The Vermont Senate voted to override Governor Jim Douglas’ veto of a bill that would grant marriage equality to gays and lesbians in Vermont. The vote passed 23-5. The vote will now go to the Vermont House of Representatives, where the voting margin is expected to be much more narrow. The Burlington Free Press will continue to report and offer online streaming video as the Vermont House convenes today to possibly vote on the same issue.
Update: The Vermont House has voted 100-49 to override Governor Douglas’ veto. This makes Vermont the fourth U.S. state to offer full marriage rights to same-sex couples, but the first to do so legislatively. Iowa, Massachussets, and Connecticut enacted marriage equality only after court decisions required it. California’s legislature twice passed legislation to legalize marriage for same-sex couples, but the efforts were blocked by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s veto.
