Battle for Traditional Marriage Rages in Vermont and Iowa

Vermont’s House of Representatives voted last week to legalize same-sex marriage, but fell four votes shy of the veto-overriding majority needed to oppose Governor, Jim Douglas’ promised veto.  On Tuesday April 7, 2009, the Vermont legislature voted again and this time voted 100-49 to legalize gay marriage.  The Senate followed shortly thereafter with a vote of 23-5, thus overriding the Governor’s veto and legalizing same-sex marriage in the state that was the first to establish civil unions.

Vermont is the first state to change the definition of marriage through the Legislature rather than through the courts.  Four state supreme courts, including California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and most recently, Iowa, have already “discovered” a right to same–sex marriage.   

This is in stark contrast to the forty-three states that have previously enacted state laws to protect the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman.  Thirty of those states have a constitutional amendment. 

The battle over gay marriage could be in the Nation's capital before long.  Washington D.C.’s city council voted only yesterday to recognize same-sex marriages performed out of state.  This puts the issue of same-sex marriage on a path toward Congress, which has final say over the District of Columbia’s laws.  

With Gay activists pushing to legalize same-sex "marriage" in at least six New England states by 2012, it is more important than ever to stand up for traditional family values. 

This information is provided by Advocates for Faith and Freedom, a non-profit religious law firm dedicated to protecting religious liberty in the courts!  To help us in our ongoing battle for religious freedom, click here to donate to Advocates.