Iowa and Vermont legalize gay marriage

Iowa legalized it last week, and now Vermont!

Vermont becomes the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriages and the first to do so with a legislature’s vote.  The AP reports:

The Legislature voted Tuesday to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto of a bill allowing gays and lesbians to marry. The vote was 23-5 to override in the state Senate and 100-49 to override in the House. Under Vermont law, two-thirds of each chamber had to vote for override.

The vote came nine years after Vermont adopted its first-in-the-nation civil unions law.

GLAAD (The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) immediately applauded the decision.  President Neil G. Giuliano said:

As people come to know the stories of the couples at the heart of these decisions, we are seeing the kind of culture change that creates this progress – progress that ensures that all people, regardless of their orientation, are protected equally under the law.

I agree!  Wonderful news!

Connecticut and Massachusetts also allow gay marriage.