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The
Boston
Globe
Vermont Commission
holds first meeting
to consider gay
marriage
By AP from boston.com
on the Web,. August 24, 2007
MONTPELIER, Vt. Aug. 23 --A
commission formed to decide whether the Vermont Legislature should consider
allowing gay marriage in the state will meet for the first time today.
The ten-member commission was appointed by leaders of Vermont's House and
Senate. It is led by former state Representative 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 January 1st. 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.
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