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In the wake of Iowa and Vermont, marriage equality legislation is now in the works in New York (which already recognizes same-sex marriages issued by other states and countries) and New Hampshire.
In New York, Governor Paterson introduced a bill today that would give same-sex couples the right to marry in the state, but the State Senate Majority Leader (a Democrat who supports marriage equality) says that they don’t have the votes to pass it… The Governor wants a vote now, and the Senate Majority Leader wants more time – both say they support gay marriage, but each has a different plan of action in mind. We’ll have to stay tuned.
In New Hampshire, marriage equality legislation has already passed the House, and the Senate had a hearing yesterday. The Senate is waiting to vote, however, until after a vacant Senate seat is filled on April 21. Things look good for the legislation in the Senate, but if the Governor were to veto, there might not be enough support for a Vermont-style override. So again, we’ll have to stay tuned.
Fingers and toes crossed, everyone!
The Vermont Senate and House voted to override the Governor’s veto of the same-sex marriage bill!!
Vermont is the first state to put equal marriage rights into law via Legislature vote, and now joins Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa as the only states in the country where same-sex marriage is legal (though NY recognizes out of state same-sex marriages, and hopefully California will be back on track soon!).
Three out of six New England states now have equal marriage rights!
I’m looking at you, New Hampshire, Maineand Rhode Island…
Today, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional!
Do not adjust your screens, you read correctly, Iowa. Yes, that would be the state that borders Nebraska. Yes, we are talking Midwest here. Crazy coastal liberals are no longer the only supporters of equal marriage rights! What a sweet victory!
Here are some details:
Court rules dictate that the decision will take about 21 days to be considered final, and a request for a rehearing could be filed within that period. That means it will be at least several weeks before gay and lesbian couples can seek marriage licenses.
Meanwhile, we’re trying to get our act together here in New England, with Vermont’s fate hanging in the balance. Vermont’s House approved a marriage equality bill last night, but the Governor has said he will veto. As of right now, the House doesn’t have the votes to override a veto – so we will see what happens.
But for now, let’s just be excited that if The Accountant and I went on a cross-country drive, we would be married in ONE Midwestern state! One step at a time, people!
