VERMONT OFFERS STRENGTH & HOPE FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

Dan Barlow in the Times Argus quotes my friend, 'Rev. Nancy Vogel of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in White River Junction, who served on a legislative commission to study same-sex marriage last year, said some surprise votes on the House floor and one missing Democrat made her nervous that it would not pass.

"I was just so afraid that we wouldn't get those 100 votes we needed," said Vogel, who was joined in a civil union with her partner, Cheryl Elinsky, five years ago. "But now we're planning for a Sept. 1 wedding."'

How the Vermont House voted yesterday.

Beth Robinson, attorney and board chair of the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force and Action Committee and Rep. Bill Lippert, Vermont state legislator, chair of Vermont House Judiciary Committee were interviewed on Democracy Now! today.

Also on Democracy Now!: a testimony of Thetford Center resident, Evann Orleck-Jetter, a twelve-year-old with two mothers, which prompted some Vermont reps to vote for marriage equality.

Beth Robinson congratulates supporters, with additional comments by Representatives Mark Larson and David Zuckerman of Burlington, co-sponsors of the marriage equality bill.