DUXBURY, Vermont, Sept. 1, 2009
Same-Sex Marriages Begin in Vermont
Green Mountain State Becomes 5th in the U.S. To Wed Same-Sex Couples
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Bill Slimback, left, and Bob Sullivan, both of Whitehall, N.Y., exchange rings during their wedding ceremony at Moose Meadow Lodge in Waterbury, Vt., while Justice of the Peace Greg Trulson, center, who is a co-owner of the lodge, officiates on Sept. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Andy Duback)
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With Vermont's new law allowing same-sex marriage only a minute old, they tied the knot in a midnight ceremony at a rustic lodge, becoming one of the first couples to legally wed under a law that took effect at midnight Monday. Vermont is one of five states that now allow same-sex couples to marry. Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Iowa are the others.
Dressed in suits, saying their vows under a large wall-mounted moose head, the two Whitehall, New York, men promised their love, exchanged rings and held hands during a modest 17-minute ceremony. Moose Meadow Lodge co-owner Greg Trulson, who's also a Justice of the Peace, presided.
"It feels wonderful," said Slimback, 38, an out-of-work Teamster who is taking Sullivan's last name as his own. "It's a day I've been long waiting for, and a day I truly honestly thought would never come."
Slimback said he and Sullivan, 41, have long wanted to cement their relationship with a wedding, but since they couldn't legally marry in New York they chose to wed even before Vermont's gay marriage era officially dawned.
Vermont, which invented civil unions in 2000 after a same-sex couple challenged the inequality of state marriage statutes, was a mecca for gay couples who to that point had no way to officially recognize their relationships.
Since then, other states have allowed gay marriage, as did Vermont, which in April became the first state to legalize gay marriage through a legislative decree and not a court case.
Some couples - including many who obtained civil unions in Vermont - plan to return to the state to get married. But most are in no rush. City and town officials say only a handful of licenses had been issued to same-sex couples in anticipation of Tuesday's start.
"We've waited a long time to do this - basically, our whole lives," Slimback said Monday. "We've been waiting for a chance to actually solidify it," he said. He and Sullivan said they never wanted to obtain a civil union because they believe that's a kind of second-class recognition.
Westboro Baptist Church, an anti-gay group that claims U.S. combat deaths are God's punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality, planned to picket Tuesday in Montpelier, Vermont's capital.
© MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 57 Comments
- HOORAY!!! FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE A UNION OF TWO PEOPLE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS BEING LEGAL REGARDLESS OF GENDERS. It's going to take time for the idea to settle in but acceptance is inevitable. Next step? That gays will be allowed to adopt. You must fight for what you believe in. Don't back down and hold your heads up high. Congratulations to those who have taken advantage of the permissions granted by the state of Vermont!
HOLIDAYKEYWEST.COM - Reply to this comment
- America is doomed...
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- dumb-----Why don't you try not acting on your "urge" and see how you like it?
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- God help us all. Just because you hvae the urge doesn't mean you should act upon it.
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- Illuminated---No,I am a straight grandfather,married to the same woman for 40 years.I am simply not a bigot.Your message is sick and twisted.No god worth having would be so petty.It is to your discredit that you would believe such garbage......and that is why you are not illuminated.
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- by DaVicar5 September 1, 2009 3:19 PM EDT
by cs4466 "Actually I'm cheering on Vermont. Flaming is something else entirely."
Why would you cheer Vermont? They obviously are living their lives contrarty to what the rest of the Country deems normal?
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lol ... you said normal. Contrary to the country's subjective perspective of normal, like you really care? - Reply to this comment
- Da vicar---You are correct,you would be on the ride----lol
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- Illuminated---If there was ever an ill-fitting nickname, it is yours.
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- daffy----Absolutely correct,but these yahoos wouldn't understand the way our government works in a thousand lifetimes.They know that it is inevitable that gay marriage is allowed nationwide and they can't stand it.I just love their anguish over this----lol
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- Now my real feelings about gay marriage....
I am against it.
The title married, marriage etc...have been acknowledged to be between men and women.
Domestic partnership should be enough to cover all the needs homosexuals need for complete legal status.
If homosexuals want a plaque to hang showning legality between themselves then get a domestic partnership license delcaring legitimacy as marriage.
I know the homosexuals don't want to accept this, but they must as society dictates or be cast as second class.
My real worries are now, if gay men marry, what will happen to the homos in jail wanting their civil rights.
They are going to want to marry.....
Then there is the military.........The term friendly fire will take on new meaning....lol - Reply to this comment
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- In case you haven't read the law, you need a license to get married.
My interpretation of it is not as important as the courts and especially what the people say it is. In California, it was voted no 2 times.....I say the people have spoken, and it is the homos that wont accept what society has said is legal.
- In case you haven't read the law, you need a license to get married.
- Where I stand on gay marriage.
Out of the way...............lol - Reply to this comment
- by daffy64 September 1, 2009 1:36 PM EDT
NOTHING???? Excuse me? Parents being fined because they wanted to opt their kids out of gay-sex education? Young teens being taught about 'fisting'? Adoption agencies closing because they can't guarantee that the children whose lives they are impacting won't be worsened by having to be placed with gay couples? That is NOT nothing. And, the folks in Iowa are already planning to adopt a constitutional amendment to define marriage as being between one man and one woman as soon as their law allows. This is NOT Nothing! This was a horrific mistake, and one I hope the state of Vermont knows they can remedy like Maine and California did.
Daffy64...Your screen name says it all, you are daffy. - Reply to this comment
- Thanks libs, this is another great idea.
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- What is a "Lib" to you? I've heard you use that term a lot and I don't think you have a clue what it means. I am a Liberal as was my father before me and I have yet to hear ONE of you present my position properly on ANY subject. I have also, noticed that your misrepresentation on what and so many like me stand for is your ONLY opinion. If you don't wise up the Train is going to leave you so far behind no one will notice you anymore.
- "by DaVicar5
Do you claim to know a Christian from one who is not? "
Sure! A Christian would act as Christ did.
Christ wouldn't care if you were gay or not. The Bible might, but Christ wouldn't.
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- I wonder what the voters of Vermont really think about this. I'm sure everyone knows they'll have the chance to repeal this horrible law soon. Just be more careful about whom you vote for next election. Make sure they're ready to repeal this law immediately, or that they are fully prepared to amend the state constitution to define marriage as only being between one man and one woman. You don't have to put up with this. Gay marriage will be repealed in Maine shortly, in New Hampshire as soon as possible after the next election, in Iowa as soon as their laws allow their constitution to be changed. Gay marriage is actually losing ground, in case no one had noticed. My guess is that this was truly NOT want Vermont voters wanted and that they will show their disgust at the polls in the next election. Remember, quit voting for people who think it's okay to totally misrepresent you on issues like this! Don't let them lie to you again and tell you they haven't made up their minds or that they aren't sure about a constitutional amendment. Hold their feet to the fire! Get rid of those who don't support your true, deeply held values, and use every dollar and every moment you have to support and see elected those who do. I wouldn't vote for ANY candidate who wouldn't support a constitutional amendment to define marriage as being between one man and one woman or at least make it their hightest priority to repeal this law.
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- Ahh, for those wanting to hear from the religion nuts, one just showed up. LOL. This one actually think that "gay marriage is losing ground". LOL Talk about denying reality, this one doesn't even need drugs - he hallucinates spontaneously!
- If the religious nuts are truly concerned about the sanctity of marriage why are so many of them divorced. One divorce especially when children are involved does more harm to society than all of the gay marriages put together.
- Where are the religious right? this type of article usually has them screaming the world is ending
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- A reference to the Flying Spaghetti Monster and "I think Mooseheads are considered religious symbols in Alaska" gave me my "guffaws" for the day. Thanks, guys!
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- Virginia should be next. All those "Deliverance" boys should be able to marry the men they kidnap. Especially if they look like Burt!!
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- I am a straight man who is so happy that this news is going to make the religious freaks upset.It makes me laugh!
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- "by DaVicar5
we will continue to fight for your right to live in a morally clean Country, so that you can raise your kids normal."
Vic - "morally clean" based on whose principles?
You've said in the past that your objection is based on your religious beliefs - your blind and unquestioning adherence to dogma is immoral in my eyes.
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- "by DaVicar5
- Oh no, now the same thing that happened in Massachuttes will happen in Vermont!!!
NOTHING! - Reply to this comment
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- NOTHING???? Excuse me? Parents being fined because they wanted to opt their kids out of gay-sex education? Young teens being taught about 'fisting'? Adoption agencies closing because they can't guarantee that the children whose lives they are impacting won't be worsened by having to be placed with gay couples? That is NOT nothing. And, the folks in Iowa are already planning to adopt a constitutional amendment to define marriage as being between one man and one woman as soon as their law allows. This is NOT Nothing! This was a horrific mistake, and one I hope the state of Vermont knows they can remedy like Maine and California did.
- klgrube1, do you folks REALLY think people actually BELIEVE you anymore? We have a gay couple that live next door to us, have for over 20 years. Two of the finest neighbors we've ever had. Now down the Block, we have a couple of Bible Thumpers! Talk about TROUBLE? Constantly trying to force their religion on everyone and their Kids? They are forced to go to Sunday School every week and they are terror's the rest of the time.
- "by DaVicar5
Gaymosexuals are judged by the lifestyle they choose, not by the way they were born (which is normal). "
I don't see anyone other than Thumpers judging them, and Thumpers are supposed to have been taught of the perils of judging.
And it's not a choice for them, any more than heterosexuality is a choice for you and me.
- "...saying their vows under a large wall-mounted moose head..."
Come on CBS - this is quality journalism? What does this line have to do with the subject? - Reply to this comment
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