Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage

The Vermont Legislature voted to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill granting gays and lesbians the right to marry in Vermont. The override means that Vermont will authorize such marriages. It is the fourth state to do so behind Connecticut, Iowa, and California Massachusetts [ed: thanks to anonymous emailer for the fix]. However, in those states, it was the courts that dictated the policy, not the legislature.

Vermont was the first state in the country to authorize civil unions as a means to extend benefits to gay couples.

Under the US Constitution, such marriages will be given full faith and credit by other states.

You may not agree with the idea of gay marriage, but the legislative approval is preferable to judicial diktat.