By Year’s End, Seven Northeast States Could Make Gay Marriage The L
aw Of The Land.
With little fanfare or fanaticism, Vermont is poised to become the third state to allow gay marriage. Before the week is over, Vermont’s congress will deliver to Republican governor Jim Douglas a bill allowing his state’s 2000 gay couples (Vermont is the second-smallest state) the right to marry. Douglas has stated opposition to the bill but residents are pro gay marriage by a 58% to 39& margin.
Massachusetts and Connecticut already allow same-sex marriage. New Hampshire is expected to vote on a bill on Thursday. New York recognizes same-sex marriage from any other jurisdiction, but until this week was not expected to vote on gay marriage. On Sunday, Chuck Schumer, New York’s senior senator, joined Kristine Gillibrand in voicing support for same-sex marriage. (Schumer also called for an end to DOMA.) It is now expected to become a viable bill this year, and with a Democratic governor, could pass. And New Jersey’s Democratic governor Jon Corzine has long said it was time his state allowed gay marriage as well.
While this country was not founded on Christianist principles, it was founded in New England, and it is heart-warming to see New England take the lead in such an important civil rights issue. Although optimistic, it is conceivable that by year’s end, gay marriage could be law in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, and Maine.
Rhode Island’s Republican governor has threatened to veto any gay marriage bill. New Hampshire has a Democratic governor but he is opposed to same-sex marriage. Maine hopes to pass their bill this year and has a Democratic governor who has not taken a position on gay marriage.
With such a strong push in the region, New England could become the country’s first ”marriage equality zone.”
Related posts:
- Again, A Republican Stands In The Way
- Vermont House Votes On Gay Marriage Bill Today
- BREAKING NEWS: Vermont House Passes Historic Gay Marriage Bill!
- BREAKING NEWS: Vermont House Votes 8-2 To Advance Gay Marriage Bill
- Gay Marriage News Spinning You Right Round Like A Record, Baby?
{ 1 trackback }
{ 20 comments }
Did I miss something? How has Sen. Schumer's announcement procured a vote on marriage in New York this year?
Come on New York! We can not let Jersey beat us!
Come on, New York! We can not let Jersey beat us!
It's possible New York could move forward quickly. Empire State Pride Agenda has been very busy!
This isn't the coast I expected to pass gay marriage. Before Prop 8 I expected it to spread from the west. I'll be ok with marriage flowing from the east to the west. Kind of fitting when you think about how our country grew.
Yes, I agree. I always assumed it would be California first. Amazing how conservative they have grown. I like the idea of having a geographically-connected group of states all legalizing gay marriage. Makes sense.
@qmuser
Check it out, though! We've got a sleeper cell in New Mexico for those of you in the Southwest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Samesex_marriag...
New Mexico has always been the black sheep of the southwest. 8^)
NM: "Since 2003, state law has prohibited discimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and the state offers domestic partnership benefits to state employees."
Let's hope that's a move in the right direction and not an oversight!
See what I mean about being the black sheep of the SW. They've always been a delightfully bright blue spot on the map.
I don't think at this time they are progressive enough to pass full marriage equality. They will probably be on of the first SW states to pass it though.
A friend of mine made the comment that New York and New Jersey aren't officially part of New England. Is this true? Doesn't matter. I'm just sayin'
Ooh, I think you're right. Well, we should join. I mean, (New) York and (New) Jersey sound pretty (New) English to me.
Me too. I think of them as part of New England. My friend is doing a paper on the Puritan founders of the area and made the comment when I shared the article on my Facebook page.
Hey, Lee & Patrick!
Yes, it's true:
"New England is a region of the United States located in the northeastern corner of the country, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Canada and New York State, and consisting of the modern states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut."
However, titling the post "New England, New York, and some other places…" just didn't sound right
BTW, there's a movement growing in VT to follow the governor around and protest until he changes his threat to veto the bill.
Glad you guys are here. Thanks for your comments!
In RI it isn't just Repug Carcieri that says he'll veto, but Speaker William Murphy and Senate President M. Theresa Paiva-Weed have also registered opposition.
Murphy is in a tough spot though. RI house bill H5744 has over 30 co-sponsors so his own body is bucking him. I've been to hearings on the issue for the past 3 years. I keep hearing the same opposition arguments over and over but every year I don't generally prepare my testimony. Instead I use it to castigate the religious bigots. Great fun!
well vermont was the 4th yay so its very good even though ive never been to the northeast i would image its more lesbian haven lol but new york is a different story and i would think last on this map maybe to grant legalized same sex marrage
I think New York (state) has the largest rural population out of all the states on this map. And NYC itself can be surprisingly conservative.
Both of those points might hamper our march toward equality here in the Big Apple. I'm basing this on my assumptions, though, so if anyone has facts to the contrary, please correct me.
Lee, in my experience you are absolutely correct. I lived in Albany for a while. Others who had moved there also called it "the last bastion of provincialism". Very true.
I know marriage equality legislation was introduced in New Jersey this year, but I can't find it anywhere on the legislature's website. Do you know which bill # I should be looking for? It's been on my same-sex marriage map, and I know I found it before, but I failed to make a note of the number. In advance, thanks.
Comments on this entry are closed.