A statewide same-sex marriage law took effect at 12am on September 1, 2009, which made Vermont the fourth gay marriage state in America.
The Vermont legislature overrode Gov. Jim Douglas’s veto of a bill on August 7 of that same year allowing same-sex couples to marry. The move made Vermont the first state to allow gay marriage through legislative action.
With House and Senate votes of 100 to 49 and 25 to 5, respectively, the legislative branches were successful in procuring the exact number of votes needed to override Gov. Douglas's veto. Vermont became the fourth US state to allow same-sex marriage behind Vermont, Connecticut and Iowa.
Vermont was the first state to grant civil unions under then Gov. Howard Dean on December 20, 1999.
The Vermont legislature overrode Gov. Jim Douglas’s veto of a bill on August 7 of that same year allowing same-sex couples to marry. The move made Vermont the first state to allow gay marriage through legislative action.
With House and Senate votes of 100 to 49 and 25 to 5, respectively, the legislative branches were successful in procuring the exact number of votes needed to override Gov. Douglas's veto. Vermont became the fourth US state to allow same-sex marriage behind Vermont, Connecticut and Iowa.
Vermont was the first state to grant civil unions under then Gov. Howard Dean on December 20, 1999.
