Same Sex Marriage

In April of 2000 the state legislature found that: "civil marriage under Vermont's marriage statutes consists of a union between a man and a woman. " The statute in April went also included mentioning that Vermont is traditionally a very liberal state. The legislature also realized that same sex civil unions could help promote commitment and acceptance go homosexuals in the state. Section seven stated "The state has a strong interest in promoting stable and lasting families, including families based upon same sex couples. " In the following section the legislators said, "without the legal protections, benefits and responsibilities associated with civil marriage, same sex couples suffer numerous obstacles and hardships ." The legislatures admitted that there was a serious problem that faced gay and lesbian couples both socially and economically. Since State of Vermont Supreme Court ruled that same sex marriages or civil unions were not protected under the current law. The state legislature went in and revised current laws so that it would do away with gender roles. Baker v State of Vermont is what the court ruled, that under the current laws a civil union and marriage were between a man and women not two people of the same sex. The court was also very worried .
             "the Vermont Supreme Court never adopted an activist stance in reviewing economic and social welfare legislation, and history has shown we chose the right course ." .
             There was some dissention in the ranks of the Supreme Court of Vermont Justice J. Johnson said .
             "My dissent form the majority's mandate is grounded on the government's limited interest in dictating public morals outside the scope of police power, and the differing roles of the judicial and legislative branches in our tripartite system of government ." .
             This shows that it was not a black and white issue. Though the majority of the court did disagree with Johnson because they did not uphold the law.