Marriage Equality - Ideas for Change in America: Vermont and DC: Moving Equality Forward

Vermont and DC: Moving Equality Forward

Published April 07, 2009 @ 03:09PM PT

I'm so excited right now I can hardly sit still. Vermont, in an unprecedented move, has overturned the governor's veto and voted in favor of marriage equality by one vote. One vote! Thank you Vermont, thank you VT Freedom to Marry, thank you everyone who played a part in this victory. Congratulations to all of us. I am so optimistic right now about the future of marriage equality. Vermont, you have fired us up, you have inspired us, and you have shown us that this fight can be won.

I think back to the elections of 2004, when so many states passed laws and amendments banning gay marriage. Well, 2009 is not 2004. The tide is turning. Massachusetts. Connecticut. Iowa. and now Vermont. Plus, as of today, DC will recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, just like New York does. Four down. Forty Six to go. Today, this feels possible, even inevitable.

I don't pretend that marriage alone equals equality, but today I feel hopeful that we will advance equality in its many forms. This morning, I heard the announcement about Vermont while standing amongst hundreds of people who came to the Massachusetts's statehouse to lobby their representatives for trans equality. Byron Rushing, the very eloquent lead sponsor of the trans rights bill we were lobbying for, said it right when he said that it is time for our great nation to protect the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for all people. So, I say hurray for Vermont for bringing us one step closer to this goal!

Lisa Marshall is a board member of Boston's Join The Impact Massachusetts

Comments

"Hurray", indeed! The cause of progress is moving forward!

Posted by Ted Nunn on 04/08/2009 @ 07:24PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Ted
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Willow Witte: Cleveland, OH

Change.org

Vermont and DC: Moving Equality Forward

Comments

Add a Comment

Author

All Causes Close [X]

Already a Member?

Create an Account