Gay marriage bills proposed in Vermont and California!!!

While I'm for the most part opposed to "same sex civil unions" on grounds that they are likable to "separate but equal" laws, they are at the very least one step in the right direction, and Vermont is proving it!! Legislation has been proposed that would replace Vermont's civil union law with same sex marriage.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Mark Larson (D) and has 32 house members and 10 senators as co-sponsors.

"After seven years of civil unions, this is simply the right thing to do," Larson said in introducing the legislation.

The legislation, Larson said, would do three things. First, it would give same-sex couples the right to marry. Secondly, it would allow clergy to refuse to perform a same-sex marriage if it violated their religious beliefs. Thirdly it would convert civil unions already performed into marriages.

Meanwhile, a bill to allow gay marriages has also been submitted to the California legislature, where similar legislation passed in 2005 but was vetoed by bigot Governor Schwarrzenegger. In New York, Governor Elliot Spitzer is expected to propose a same-sex marriage bill sometime this year!

Same sex marriage is expected to be ruled upon by both the California, and Maryland Supreme Courts in the near future.