Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage

MONTPELIER, Vt., April 7 (UPI) -- Vermont legalized same-sex marriage Tuesday when both houses of the state legislature voted to override the governor's veto.

The first state in the United States to adopt civil unions, Vermont is now the first to legalize marriage for homosexual couples by legislative action, The Burlington Free Press reported. In Massachusetts, Connecticut and, last week, Iowa, the state courts found that bans on homosexual marriage are unconstitutional.

Republican Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed the same-sex marriage bill Monday. The legislature voted overwhelmingly to reverse him, 23-5 in the Senate and 100-49 in the House.

Supporters of the bill gathered at the Statehouse for the vote, WPTZ-TV, Burlington, said.

"We haven't decided who's going to propose to who yet," one man told the television station, with the couple adding that they have been partners for almost 25 years.

A bill has passed the House in neighboring New Hampshire. Gov. John Lynch has not said whether he would veto the measure if it passes the state Senate.

In New York, officials have said they will recognize gay marriages contracted in other jurisdictions.