GAY AGENDA:Same-sex marriage under study

A 10-member commission will study whether Vermonters are ready for a state law allowing same-sex marriage, legislative leaders announced Wednesday.The volunteer commission will hold six public hearings around the state to gauge public sentiment and talk to experts before making a recommendation to the Legislature by the end of April, House Speaker Gaye Symington and Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin said."It's time to ask whether it is in Vermont's interest to continue to maintain a separate legal status for same-sex couples,"Symington said.Gov.Jim Douglas called same-sex marriage unnecessary,overly divisive and suggested it's not where the Legislature should focus its efforts."I really think it's important for the Legislature to work with me to focus on what is important to everybody in Vermont and that's the cost of living in Vermont."Former Rep. Tom Little,a Shelburne Republican who helped craft Vermont's first-in-the-nation civil unions law in 2000,will lead the commission.Little made no bones about where he stands on the issue,he supports full-fledged marriage for same-sex couples."The way I'm framing the issue is,are there any good reasons grounded in law or morality or ethics that point to why we shouldn't do this?"he said at a Wednesday morning news conference in front of Burlington City Hall.Shumlin said same-sex marriage legislation is inevitable."It's not a question of yes or no. It's a question of when," he said...
To read more go to:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070726/NEWS01/707260314/1009
As in the days of Noah...