Vermont Progressive Party helps to pass same sex marriage law

On Tuesday, April 7th the Vermont legislature overrode the governor’s veto of a law legalizing same sex marriage in the state.  The Progressive Party’s five state representatives and one state senator all contributed in the effort to pass the original bill and override the veto.

Combined with a recent court decision legalizing gay marriage and a D.C. city council vote that recognized gay marriages from other states, the gay rights movement is said to have reached a turning point.  The Progressive Party does not think that their role in reaching that point should be ignored:

In 1993, Burlington’s Progressive Mayor Peter Clavelle lost his re-election after he gave domestic partners of city employees full benefits. He came back in 1995 to win and serve another 11 years.

As the Civil Union bill took shape in the House Judiciary committee, then Progressive Representative Steve Hingtgen (a member of the committee) held firm that separate was not equal. He wasn’t successful, of course, but advocates widely credit him with making the civil union bill as strong as it could be.

When the Civil Union bill came to the House floor in 2000 then Progressive Representative Dean Corren offered an amendment to grant full marriage rights. The amendment got just 22 votes.

Since 2000, Rep. David Zuckerman has been the lead author of a marriage bill each session.

As Vermont and the nation celebrate this breakthrough we should remember that change takes endurance, determination, and stamina. Congratulations to the many many people who made this victory possible, we are proud to have been part of the movement since the beginning.