Vermont lawmakers legalize gay marriage

2009-04-08 00:22:13 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Government, Justice News Flash)

Wiki Image:Vermont State House legalizes gay marriage

Vermont House of Representatives passes same-sex marriage bill.

Montpelier, VT (JusticeNewsFlash.com)–The Vermont House of Representatives passed a same-sex marriage bill, legalizing gay marriage with a 100-49 vote, on Tuesday, in Montpelier the state’s capital. The Vermont State House vote, in Washington County, overrode a veto from Republican Governor Jim Douglas to make Vermont the fourth state in America to legalize gay marriage, as reported by Reuters.

Vermont was, historically, the first the state, in the 50 United States, to allow full civil unions for same-sex couples in 2000. Connecticut and Massachusetts already allows gay and lesbian couples to marry in civil court rooms. New Hampshire and Maine are considering bills in their state legislatures to allow same-sex unions while 43 U.S. States still have laws specifically banning and prohibiting such marriages with 29 states holding constitutional amendments restricting marriage to one man and one woman.

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