Press Release
Vermont Legislature brings marriage equality to state
Tue, Apr 7th 2009, 10:17FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Denis Dison (202) 842-7308, denis.dison@victoryfund.org
VICTORY FUND CONGRATULATES VERMONT'S LGBT LEGISLATORS ON HISTORIC MARRIAGE VOTE
Washington, D.C.--The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Leadership Institute today extended its thanks and congratulations to the five openly gay and lesbian members of the Vermont state legislature for their leadership and hard work in gaining today's historic victory for marriage equality. The state's two legislative chambers voted to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill legalizing marriage for same-sex couples, making Vermont the first U.S. state to achieve marriage equality legislatively.
The openly gay and lesbian lawmakers are:
- Sen. Ed Flanagan
- Rep. Steve Howard
- Rep. Bill Lippert
- Rep. Jason Lorber
- Rep. Suzi Wizowaty
George Walker, a vice president at the Victory Fund and Leadership Institute, said the legislation's success is a testament to the power of having openly LGBT elected officials as part of the debate about legislation affecting the LGBT community: "When we are in the room, and when our straight colleagues get to know us and our families, it is harder for them to vote against us. As Harvey Milk himself said, we've got to elect gay people so that political leaders know who we really are and understand better why we need and want the same rights as they have."
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund works to grow the number of openly LGBT elected officials serving at all levels of government. At its founding in 1991, just 49 openly LGBT elected officials served in the U.S. Today, more than 425 do.
