Vermont

Hawaii and Delaware join the list of states which recognize same-sex civil unions. Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island already recognize civil unions providing state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples. Six other states and Washington, D.C. allow same-sex marriage - creating a patchwork of U.S. legislation for same-sex couples who want to legalize their unions. Marriage licenses are given to same-sex couples in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and D.C. California's struggle for marriage equality is stayed pending an appeal.

Vermont's first-term Democrat leader recently married a lesbian couple from Royalton. The small ceremony took place last week in the Governor's office wedding Michele "Mitch" Beck [55] and Ann Beck [56]. Shumlin met the couple at a campaign event when he was running for governor last summer and told them he'd be happy to perform their wedding ceremony if he were elected. Governor Shumlin paid $100 to the Secretary of State's office to be certified as a "temporary officiant" in order to perform the ceremony.

Governor Peter Shumlin will visit Rhode Island at the invitation of supporters of marriage equality to talk about Vermont’s experience as the first state to recognize civil unions and its later transition to allowing marriage for same-sex couples. Shumlin will meet with Governor Lincoln Chafee and with legislative leaders. Vermont was the first state to offer legal recognition to same-sex couples when it passed its civil union law in 2000.

Lisa Miller may have kidnapped her daughter - and fled to Central America. Miller failed to appear for a court-ordered custody swap in January with Janet Jenkins - her former lesbian partner. Jenkins' attorney believes Miller took their daughter to El Salvador last September.

A second parent adoption is a legal procedure that allows a same-sex parent to adopt a partner’s biological or adoptive child without terminating the legal rights of the first parent. States must honor second-parent adoptions from other states.

Second-parent adoption is authorized in California by statute - and where appellate courts have ruled that the state adoption law permits second-parent adoption.

A statute is a law passed by a legislature. An appellate court is about appeals. It has the power to review the judgment of another lower court or tribunal.

As some of you may be aware, Vermont began to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples just last night after a vote made back in April began taking effect at exactly midnight a little over four months after state lawmakers voted to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of the legislation.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7016266209?Vermont%20Begins%20Is...

Vermont became the fourth state to allow gay marriages on April 7, when the state House and state Senate voted 100-49 and 23-5, respectively, to override a veto by the governor.

Governments and citizens are accepting gay partnerships at a rapid pace. The recent Iowa court's meaningful decision was followed four days later by the Vermont Legislature’s legalizing gay marriage over Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto. Then the Washington, D.C., City Council unanimously voted to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. And President Obama personally invited families headed by gay and lesbian couples to this year’s Easter Egg Roll.