 Vermont's Gov. Slams Anti-Gay Republicans Friday, 18 May 2001 MONTPELIER -- Vermont's Gov. Howard Dean
harshly criticized Republican leaders in the state House of
Representatives for their dogged attempts to repeal the state's landmark
civil unions law, the Rutland Herald reports.
The House is expected to take up a bill next week that replaces civil
unions for gay and lesbian couples with "reciprocal partnerships." The new
bill provides same sex couples with many of the rights and benefits of
civil union, but by allowing relatives to sign on as beneficiaries, it is
seen by many Republicans as a "less offensive" alternative.
Anti-gay lawmakers in the House have also presented amendments to
repeal the civil unions law without providing any replacement system. In
both versions printed this week, a provision called on the state to
prohibit same-sex marriage and declare same-sex sexual unions to be
"health hazards, contrary to public policy."
Dean told reporters Wednesday that what he heard angered him. "Years
from now when people read that legislation it's going to look like it
would for us to go back to the 1830s in the south and read about slave
owners," he said. "I think people's personal sexual lives ought to be off
bounds for this House. I think it’s frankly embarrassing that something
like that was printed in the calendar."
The Herald says GOP Rep. John Hall who sponsored one of the amendments,
left the caucus momentarily speechless when he said he was considering
removing the health hazard provision from his proposal. Having discussed
it with other lawmakers he said he had new reservations about specifying
health risks associated with certain activities.
"What about paraplegics?" Hall said, noting that "when they make love
it's oral."
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