Vermont is taking care of its gay and lesbian citizens in a way that other states are not.  Vermont is restating its commitment to fairness by today's action.
-David Smith of the Human Rights Campaign, as quoted by the Associated Press

On April 19, 2000, the Vermont state Senate gave final approval to a bill that will make it the first state to legally recognize relationships between gays and lesbians.  The measure - which is expected to be easily reconciled with a similar House measure before being signed by the state's governor - will not specifically permit gay marriage, but will allow gay couples to form "civil unions" that will entitle them to receive all the state's benefits of marriage.

State Senator James Leddy pointed out, "There's nothing in this court decision, nothing in this bill, nothing in the committed relationships of two people that presents a threat to my marriage." 

Leddy is right, and it won't hurt anyone else's marriage, either.  All it will do is give gay couples some of the rights they deserve.  In December 1999, Vermont's state Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples were being unconstitutionally denied the benefits of marriage.  As state Senator Jean Ankeney said, "Here I am with the opportunity to vote to extend civil rights in our state.  It is for me a high honor and one I will always treasure." 

Though opponents of civil unions take offense to allowing gay couples to have some of the benefits of marriage, gays and lesbians will also have to assume new responsibilities as well.  When partners in a civil union decide they want to break up, they'll have to go to Family Court, just like when a married couple wants to divorce.  New couples will have to accept the joint debts of their partners, too.

The Constitution requires states to recognize the "acts, records and proceedings" of all other states.  Civil unions performed in Vermont should be recognized across the country, to protect both constitutional and human rights.