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Well, that was one shortlived celebration.

After the Vermont Senate approved a bill allowing same-sex marriage, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas has announced he'll veto the bill when it hits his desk. Although he told reporters he doesn't typically announce his intentions so far ahead of time, he thinks it's the only way to stop speculation about what his move may be, to refocus lawmakers' attention on the state budget.

Of course, then he trots out that old one-man/one-woman bull$%&# and says same-sex marriage is a deeply personal issue--uh, isn't all marriage a deeply personal issue, Gov?

"I believe marriage has always been and ought to remain the union of a man and a woman," Douglas said. "I believe the civil unions law has offered equal rights and benefits under state law to same-sex couples and that should suffice."

Equal rights? Civil union is not equal. It's less than; it's discriminatory. It's a sliver of pie when we're really hungry, Governor.

Don't get me wrong, I think civil unions have paved the way for same-sex marriage, but it isn't enough. Nowhere near enough.

Democratic leaders have called the governor's announcement an insult to the political process since they haven't even passed the bill yet. Douglas' move now puts pressure on the House, which can override the veto with a two-thirds majority.

And Governor Douglas is also saying that he thinks Democratic leaders would not have advanced the bill if they did not have enough votes to override a veto, and has acknowledged he will have no choice but to accept same-sex marriages if the house can get the numbers.

Sure, you just don't want to come out, no pun intended, as a supporter of gay marriage.

Douglas reiterates that he would like legislators to focus on just one thing right now: the economy; but lawmakers, and even children, can do more than one thing at a time, Governor, and still get things done.

Multitask, people!

That's what I'm doing right now. Blogging. Playing with the dog. Sipping a little cafe con leche. And doing a web search to get Governor Douglas' email address.

There. It. Is.

Write to Jim Douglas and ask him why he wants to veto equality. Why he wants to deny rights to a particular group of people. Why he thinks that is fair, or American, or right.

Write to him HERE