MONTPELIER, Vt. A commission formed to decide whether the Vermont Legislature should consider allowing gay marriage in the state was set to meet for the first time Thursday, Aug. 23.
The 10-member commission was appointed by leaders of Vermont’s House and Senate. It is led by former state Rep. Tom Little, who served as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, when the Legislature passed the law legalizing civil unions in 2000.
The volunteer commission is to complete its study by next spring, so it’s unlikely the Legislature could consider a gay marriage bill before 2009.
Meanwhile, New Hampshire is just months away in following Vermont’s lead in adopting civil unions. A civil unions law passed earlier this year goes into effect Jan. 1. Gay couples in New Hampshire will be allowed to be joined in unions giving them all the rights, responsibilities and obligations of marriage, but not the name.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition August 24, 2007