Vermont

A woman who is locked in a child custody battle with her former lesbian partner - and has renounced homosexuality - is facing arrest if she doesn't appear in a Vermont court with the child.

Family Court Judge William Cohen is holding a hearing in the custody battle between Lisa Miller of Forest, Va., and Janet Jenkins, of Fair Haven, Vt.

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.

The Washington Blade reports that new ads are appearing on Christian radio and television stations in Virginia in an attempt to block a custody agreement handed down by a local Family Court judge.

Lisa Miller continues to fight against her former civil partner over their young daughter.

The Vermont House passed a same-sex marriage bill by 95-52, which is not enough of a margin to override a veto promised by the governor.

The vote came late in the day after five hours of debate before a crowded chamber, said the group Vermont Freedom To Marry, in a posting on its website.

"It's a testament to the power of telling our stories," said Beth Robinson, a spokeswoman for the group. "We know we've got more work to do in the run-up to the override vote."

Last week, the bill passed the Senate 26-4.

Future dad, James Neiley, recently gave testimony to the Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee to support marriage equality in Vermont.

Neiley, a 17-year-old student at Champlain Valley Union High School, told committee members of his own difficulty coming out as a gay teenager and how the lack of marriage rights played into his own fears that he was less of a person than his straight counterparts.

Legalizing gay marriage would help the children of same-sex couples, because allowing gay couples to marry validates their relationships, could reduce discrimination and increases benefits for the families. These are the beliefs of Vermont's leading mental health and human service organizations.