Twelve years ago today, the Vermont Supreme Court handed down its decision in the landmark case Baker v. Vermont. The unanimous decision held that existing prohibitions in Vermont state law which forbid same-sex couples from marrying violated the state constitution, and ordered the legislature to confer the benefits and protections of marriage on same-sex couples.
The historic events of twelve years ago led to Vermont’s passage of the nation’s first civil union law in 2000 and its adoption of full marriage equality in 2009.
My husband Michael and I, along with Wayne and his husband Jamie, are only two married couples among thousands in the state of Vermont and across the country who owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to Vermont Freedom to Marry, now-Governor Peter Shumlin, now-Justice Beth Robinson, Susan Murray, Mary Bonauto, Rep. Bill Lippert, the Baker couples, and the innumerable others across Vermont who led the state through many divisive battles on the road to full marriage equality.
Thank you.
Michael and me on our wedding day, March 22, 2006.
Wayne and Jamie on their wedding day, December 8, 2011.
It would appear to be that Colorado might become the next state to approve Civil Unions (if not full marriage) for same-sex couples. My how times have changed. I’m running out of excuses for being officially “single” now. :-)
Congratulations to you Vermonters and to all who worked so hard to achieve marriage equality there and in the six other jurisdictions. Alas, I live in a backward state. My partner and I have been together 48 years. We dream of being able to marry before our 50th anniversary, but it is not very likely. The key for us is having DOMA declared unconstitutional. If our marriage would be recognized at least by the feds, we’d travel to another state to marry.
P.S. Lovely pictures!
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