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By Jack Nichols Burlington, Vermont-- The Vermont Supreme Court is expected soon to render its decision in a case which may end, religious fundamentalists fear, by recognizing same-sex love and affection as deserving of equality before the law in this Northeastern state. In 1997, lesbian couples, after being refused marriage licenses by town clerks in Chittenden County, filed a lawsuit which is now before the state's top judges, and which, according to alarmist reports on CBN, could legalize same-sex marriage as early as May. After conducting a prolonged and bitter struggle against same-sex marriage in Hawaii, The Alliance for Traditional Marriage has developed an ally in a Burlington coalition group, which, reportedly, is under-staffed and under-supported. The Hawaiian fundamentalist front group, therefore, is asking of Vermont's citizens that they join the ranks of its activist crusade in order to ban all prospects for same-sex marriage. An anti-gay brochure, mailed by the Hawaiian group to every residence in Vermont, may have backfired, some believe, because Vermont's citizenry, staunchly independent and individualistic New Englanders, don't ordinarily take kindly to instructions received from activists headquartered in other states. The $40,000 mailing was paid for by the Citizens for Community Values of Ohio, another front group of fundamentalist anti-gay crusaders. The flyer presents itself as an open letter from Hawaii's residents to people in Vermont, although it by no means represents the views of all Hawaiians. "We believe that traditional marriage, between one man and one woman, richly benefits our society. . . . We have successfully defended traditional marriage in Hawaii. We wish you the same success in Vermont," says the brochure. Already the Hawaiian mailing has prompted prominent state politicians to suggest that Vermont's proud peoples are fully capable of making their decisions without help from meddlers situated far from their borders. In the wake of the brochure's receipt in every household, Vermont House Speaker Michael Obuchowski and Lieutenant Governor Doug Racine, both Democrats, have both spoken out in support of same-sex marriage. The flyer, signed by Traditional Marriage chairperson, Mike Gabbard, asks Vermont's residents to contact Take it to The People in Burlington and to join that group to 'protect' the institution of traditional marriage by denying it to persons who fail to meet strict religious fundamentalist standards which allow legal recognition only to the relationships of persons of opposite sexes. Gay marriage activists have long contended that there are many better ways to protect the institution of marriage than to perpetually crusade against same-sex lovers who actually hold monogamous relationships in high esteem. |
