Is Vermont Ready for Gay Marriage?

Is another New England state looking to do the right thing and legalize gay marriage?

Eight years ago, Vermont became a leader in gay rights as it was the first state in the U.S. to recognize same-sex civil unions.

Earlier this year, the Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection released a report based on eight separate hearings held in the state which urges the Vermont legislature to “take seriously the difference between civil marriage and civil union,” and that “providing statutory access to marriage would be a clearer and more direct statement of full equality by the state a statement of full inclusion of its gay and lesbian residents.”

The commission who released the report was created by the Vermont legislature to assess whether Vermont residents were “ready” to offer marriage rights to same-sex couples. The Commission interviewed hundreds of Vermont residents in eight public forums. The Commission found that the majority of Vermont residents who testified at these hearings supported gay marriage.

Beth Robinson, an attorney with the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force stated:

“The commission spent a lot of time listening to what Vermonters had to say. They did all the heavy lifting and it will make the Legislature’s job that much easier. There are all sorts of reasons why [gay marriage] makes sense. Vermonters are ready to take this up.”

The next legislative session in Vermont starts soon. We’ll see if they take action on the commission’s report.