Marriage Equality In Vermont

The Vermont legislature just voted to override a gubernatorial veto and legalize gay marriage. In the House, the vote was 100-49, exactly the amount needed for passage. Vermont becomes the first state to recognize gay marriage through a vote of the legislature; previously, California's legislature passed a gay marriage bill, but Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill and it was never overridden.

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont now all allow gay marriages, and New York State recognizes them while not performing them. The case in California remains tied up in the courts, but Prop. 8 will likely pass as a Constitutional amendment.

Equality will be a long process, but it will happen. And many years later, we will look back strangely on this period and wonder why anyone made such a fuss.