:26 am
So trying really hard to get a good prostitute would be a mitzvah, that’s what you’re trying to say?
11 Trent Hill // Apr 10, 2009 at 1:15 am
lol. You guys are crazy.
12 paulie // Apr 10, 2009 at 1:39 pm
So trying really hard to get a good prostitute would be a mitzvah, that’s what you’re trying to say?
Think of the children.
13 paulie // Apr 11, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Can I get an Amen?
14 paulie // Apr 11, 2009 at 11:30 pm
How about a hallelujah?
15 paulie // Apr 12, 2009 at 12:59 am
Damn. Y’all’s some haters
16 paulie // Apr 12, 2009 at 1:52 am
Time to sleep it off, but I leave you with this….
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