Vt. Legislature Overrides Veto; Legalizes Gay Marriage

By Nathan Black|Christian Post Reporter

E-mail
Print
RSS
digg Facebook Twitter Stumble Reddit del.ico.us Buzz Share
Text

The Vermont legislature overturned the governor's veto and legalized same-sex marriage on Tuesday.

View Full Image
(Photo: AP / Toby Talbot)
Sen. John Campbell, D-Windsor, left, congratulates Susan Murray, right, following the passage of a gay marriage bill in Montpelier, Vt., Tuesday, April 7, 2009. Vermont has become the fourth state to legalize gay marriage.

The state Senate voted 23-5 to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto and the House voted 100-49 to override.

Douglas had vetoed the bill on Monday, saying the state's civil union law is sufficient in extending the same rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples and that he believes marriage should remain between a man and woman.

Vermont was the first in the country to enact civil unions for same-sex couples nine years ago.

The New England state is now the fourth state to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. It is also the first to legalize same-sex marriage with a legislature's vote.

The gay marriage affirming vote comes on the heels of a ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court last week that also opened the door to same-sex couples marrying.

The court ruled last Friday that the 1998 Defense of Marriage Act, which limited marriage to a man and a woman, was unconstitutional.

Same-sex marriage is also legal in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Next Story : Remaining Episcopalians Start Anew After Split

Most Popular

Viewed
Commented
Blogged

Sort by: Newest | Oldest | Agree | Disagree

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Post or its staff.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

believer »

Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:09 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

doreen, but once again at this point there is no valid proof that sexual orientation is not a choice, but what I do believe is that what may be discovered is not that a person is born homosexual or heterosexual but they are born with a bent toward one or the other. And based on a number of factors they will come to choose whether or not to buy into that bent. Once again showing that although a person has a certain bent they'll have to choose to buy into that bent.
doreenied »

Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:05 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

believer, you wrote:
"my personal belief is that for a person to be genuinely homosexual they have come to believe that the only way they can achieve genuine sexual gratification is with a person of the same sex, be it physically, mentally, and/or emotionally."
____________

Yes, and the only way a person "comes to believe" that is by facing the truth. If the only people one is ever attracted to on a romantic, sexual, whatever you want to call it level is to people of their same gender, then they are gay.

I know you are trying as hard as you can to believe it does not come naturally, and I think I also understand why you do that. But the crux of our disagreement on this comes down to me saying to you: it truly is a natural feeling--the ONLY natural feeling--in people who are gay.

When a person is gay, they just know it. They know it in the same way as a straight person knows they are straight. They don't have to think about it, or ponder, or be influenced by fad or fashion or psychology. That's the whole point: when it comes natural it simply is that way.
believer »

Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:05 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

doreen, my personal belief is that for a person to be genuinely homosexual they have come to believe that the only way they can achieve genuine sexual gratification is with a person of the same sex, be it physically, mentally, and/or emotionally. Plus, I also believe there are some people who consider themselves homosexual because they have bought into the misinformation of what makes a person a homosexual, for instance if a male acts and thinks in ways that are considered to be feminine or if a female acts and thinks in ways that are considered to be masculine. And keep in mind I base much of this on the fact that God's design is for us to be heterosexual as opposed to homosexual which is also the reason I believe it is a choice.
doreenied »

Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:39 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

believer:

"doreen, someone does not need to be an addict or alcoholic to know the facts of substance abuse and addiction issues to include addictive personality issues. "

This is true. But I do submit that if an addict and a non-addict had opposing views on what it feel like to be addicted, and what thoughts go through the mind of an addict, and what motivates an addict, in all those things I would still trust the view of the actuakl addict more than someone who thinks they know but has no personal experience. Wouldn't you agree? Isn't that reasonable?
doreenied »

Fri Apr 17, 2009 6:40 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

Believer, the other burning question I have is: at what point in your life did you "come to believe" you yourself are not homosexual? Please tell me about that process.

No one has ever been able to explain it to me, even the heterosexual people who are sure gay people didn't used to be but rather "came to believe" that they're gay.
doreenied »

Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:38 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

Believer, will you please expound on your theory as to why anyone would choose to be gay? Seems to me that would be like choosing polio. Even subconsciously, why would anyone do that?
believer »

Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:47 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

doreen, someone does not need to be an addict or alcoholic to know the facts of substance abuse and addiction issues to include addictive personality issues.
believer »

Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:43 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

doreen, all of us make subconcious decisions and last time I checked the Thesaurus they both mean the same thing. As a result of those issues I spoke to we make subconcious decisions with regards to our sexual orientation to the point we come to believe we are homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual. But as I have stated before for a person to be truly homosexual they must come to believe that they cannot receive genuine sexual gratification either mentally, physically, and/or emotionally unless they are having sexual intimacy either physically or mentally with someone of the same-sex.
doreenied »

Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:08 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

believer - i think in this case subconscious and unconscious mean essentially the same thing. what you describe is still not a choice.

besides, what makes you so sure of all this? seems a little unbelievable that someone who isn't gay knows all there is to know about being gay....
believer »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:28 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

kd, perhaps the better word would be subconcious choices as opposed to unconcious choices. People come to believe they are homosexual based on the factors I shared in the last post.
believer »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:21 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

mickey, the inerrant Word of God clearly states God's original and only design for both marriage and sexual intimacy and you are choosing to ignore them, but ignoring them will neither change them or make them go away and especially since you can't find one valid verse or passage of scripture that says otherwise.
kdelano »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:27 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

believer:
"kd, I believe one's sexual orientation is a choice, but not a choice like choosing the brand of toothpaste a person wants to use. In fact for most it is an unconcious choice based once again on one's personality, home life, life experiences, and education both formal and informal."
______________________

So what you're saying is, it's a choice that they really never actually "chose."

Makes no sense. If it's unconscious it is not a choice.

A choice implies one has options, weighs those options, and of their own free will selects one of those options. Gay people do not do that. You're dancing.
MickeyC »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:57 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

"mickey, never said there had been one! But the reality is that regardless of the cause the sexual paractices of homosexuality will always be a sin in the sight of God to include same-sex marriage and sexual intimacy outside of God's original and only design for marriage! "

Nope and even the Bible doesn't back you up. You seem to think that more you post lies, more likely someone is to believe them. Sorry, but there are a number of us here and actually everywhere you go who will show the world that what you say is merely a personal agenda and has no relationship to God or Christianity.
MickeyC »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:56 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

"mickey, yes the Believer's Bible, better known as the inerrant Word of God!! "

Oh I am sure you think that "Believer's Bible" is the inerrant word but not of God, of believer.
believer »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:37 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

mickey, yes the Believer's Bible, better known as the inerrant Word of God!!
believer »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:36 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

mickey, never said there had been one! But the reality is that regardless of the cause the sexual paractices of homosexuality will always be a sin in the sight of God to include same-sex marriage and sexual intimacy outside of God's original and only design for marriage!
MickeyC »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:22 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

"Plus, once again at this point in time there has been no valid study that has provided conclusive evidence that it is not a choice."

And, of course, not one valid study showing that it is a choice.
MickeyC »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:21 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

"mickey, not valid in mickey's sight, but totally valid in the sight of God since after all He declared them! "

You mean only valid in the "Believer Bible" which has nothing to so with God.
believer »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:08 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

kd, as for discriminating against a person based on their sexual orientation. Even though I disagree with the sexual practices of homosexuality and same-sex marriage based on the teachings of God's Word that in no way gives me or anyone else permission to ridicule or degrade a person because of their sexual orientation and it does bother me when I see that and often times it's done based on others simply thinking someone is a homosexual. And in fact I have friends who are homosexuals and I have personally spoken out when I've seen that happen.
believer »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:02 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

kd, I believe one's sexual orientation is a choice, but not a choice like choosing the brand of toothpaste a person wants to use. In fact for most it is an unconcious choice based once again on one's personality, home life, life experiences, and education both formal and informal. I guess the best way for me to say it is that it is a process and not just a spur of the moment decision.
kdelano »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:50 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

believer Â» Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:28 pm : 0 : 0 Flag kd, it could very well start happening while we are in our mother's womb. Plus, no one has said it's a one moment in time choice, but rather the choice is influenced by one's personality, upbringing, education(both formal and informal) and our life experiences. Plus, once again at this point in time there has been no valid study that has provided conclusive evidence that it is not a choice.
___________________

Believer, what are you trying to say?

My whole point is there is so much discrimination toward gay people, and very frequently the guilty parties come right out and say it's not discrimination because gay people chose to be that way and therefore deserve wnhatever they get. My point is: that is ridiculous because no one would choose such a thing.

So I really don't know what you mean. You either believe sexual orientation is a choice or you don't. I get the feeling you will dance around it until you've talked your way out. No. It's not a choice and therefore gay people did not bring on themselves them discrimination they get.
believer »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:28 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

kd, it could very well start happening while we are in our mother's womb. Plus, no one has said it's a one moment in time choice, but rather the choice is influenced by one's personality, upbringing, education(both formal and informal) and our life experiences. Plus, once again at this point in time there has been no valid study that has provided conclusive evidence that it is not a choice.
believer »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:21 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

mickey, not valid in mickey's sight, but totally valid in the sight of God since after all He declared them!
kdelano »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:21 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

I can't believe all this debate about choice. How about just a tiny bit of simple logic?

Who on earth would choose to be gay?? That's crazy. That's like choosing to be handicapped when you don't have to. It makes NO SENSE.

Besides, I'd like to have just one straight person explain about the day they weighed the pros and cons, contemplated both sexual orientations, and blithely "chose" to be heterosexual under the belief they could easily be homosexual if they wanted to.

Again, it makes NO SENSE. But alas, believing it let's some people excuse their own discriminatory behavior. Sad.
MickeyC »

Wed Apr 15, 2009 1:20 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

"mickey, valid verses offered, valid verses rejected by mickey and still no valid verses from mickey!"

Not one verse on point from Believer backing up his misguided interpretations of scripture. Sad. I guess a life of denial distorts a person's view of truth forever.
believer »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:29 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 3

mike22685, went back and looked at the studies they cited and not one provided conclusive evidence that sexual orientation is not a choice and in fact it appears some of them gave support to the idea it is a choice. One being the Savic study!
believer »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:12 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

mickey, valid verses offered, valid verses rejected by mickey and still no valid verses from mickey!
Mike22685 »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:46 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 0

Believer, they all pointed to pre-natal factors! That rules out choice.
MickeyC »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:37 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

"And much to my surprise no valid scripture from mickey yet!! "

And much to my surprise no valid scripture from Believer. Not even a few verses from the "Believer Bible" showing God where He went wrong.
believer »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:05 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

And much to my surprise no valid scripture from mickey yet!!
MickeyC »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:30 am Agree: 5 Disagree: 0

"mickey, and yet you continually fail to provide scripture that says otherwise, other than those you take totally out of context!!"

Lie all you want but the Bible is clear. God gave one man's WIVES to another and NEVER condemned polygamy or called it an abomination. You've provided NO verses to refute it.

2 Samuel 12:11 Â Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
believer »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:07 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 4

mickey, and yet you continually fail to provide scripture that says otherwise, other than those you take totally out of context!!
MickeyC »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:03 am Agree: 3 Disagree: 0

"mickey, 24/7 and with all my being, unlike some who can't even read it in context! "

Sadly that's just not the case and every one of your posts prove it.
MickeyC »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:02 am Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

"But it is the main purpose for His creation! That is why He designed male and female of each kind."

Nope procreation is a method to keep the world continuing but it is NOT God's main purpose. The fact that you want to reduce humans to animal breeding stock is not only wrong it's disgusting.
believer »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:54 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 3

mike22685, they were clear to me as well, they in no way ruled out the possibility of choice when it comes to sexual orientation.
Mike22685 »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:36 am Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

Take it as you will Believer, but the studies seemed pretty clear to me.
believer »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:56 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

mike22685, visited that website and looked all over the place and could not find one study cited that said they have proven that homosexuality is not a matter of choice, but only that some of the reasons given for a person to choose to become a homosexual are not always true and that those on that website do not believe it is a choice.
Mike22685 »

Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:01 am Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_caus7.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_caus4.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_caus6.htm
believer »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:21 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

mike22685, let me refresh your memory, studies conducted by John Hopkins University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, pro-homosexual scientist Evelyn Hooker, and Masters and Johnson all deny the genetic link. Plus, I showed you the flaws in the twins study. That being said please cite the studies that have proven it is not a choice?
Mike22685 »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:06 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 0

Believer, there are no such tests that prove it is not a matter of genetics, so sorry! Also, I have said many times that we don't know what causes sexual orientation, but that the EXPERIENCES (not tests) of every single gay person I know back up that none of us have made a choice. It seems we'd know a little something about our sexual orientation better than you, doesn't it?
DelightntheLord »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:16 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

" procreation is not the main purpose of marriage "

But it is the main purpose for His creation! That is why He designed male and female of each kind.

It is so obvious in the created order of things, which the unbelieving will not see and therefore will not acknowledge of God, hense, He gave them over....to their lusts.
believer »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:01 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

mickey, 24/7 and with all my being, unlike some who can't even read it in context!
MickeyC »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:57 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

"mickey, all God's Word and it's all good!! "

But when will you actually read and believe God's word? You don't seem to so far.
believer »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:44 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

mickey, all God's Word and it's all good!!
MickeyC »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:39 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

"IF Darwin's philosophy be true, then homosexuals are the least of the "fittest" as far as survial is concerned...any "gay-gene" found would be recessive recessive. Homosexuality would die out in just a few generations.

So, homosexuality cannot be a disposition of our genetic code, rather a choice some make. "

Recessive gene's don't "die out". Obviously you don't know ANYTHING about genetics. You just look foolish now.
MickeyC »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:37 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

"mickey, no one said homosexual men cannot procreate, but if two homosexual men are living in a true monogomous relationship and not having sex outside of their relationship with one another they cannot create a child together!"

They can however, have and do have a surrogate mother if they choose. Again, procreation is not the main purpose of marriage but a by-product of marriage.
MickeyC »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:35 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

"mickey, good thing I wasn't ranting nonsense but only sharing the truths found in God's Word! "

No it's nonsense and has nothing to do with God's word. Why keep pretending? The Bible doesn't support you.
believer »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:34 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

mike22685, I have shared with you tests that have proven homosexuality is not a matter of genetics, now please cite your sources that prove homosexuality is not a choice?
believer »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:29 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

mickey, good thing I wasn't ranting nonsense but only sharing the truths found in God's Word!
believer »

Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:28 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

mickey, no one said homosexual men cannot procreate, but if two homosexual men are living in a true monogomous relationship and not having sex outside of their relationship with one another they cannot create a child together!

Please help us to monitor our message boards by flagging comments that are unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable.
Contact Us if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Comment on this story