Politics

Vermont Still In Tussle Over Gay Unions

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

March 16, 2001 / 8:32 AM EST / CBS

Less than a year after Vermont approved civil unions for same-sex couples, the state House on Friday gave final approval to a bill that would explicitly outlaw gay marriage.

The measure is unlikely to become law, however, because the Senate, under Democratic control, remains hostile to it.

The current measure would not overturn the state's law allowing gay civil unions; it would define marriage - as opposed to civil unions - as between a man and a woman.

Supporters of the bill said it was needed to clearly state that marriage is not between two men or two women under Vermont law. Opponents said the civil unions law is already clear and an additional statute is unnecessary.

With no debate, the bill passed the House on a voice vote, belying the emotional, three-hour debate that the issue generated a day before during preliminary approval.

Last March, Vermont became the first state to recognize civil unions, giving gay and lesbian couples all the rights, benefits and responsibilities of marriage. The law, however, stops short of legalizing same-sex marriage.

Republicans in November captured a majority in the House for the first time in 14 years, largely on the strength of opposition to the civil unions law.

"I defeated a 10-year incumbent without knocking on a single door because of his vote on (civil unions)," said Rep. Craig Scribner, a supporter of the bill.

Supporters of the bill said it was necessary to clearly state that despite civil unions, marriage was not open to same-sex couples.

"The bottom line is the majority of Vermonters do not want to redefine marriage to allow same-sex marriage," said Republican Rep. George Schiavone.

The two openly gay members of the House said it was demeaning for same-sex couples to be told again that marriage was not open to them.

"I can assure you that we know marriage is between one man and one woman. We understand it and we accept it," said Rep. Robert Dostis.

"When you grow up gay, you live in fear of persecution and when you read this, it hits very deep," he said.

Rep. William Lippert, D-Hinesburg said he believed it was time to put the issue to rest.

"I would assert that Vermonters are not confused about marriage and Vermonters are not confused about civil unions," he said. "How many times does this body need to tell us that we are excluded?"