A Small Vermont Community Steps Out to Support Same-Sex Marriage

One thing that I have learned about the political battles regarding GLBT equality is that they are best taken on not in national forums, but in local areas like Bennington, Vermont. The state of Vermont is considering legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage, and people are gathering across the state to support this effort.

Members of the community — both gay and straight — including doctors, teachers, lawyers, reverends and a rabbi, supported gay marriage at a public hearing Saturday before a commission charged with reporting its findings to the Legislature.

Dozens of people, many wearing stickers supporting the Vermont Freedom to Marry task force, urged the committee to support same-sex marriage on Saturday.

A coalition of groups recently formed the Vermont Marriage Advisory Council. The council plans to hold hearings and public forums across the state on the benefits of traditional marriage.

Dwight Schmuck, of Wilmington, said same-sex couples that want to make a commitment to each other should be allowed to legally do so.

"Any two people who want to make a commitment, who love each other, who are we to say no?" Schmuck said.

Alice Spencer told the committee that every generation in her family, from her great-grandparents to her grandchildren, has had gay or lesbian members. Spencer, herself a lesbian, said it did not make sense that she has been allowed to serve as a foster parent but not allowed to marry her partner.

"I can adopt but I am in violation of marriage laws? That's silly," she said. "Families are families. You can't make a family out of a law."

Click here to read the rest of the story from the Bennington Banner.