Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage

MONTPELIER, Vt., April 8 (UPI) -- Gay and lesbian couples will be able to get married in Vermont beginning in September.

The state legalized same-sex marriage Tuesday when both houses of the state Legislature voted to override the governor's veto. Same-sex couples can begin getting marriage licenses in Vermont, Sept. 1.

Vermont was the first state in the United States to adopt civil unions and 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 Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed the same-sex marriage bill Monday. But the Legislature voted overwhelmingly to reverse him, 23-5 in the Senate and 100-49 in the House.

Jeff Young, who cast the 100th vote for an override, told The Boston Globe he originally voted against it because he decided it was not "family friendly." But he decided to switch when he realized he would be the one deciding whether it became law.

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.