While California may have reversed its decision to allow same-sex marriage in November, a victory has been won for sexual equality in the state of Vermont on April 7, 2009. A vote in the Legislature overturned the veto of a same-sex marriage bill by Governor Jim Douglas by 100 to 49.

This vote was prompted by the ruling in the Iowa Supreme Court that stated that not allowing same-sex marriage was against the American Constitution. There are many states that have enacted bans on same-sex marriages in last November’s general elections, including California, Arizona and Florida.

To overturn a veto in the United States by a State Legislature requires a vote ratio of 2 to 1. This means that this passed by a single vote; the overturning vote was that of Jeff Young, who changed his vote from last week to support the bill. Vermont is fourth state to allow same-sex marriage, but the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through Legislature and not the Courts. It was also the first state to legalize same-sex unions in 2000.

Most action for gay rights has been in the North and East of the United States, in the States of Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. Both New Jersey and New Hampshire have civil union laws for same-sex couples, but activists in other states say that they do not want this intermediate step, as it carries with it an undertone of equality.

 Print This   Email This