Time for Vermont to Legalize Gay Marriage?

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We raised this question in our cover story this week — though it was overshadowed before anyone even saw it by the sad news of Peter Freyne's death.

We thought it was a good time to talk about the issue; the day the story came out, Senator John Campbell introduced a bill in the state senate that would legalize gay marriage.

The story we published is essentially a transcript of a conversation between myself and our creative director, Don Eggert, moderated by staff writer Ken Picard. Don and I are friends, and both gay, both partnered, both former organizers in the GLBT community, but we disagree about the timing of the push for gay marriage. He's for gay marriage, and I'm... against it?

Not exactly. I'm for gay marriage, but I'm not keen on the timing of this particular effort. I wish we could put it off a few years. I decided to go forward with this conversation because I think there are a lot of people who support gay marriage who are on the fence as I am. This seemed like a good way to get everybody talking about the issue again.

Here's the story. You can also vote and let us know what you think in this online poll (the poll closes Monday at 5 p.m.) My side (I'm for gay marriage, but not right now) is losing. So maybe I'm wrong, after all.

Comments

[Michael Colby]

Of course it's time for gay marriage. It's a civil right.

But, with all due respect, Cathy, I find your argument about inconvenient "timing" to be very frustrating. Unfortunately, this is the same argument that liberals are giving to almost all of the important issues of the day. The War? Go slow. Universal health care? Not now. Alternative energy? Wait and see. And on and on it goes. It's nothing but liberal lethargy, and it's been staining (and stunting) the federal and state political agenda for decades.

Sure, it's all political, but when it comes to basic civil rights and societal justice, the time is NOW for action and remediation. The longer liberals dragged their feet over whether or not to let blacks drink from our water fountain, the more real lives were damaged.

Besides, if you'd really like to make "timing" the issue, I can't think of a better political time -- especially here in Vermont. The Dems have veto-proof majorities, not to mention eloquent advocates and sponsors of the measure in both legislative chambers. And, lest we forget, the Obama-inspired visions of change are still dancing in our heads.

There is simply no time to waste when it comes to civil rights. The time is now.

[Bill Simmon]

I agree with Michael. I actually just heard a presentation from Beth Robinson, lead attorney working with the VT Freedom to Marry folks, and she was quite convincing in her opinion that the timing is actually perfect right now. Public support in favor of true gay marriage in VT is 58% to 39% (according to Robinson's presentation), they are very organized compared to the opposition, it's in the public's mind b/c of prop 8 -- the climate is right.

I don't disagree that it is sometimes wise to put off a fight you know you can't win now, but might be able to win in the future -- particularly if losing the fight sets the larger struggle back -- but that's not the case here. I think we can win and even if we lose, it just highlights the injustice in more people's minds. Time, progress, and frankly the law are on our side.

MA and CT are on board, a few other northeastern states are poised to legalize gay marriage. VT led the way with civil unions. Let's finish the job.

[Cathy Resmer]

Thanks, guys. And I don't mean that sarcastically.

You both disagree with the position I took in this story, but you're arguing for my right to get married. Straight guys who favor gay marriage vs. lesbian who doesn't think Vermont is ready yet. Nice.

Are there more of you out there? Speak up.

[Joe]

I did surprise me to read that the timing is not right from someone in our own community. This is mainly heard from opposition in a last-ditch effort to stymie this movement now that all their other doom and gloom predictions about same-sex marriage have failed to deliver. The purpose of last year's commission was to determine if the timing was right, and support for marriage equality outweighed opposition twenty to one.

The state legislative process is set-up to tackle several issues at once, and there has been thirteen years of hard work across the state to be ready for this moment. Vermont's time has come. This is our year.

[Larry in Bennington]

What's it to you? Unless you happen to be homosexual, the legalization of marriage for gays has absolutely no impact on your life. It doesn't invalidate or impact a hetero marriage one bit. No one will put a gun to your head and force you into a gay marriage. If you're not in favor of gay marriage, then don't have one. It's as simple as that.

When compared to issues like the national deficit, Social Security, a balanced budget, health care reform, the environment, defense and our role in the world that impact and have repercussions for every single American and future generations, gay marriage barely even qualifies as an issue.

[Jess Wilson]

I certainly could not say it better...

"Cowardice asks the question - is it safe?
Vanity asks the question - is it popular?
Expediency asks the question - is it political?
But conscience asks the question - is it right?

There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, popular, or political; but because it is right."

--Martin Luther King Jr.

[Pauline]

Vermont already offers all the basic rights to the gay society of a marriage. The fight for the marriage right is not about justice or a persons basic rights. The adoption of civil union took care of those. This argument for the name 'marriage' is solely for the destruction of the nuclear family and nothing more.

[Cathy Resmer]

Sorry, Pauline, I have to disagree. My nuclear family would not be destroyed if my partner and I got married instead of civil unioned.

Yes, in the article, I argue against pursuing marriage right now, but I do believe we should legalize it eventually.

Thank you, though, for proving my point that not everyone in Vermont is ready for gay marriage. Sigh.

[Michael Colby]

Oh Pauline, let's look at some facts regarding what you call the "destruction of the nuclear family." Well, the current divorce rate for first time marriages among only those who are currently allowed such a government-sanctioned privilege (read: heterosexuals) is nearly 50%. For those heterosexual folks who go onto a second government-sanctioned marriage, the divorce rate jumps to 60%. And, if you've got the hetero-green-light from Uncle Sam for a third shot at it, the divorce rate jumps to nearly 75%.

So, please, tell me more about the great institution that we, heterosexuals, are keeping such care of?

[Peter]

The fact that the Federal Govt won't recognize gay marriages, forces our hands and we must get as many states to legalize it as possible. Then we can push for a reversal in Federal regulation crap and get some real rights!

[Mike Jerald White]

Thankyou for Vermont to allow Gay Marriage. And samething with the state of New Hampshire as well too. I want to say that it make it`s easier for the State of Vermont to allow Gay Marriage because we can have the freedom to love and to marry someone. We cannot go against anyone that has the right to have gay marriage in their life. Straight marriage can go wrong in life. Straight marriage can hurt someone`s life like Women say that Men has to be tall to marry a Woman. That did not say that in the Bible. It really said one man and one woman to marry. So we need to aband straight marriage because it can hurt the others very bad and we don`t want that to happen. I know a man name Joe Haley. I know him since i worked at the Market Basket store in the state of New Hampshire. I love him and he loves me. Please get our Vermont people to help the state of New Hampshire people to have gay marriage please.

[Joe Richard Haley]

We need to have our lifes together because we need to know if we care about someone in our minds. I do love Mike White very much as much as i love Vermont.