Vermont’s One Sided Battle Over Same-Sex Marraige

The battle for marriage equality in Vermont is beginning to look one sided. The Vermont Health and Human Services Professionals released a statement concerning the impact of sexual orientation on any children of a same-sex couple. Not surprising, they found that having two parents of the same sex had no impact on children. In fact, they stated that there was no scientific evidence that being raised by two parents of the same sex had any impact on children. However, they pointed out that the discrimination endured by same-sex couples, including not having the right to a civil marriage, was detrimental to children. In reading their announcement, the VHHSP’s made it clear that their research was well founded.

The battle for marriage equality in Vermont is also one sided in that Vermont Freedom to Marry is running a series of advertisements lobbying for the State Assembly and the Governor to pass same-sex marriage this year. One of their ads cite many newspaper opinions supporting same-sex marriage, including some of the most Conservative newspapers in the state. The second ad is of a family discussing marriage in the context of their lesbian daughter. The third ad centers around a lesbian couple who have been together for many decades and raised a child of their own.

A new Rutland Herald editorial for 8 March even asked these questions: “Have eight years of civil unions in Vermont harmed you or your state? Have civil unions harmed the marriages of heterosexual Vermonters in any way?” The answer, of course, it no. Vermont has not been harmed by having civil unions, and heterosexual marriage has not completely collapsed while it is in existence.

The law before the legislature is actually a two pronged law. The first is to legalize same-sex marriage. The second one is to abolish the last vestiges of child marriage in the state. The law will also abolish the ability for people to ask a judge to allow their fourteen year old child to marry someone else. The law has never really been used lately, but this move may bring some who are reluctant to support same-sex marriage into the fold of supporting the law or risk being tarred with the ‘you support child marriage’ line when the next election comes around. This may also make it more palatable for Governor Jim Douglas. It has been unclear if Douglas would sign the bill, veto it, or let it pass without his signature. Vetoing it would then undo many of the political capital he has built up by spearheading the reforms to the sexual predator laws.

Vermont Freedom To Marry has links to the editorials, and to the statement made by VHHSP. It also has all its advertisements available via flash player. http://www.vtfreetomarry.org/

Bridget “Sei” McBride is a trans-lesbian who lives in Vermont and has a strong passion for LGBTI rights. She has a BA in History and her hobbies include sci-fi, anime, fantasy, action movies, video games, and more. Currently, she is working on her MA in Individualized Studies at Goddard College. Her specialization is in cultural history and cultural comparison.