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Celebrations Begin in Vermont Over Marriage Equality

08/31/09- by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
At just passed midnight tonight, Vermont will begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The party, however, has already begun, and is expected to last the week. But it is not just gay and lesbian Vermonters who are celebrating. According to Rev. Erica Baron of the Unitarian Universalist Church both of the congregations that she oversees will be celebrating the institution of marriage for all people and is welcoming the only the LGBT community to come and say their official vows, but for all people to come and get married or renew their vows. The number of Vermonters expected to be getting married on 1 September is comparatively small; however, having a civil right is important to many Vermonters. In terms of the tourism industry, Vermont is one of the top destinations for those wishing to get married.

Vermont is, of course, not the only state the legal recognition of marriage equality. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa all legalized same-sex marriage via the courts prior to Vermont’s passage of the marriage equality bill through its legislature. New Hampshire and Maine followed suit. Currently Maine is battling an attempt to have a voter veto go before the people of Maine.
However, there might be another issue with regards to a lack of rush to marriage. As with Willie Docto and Greg Trulson owners of the Moose Meadow Lodge in Waterbury, there is a feeling they would be more appropriate to wait until the anniversary of the couple’s civil union rather than rush out on the first day that marriage licenses are available. In the case of Docto and Trulson, that will be 10 November.

Another reason that there is not a rush to get married on the first day that same-sex marriages are legal in Vermont is because 1 September is on a Tuesday. Rev. Barron is planning to celebrate several marriages at her two congregations in Rutland and Bennington this weekend with day long festivities and marriages. There is also no fear that there will be any attempt to yank this right from the people of Vermont in the same way as is being tried in Iowa and Maine.

Vermont is also facing the realization from many outside of Vermont there are issues regarding marriage equality throughout the country. This may make many people in the 43 other states that do not either have legalized same-sex marriage or recognize such unions leery of traveling to Vermont to get married. Between the Defense of Marriage Act and many state and local constitutional amendments and laws, many gays and lesbians could get married in Vermont but their unions would not be recognized in their home state. Irregardless, tomorrow will be a wonderful day for many Vermonters, and Lez Get Real will be covering some of the events firsthand.