Vermont Becomes First State to Establish Marriage Equality Through Legislative Action

SOURCE: AP/Toby Talbot

Rep. Jason Lorber (D-Burlington), right, gets a hug from Stan Baker following the passage of a gay marriage bill in Montpelier, VT, April 7, 2009. Vermont becomes the first state to establish marriage equality through legislative action.

By Winnie Stachelberg | April 7, 2009

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This morning, the Vermont General Assembly overrode Governor Jim Douglas’s veto of the state’s same-sex marriage bill, making Vermont the first state to establish marriage equality through legislative action. I congratulate Vermont Freedom to Marry and all the other advocates for marriage equality in the state for their success.

Following last week’s decision by the Iowa Supreme Court that declared that state’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, today’s vote highlights the growing consensus in American public opinion in support of relationship recognition for same-sex couples. Polling last year from CNN and Newsweek showed that 44 percent of Americans support marriage equality, and 55 percent support civil unions. As time goes on, I am confident that Americans will continue to support equal marriage rights for all of us, including same-sex families.

Winnie Stachelberg is Senior Vice President for External Affairs at American Progress.