Posted on May 6, 2009 by Robert A. Epstein

Same-Sex Marriage Moving Full Steam Ahead in New England

In a new development, the Maine House of Representatives approved yesterday a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.  The Maine Senate approved the bill last week.  As in New Hampshire, the fate of a law legalizing such unions could now rest in the hands of the state governor, who has opposed such unions previously.  It appears unlikely that enough legislative support exists to override a governor's veto, but neither governor is expressly stating now whether either would approve such a bill.

The New England region has found strong support for same-sex marriage of late, as such unions are now legal in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Connecticut. 

In related news, the California Supreme Court could determine as early as this week whether the now infamous "Prop 8," a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, is constitutional.  We have previously blogged on Prop 8, found here.

Stay tuned to this blog for more updates regarding the issues regarding same-sex marriages and related issuess.

 

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Posted on March 26, 2009 by Robert A. Epstein

Vermont Governor Intends to Veto Same-Sex Marriage Bill

The ongoing saga continues in the realm of same-sex marriages.  Word from Governor Jim Douglas of Vermont, the first state to legalize civil unions, has publicly stated that he would veto any bill legalizing same-sex marriage in that state.  The Vermont Senate overwhelmingly approved such a bill last week and the House will hear testimony this week.

The Governor's rationale is that civil unions provide rights sufficient to protect same-sex couples, a conclusion directly in contrast to that recently found by the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission in evaluating this State's own law.  A blog entry on that recent conclusion can be found here.  Whether or not enough legislative votes exist to override any such veto is uncertain, but certain lawmakers are displeased that the Governor would take the step of making such an announcement prior to a House vote.

Same-sex marriage developments have garnered a lot of news lately and it will be interesting to see how this latest issue unfolds.

 

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