Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Vermont passes gay-marriage bill

Congratulations Vermont!  Another historical news release!

This morning Vermont becomes the 4th state to legalize same-sex marriage.  However, unlike Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa (last week) where the Supreme Court made the decision, in Vermont, the state legislature (both the Senate and House of Representatives) voted to overturn the governor's veto last night on the marriage bill.

4 down, 46 to go.    When will California get back in the game?  Will the U.S. Federal Government hold out forever or be #51, or be earlier to lead the rest of this country toward equal rights?

Friday, April 3, 2009

Iowa high court legalizes gay marriage in state

The news this morning announced Iowa as the 3rd state, after Massachusetts and Connecticut, legalizing same-sex marriage by its Supreme Court.

California is still struggling as its Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage last year, but briefly overturned by voter election in November.

Iowa's ruling is important as it's the first state in (conservative) middle-America to make such a public statement.

Even though this is good progress, and we hope there will be more states following later, there is still an uphill battle continuing with remaining states and our U.S. Federal Government (see DOMA 3).   But it seems that strategies like specific lawsuits against the U.S. Govt on discrimination on specific issues are becoming more effective in making change, vs. rallying for general, broad equality across all issues.