Act Now: Tell Your Legislators to Override Marriage Equality Veto

Members of the Vermont Senate and House voted overwhelmingly to bring marriage equality to Vermont. But Governor Douglas has promised to veto this critical legislation. Act now to send a message to your legislators urging them to override the governor's veto.

Use HRC's E-Action Form to contact your representative and state senator.

Urgent Action Needed for Civil Marriage Equality (S. 115) in Vermont

The Vermont house is poised to soon deliberate on the issue of same-sex marriage. It has sailed through the Senate and is likely to do very well in the house. It is essential that marriage equality receives a minimum of 100 legislators support to have a chance to override the threatened veto by Governor Jim Douglas.

The hearing was expected tomorrow, but there are now indications that deliberations may begin as early as today!

VT Freedom to Marry suggests a few steps you can take to support marriage equality in VT:

Spend the day at Statehouse on Thursday April 2! Arrive there by 9 a.m. Bring a book, bring a sandwich, grab a seat, and be ready for the S.115 debate.

Contact your Representative. If your Rep co-sponsored the House bill-- thank him or her for his support, and urge your Rep to hold firm in moving S.115. Click here for a list of Representatives.

Call and email Gov. Douglas to express your disappointment and urge him to change his mind. Ph: 802 828-3333 (toll-free in VT only: 800 649-6825) Email Gov. Douglas now.

Rallies/Vigils for Marriage Equality in Vermont

Please attend a vigil in support of equal civil rights and the marriage equality bill. This will show strong support for equal marriage across Vermont, and to the nation at large. It is crucial to act now as the senate passed equal marriage, and the house is set to vote with the Governor threatening to veto.

Rally at State Capital
Friday March 27th

Bennington
Saturday, March 28
1-3 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church
108 School St

Burlington
Sunday, March 29
4-5 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of Burlington
152 Pearl Street

Rutland
Sunday, March 29
4-5 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of Rutland
117 West Street, Rutland

Brattleboro
Sunday, March 29
4-5 PM
Wells Fountain

Middlebury
Sunday, March 29
4-5 PM
Town Green

White River Junction
Sunday, March 29
4-5 PM
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
749 Hartford Avenue (Rt 5)

Montpelier
Sunday, March 29
4-5 PM
City Hall

Vermont Governor Threatens to Veto Marriage Bill, Act Now!

Vermont Governor Jim Douglas is threatening to veto the marriage equality bill that has sailed through the senate by a 26-4 vote, and now goes on to the house for final approval.

He maintains that civil unions are equal and that Vermont needs to focus on the economy. Yet, when asked if he would trade his marriage for a civil union, he swiftly replies that he would not. What he also fails to realize is that gay marriage is a boost for the economy, and that going against the majority of the people and the legislature is unconstitutional.



Please urge everyone regardless of their home state, to call AND email the governor and tell him to retract his message and support marriage equality.

E-contact form for Governor Jim Douglas

USPS: Governor Jim Douglas
109 State Street, Pavilion
Montpelier, VT 05609-0101

Phone: 802 828-3333
(toll-free in VT only: 800 649-6825)

Vermont Freedom to Marry Drive

Vermont Civil Rights activists need your help, help them acquire marriage equality in Vermont. Please tell your friends, co-workers, family members, any body, to join the Freedom To Marry Drive and donate toward a great cause, the goal is to raise $50,000 by January 31st, please get the word out.

Every contribution whether it be through service or donation will help us, please don't hesitate to help. For more information please visit http://firstgiving.com/vfm or visit Vermont Free to Marry (Click Here)

Crossposted via Proposition This!

Urge Vermont Governor to Support Marriage Equality

Vermont was the first state in the union to sign into law a civil unions bill under than governor Howard Dean (D). Since that time lawmakers have been challenging the civil unions law which does not provide full equal benefits to gay and lesbian couples. The house is likely to take up a bill upgrading civil unions to full marriage equality this session.

The current governor Jim Douglas (R) has come out in opposition to marriage equality and feels civil unions are adequate. He has yet to indicate whether he would veto this bill if it comes to his desk.

"Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas said Thursday he would oppose legislation allowing same-sex marriages, saying the state's civil unions law is adequate and that lawmakers should be focusing on the state's money problems.

State Sen. John Campbell says he plans to introduce such legislation in the Legislature's upcoming session. "I think the current civil union law is sufficient," Douglas said. "It accords equality of rights to Vermonters in terms of their relationships and I think we should leave the law as it is." Campbell said the bill is unlikely to gain support in the Legislature unless Douglas gives a clear signal he would sign it – or allow it to become law without his signature.

But Douglas balked at sending any such signal. "I never indicate what I might do when a bill gets to my desk, but I've been quite clear that I don't support the legislation," said Douglas, a Republican." (JMG)

It is imperative that we begin to contact the governor and urge him to sign into law a marriage equality bill should it eventually come to his desk. We must remind him that regardless of how he personally feels about marriage it is wrong to create a separate and unequal institution for LGBT people.

Use the E-contact form to get in touch with the governor.

Governor Jim Douglas
109 State Street, Pavilion
Montpelier, VT 05609-0101

802 828-3333
(toll-free in VT only: 800 649-6825)