Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyApril 6th, 2009
Governor Jim Douglas has, as expected, vetoed SB 101, the marriage bill.
This legislation does not address the inequalities espoused by proponents. Regardless of whether the term marriage is applied, federal benefits will still be denied to same sex couples in Vermont. And states that do not recognize same sex marriage or civil unions will also deny state rights and responsibilities to same sex couples married in Vermont. This bill will not change that fact.
Vermont’s civil union law has afforded the same state rights, responsibilities and benefits of marriage to same sex couples. Our civil union law serves Vermont well and I would support congressional action to extend those benefits at the federal level to states that recognize same sex unions. But I believe that marriage should remain between a man and a woman.
Douglas’ message does contain a bit of good news
On such an intensely personal issue as this, all members must do as their individual conscience dictates, with the best interest of their districts in mind. It is for those reasons that I have not sought to lobby members of my own party, or asked opponents to sustain my veto.
I am annoyed with Douglas to no end for his action. But this veto message is perhaps the best we could hope for; it nearly invites the legislature to overturn his veto and makes promises of future support.
Now let’s hope that we can corral the votes needed in the House to reinstate Marriage.
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Joe in Pasadena Cali
April 6th, 2009
Regarding a “bit of good news”, Governor Douglas’ support of a congressional change on the federal is commendable.
Gov. Douglas should then be a supporter of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which would allow gay Americans to sponsor their foreign-born partners and provide a legal path to U.S. citizenship.
Workplace equality. Parenting rights. Healthcare funding. Relationship recognition. Safety from bias-motivated violence. These are among the many issues that affect the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the United States. And the federal government has the power to make changes in all these areas.
Trevor
April 6th, 2009
Impeachment proceedings immediately following veto override. He should also be arrested, charged with treason and deported to Saudi Arabia.
Timothy Kincaid
April 6th, 2009
An impeachment is a legal statement of charges similar to a criminal indictment. An unpopular veto is not grounds for impeachment. I prefer that we not hold our government process in such contempt that we would even consider such a notion.
The Lauderdale
April 6th, 2009
I think it was meant as sarcasm. (I *hope* it was meant as sarcasm…)
homer
April 6th, 2009
He’s a coward and can’t see the future. If he had signed the bill he would be viewed as a hero. Now he gets a footnote in someone’s PhD dissertation.
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