Our hearts have cause for optimism this Valentine's Day.

The Washington state Legislature just passed a marriage equality bill which passionate equality-advocate Gov. Chris Gregoire signed on Monday. Similar bills moving forward in New Jersey and Maryland have an excellent chance of passage. Another marriage equality bill has been introduced in Illinois. And, one week ago today, a federal appeals court upheld Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling that California's Prop 8 is unconstitutional.

While opponents of fairness will continue their attempts to repeal and block marriage equality at the state and federal levels, the historical trajectory is in our favor. As the "Los Angeles Times" noted in their Sunday op-ed, "Why gay marriage is inevitable," a large majority of young people now believe that same-sex couples should have the freedom to honor their love through marriage.

Perhaps the most universal Valentine's Day message was delivered by state Rep. Maureen Walsh during the marriage-bill floor debate in Washington. After movingly recalling the bond she had with her husband of 23 years, who died 6 years ago, Walsh argued, "How could I deny anyone the right to have that incredible bond with another individual in life?" She then expressed hope that her lesbian daughter will not have to feel like a second-class citizen if she chooses to marry the woman she loves.

As we individually celebrate this February 14th with our spouses and sweeties, friends and families, let's pledge to work united to ensure that each new Valentine's Day is not only a celebration of love but also a celebration of greater equality.

Happy Valentine's Day to you and your loved ones.

 

 

 

Washington State is poised to becoming the seventh U.S. state (plus Washington, D.C.) to legalize marriage equality!

Like Vermont, Washington got there through a legislative act. In the Washington State House, the bill passed 55-43. Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) said, "Marriage is the word our society uses to describe committed lifelong relationships."

Governor Christine Gregoire previously announced she would sign the bill into law, and has five days to do so.

Gov. Gregoire, who once opposed marriage equality on religious grounds, came to embrace equality for all Washingtonians. Click here to watch the video of Gov. Gregoire's emotional announcement.

Washington's marriage equality law calls for "ending discrimination in marriage based on gender and sexual orientation to ensure that all persons in this state may enjoy the freedom to marry on equal terms, while also respecting the religious freedom of clergy and religious institutions to determine for whom to perform marriage ceremonies and to determine which marriages to recognize for religious purposes."

Vermont Freedom to Marry celebrates with Washington, and with all who are working toward fairness and equality for all families!

 

By a 2-1 decision, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Prop 8.

The Court, in its decision, stated, "Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples."

We at Vermont Freedom to Marry are delighted with the outcome. "We applaud the federal court's decision to overturn Prop 8. We've said all along that the rights of a minority group should never be put to the vote of the popular majority and the court agreed by recognizing that Prop 8 both singled out and discriminated against same-sex couples and their families. Today is a good day for fairness and equality," said Vermont Freedom to Marry Chair Sheryl Rapée-Adams.

For more details go to http://nyti.ms/wvXFU7

Yay California!!!

 

Maine's Freedom to Marry Coalition announced today that it will ask Maine voters to support marriage equality for same-sex couples on a statewide ballot this November.

After two years of field organizing, signature gathering, outreach and public education, recent polls show that 54% of Mainers support allowing same-sex couples the freedom to marry. Also, volunteers collected 100,000 signatures (far more than the 57,000 needed to qualify for the ballot) from supporters throughout Maine, which indicates enthusiastic support for the fair and equal treatment of same-sex couples and their families. Mainers will vote on the following law:

An Act to Allow Marriage Licenses for Same-Sex Couples and Protect Religious Freedom

With a strong Coalition that includes EqualityMaine, the ACLU of Maine, EngageMaine, the Maine Women's Lobby and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the work to educate and activate Mainers in support of equality will continue over the next several months. VFM will provide you with updates and actions that you can take to help Maine secure equal marriage rights for same-sex couples!!

For now, check out Equality Maine's website for more information.

 

In a speech at the 2003 Creating Change Conference, Coretta Scott King said:

 

"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the

rights of lesbian and gay people. . .  But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to ever

yone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream, to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people."

As we honor and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, we can also take time to think about how each of us can carry on his legacy, as Mrs. King did, by fighting for the freedom to marry.

"The time is always right to do the right thing," Dr. King said.

In 2012, the time is right for us to support marriage equality efforts in states like New Jersey and Washington, to speak out against attempts to repeal equality in New Hampshire and proposed anti-LGBT constitutional amendments in states like Minnesota and North Carolina. The time is right to work with our supportive Vermont Senate and Congressional leaders to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the discriminatory "defense of marriage act" (DOMA) and give the marriages of same-sex couples in Vermont and elsewhere the federal recognition they deserve.

Though it sometimes seems as if full federal marriage equality is a distant dream, Dr. King's words remind us:

"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice."

Best wishes on this Martin Luther King Day from Vermont Freedom to Marry.