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Family Law

: Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Legal Briefs

VT, NH & ME Introduce Equal Marriage Rights Bill

By Christopher Vaughn-Martel

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From the AP at Bay Windows on January 16, 2009.

According to a report by the Associated Press, and published by , State Sen. Dennis Damon (D-Trenton) said he is introducing a bill to rewrite Maine?s existing statute that defines marriage as between one man and one woman, instead defining it as a union between two people. In addition, it recognizes gay marriages from other states.

"Currently there is discrimination. Heterosexual couples who have decided to spend their lives together are treated differently than same-sex couples who have ... that same commitment to each other," Damon said. "I don?t see the fairness of that. I don?t see the need for that, and this bill will put an end to that."

Maine currently has a domestic partnership registry that?s open to same-sex couples. But that?s not enough for gay marriage supporters. Damon says it?s time to "fully end discrimination in Maine."

In New Hampshire, a bill has been submitted to the legislature to replace the term "civil union" with "marriage" in the state's 1-year-old civil union law. Vermont, the first state in the nation to permanently establish civil unions is now also likely to consider a gay marriage, or marriage equality, bill.

Currently, full same-sex marriage rights are recognized in only Massachusetts and Connecticut. New Jersey, California, New Hampshire, and Vermont currently have civil union statutes.

Full post as published by Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Legal Briefs on January 16, 2009 (boomark / email).