There is a battle brewing in the bucolic hills of Vermont. Our state, which showed leadership by being the first to grant civil unions to same-sex couples, is now considering replacing that law with a bill granting same-sex couples the right to marry. Until last week things were going pretty smoothly.
The marriage equality bill sailed through the Vermont Senate with a vote of 26-4. A majority of Republicans, and all but one Democrat, voted in favor. The president of our largest chamber of commerce testified that same-sex marriage would be good for Vermont's economy. A conservative Republican senator, the parent of a gay son, voted in favor of the bill, demonstrating that parents want their children, whether gay or straight, to have every opportunity for happiness.
But when the bill moved over to the House of Representatives, Vermont's governor, Jim Douglas, announced that he would veto it. The reason he gave for preempting the passage of the marriage equality bill was that he didn't want the legislation to distract lawmakers during this time of economic crisis. Since when is assuring equal rights of Vermonters a "distraction"? In fact, the governor ought to understand that this legislation would help our economy, pumping tens of millions in new revenue into the state budget.
That Jim Douglas is trying to derail legislation to grant equal rights to gay, lesbian, and bisexual people is disappointing. I have been secretary of state of Vermont for 11 years, and I have been proud of our state for showing leadership when we passed the civil union bill in 2000. It was an important first step toward the full equal rights of same-sex partners. But Vermont's leadership on the issue is now slipping, as gay and lesbian couples already can marry in our neighboring states of Massachusetts and Connecticut.
My office assisted in the implementation of the civil union law. It was our job to explain the law to the public as well as train the local officials who issued licenses and performed the ceremonies. But I also noted that civil unions did not provide full equal rights to gay and lesbian Vermonters. When reporting to the commission appointed to study marriage equality, I said, "Unlike a person who has been married in Vermont, a person who has obtained a civil union here leaves the state, and enters into a legal limbo that has meaningful consequences for the individuals and their families."
In Vermont, as in the rest of our country, we need leaders who will unite us, not divide us. We need leaders who are brave and who will stand up for equal rights for all people. While these are difficult economic times in Vermont, equality for all our citizens must remain an important priority. Our lawmakers can walk and chew gum at the same time! Yes, they will and must focus on getting people back to work and helping our struggling businesses. There is no question that they must and will pass a tough and balanced budget and decide how best to use the federal stimulus money to create new jobs, to make our roads and bridges safer, to bring faster Internet connections to our rural communities, and to help people tighten up their homes to save on energy costs. And there is nothing stopping them from doing all that necessary work, and also passing the marriage equality bill. The fact that the legislature has other important work to do does not mean that it should set aside work on all else.
As for many families, marriage equality is a personal issue for me. I do not want to have to tell my children their Aunt Laura and Aunt MK, who have been together for 21 years, aren't allowed to marry. And I have to explain why their Aunt Rachele and Aunt Tina, who are raising a daughter together, aren't allowed to marry. I know firsthand that separate is not equal when it comes to this important civil right. These are our friends, neighbors, and co-workers; we don't want to hurt them. It is my hope that when my children are ready to get married that this issue will be behind us and we can focus on what is truly important – our common interest to have stable and loving families.
Deb Markowitz has served as Vermont's secretary of state since 1999. She recently launched her 2010 campaign for governor. For more information visit http://www.debforvermont.com.