Ready to wed, part two: Vermont

Vermont passes gay-marriage bill

There's not much I can add to my thoughts on same-sex marriage after the uplifting message delivered by the Iowa Supreme Court just the other day. But I think it's important to also recognize the Vermont legislature for standing up to a governor who seems to believe that milquetoast excuses will somehow soften the blow of a gubernatorial veto on such an important piece of legislation. Dear Governor Douglas, we all realize that the battle is far from over. But now that there is a bill in place allowing same-sex couples to marry, the obstacles you say they will yet face will be weaker in the confrontation.

To the 43 states currently prohibiting gay marriage through legislation...get your heads out of your asses. To the next crop of states (New Hampshire and Maine) considering same-sex marriage bills: pass them as soon as possible!

And to everyone out there, I would like to point out one simple part of our legislative framework: our states are set up to recognize the rights of those from other states as if they live in our own, and to recognize rulings and decisions of other states as valid. That being said, it is unlawful for any state (even one with anti-same-sex marriage legislation on the books) to not recognize the lawful marriage of a same-sex couple if it was carried out according to the law in a state that allows and performs same-sex marriages. Chew on that for a bit.

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