[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5744-5745]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN VERMONT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I am particularly proud of my home 
State, as we commemorate the fifth anniversary of the passage of 
Vermont's law guaranteeing marriage equality.
  Throughout history, Vermont has taken a leadership role in America's 
journey to build a more just society. Vermont was the first State in 
the

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Union to outlaw slavery, and Vermonters offered shelter to runaway 
slaves seeking refuge while in transit to Canada--serving as one of the 
last stops on the Underground Railroad. Vermont was also the first to 
adopt universal manhood suffrage, regardless of property ownership.
  It is because of this history that it is not surprising that Vermont 
has been at the forefront of our Nation's march toward marriage 
equality: Vermont was the first State to provide civil unions to same-
sex couples back in 2000. On April 7, 2009, Vermont took the next step, 
overriding a veto to pass legislation affording marriage equality to 
all Vermonters in loving relationships who wanted their commitment 
recognized by the State. Once again Vermont led the Nation by granting 
marriage equality for the first time through democratically elected 
officials on a bipartisan basis, instead of through the courts.
  This is not to say that it was easy. The initial move toward civil 
unions fomented heated debate among Vermonters and throughout the 
Nation. Several courageous leaders, such as the late Republican U.S. 
Senator from Vermont Bob Stafford, and State Representatives Bill 
Lippert and Marion Milne, among others, showed us the way, and their 
advocacy for equality was powerfully moving. Like many Vermonters, I 
listened to advocates, friends, and neighbors who reminded us that love 
and commitment are values to encourage and not to fear. I continue to 
be inspired by the inclusive example set by Vermont.
  Now, 5 years later, 3,766 same-sex couples have married in the State 
of Vermont, 17 States and the District of Columbia have marriage 
equality, and the Supreme Court has decided a landmark case on the 
issue of same-sex marriage. In that case--United States v. Windsor--the 
Court struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which 
defined marriage for purposes of Federal law as ``only a legal union 
between one man and one woman.'' The Court reasoned that the law 
deprived couples of equal liberty as protected by our Fifth Amendment. 
All Americans deserve equal justice under the law, and Marcelle and I, 
married for more than 50 years, celebrated this important decision, 
which pushed the Nation farther on its path toward equality.
  As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have long worked to 
make civil rights a focal point of our committee's agenda and a 
priority in the Senate. I often hear from those who think that the 
struggle for civil rights is over--that this issue is one for the 
history books. I remind them that this is our recent history and that 
while we have made great strides, there is still much work to be done. 
The march toward equality must continue until all individuals--
regardless of sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, race, 
ethnicity, religion, or disability--are protected and respected, 
equally, under our laws. I am confident that Vermont will continue to 
lead the way, and I am proud of all that we have already accomplished.

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