Step Two

Well, it's another step taken up Vermont way.

The Senate voted 26-4 in favor of the same-sex marriage bill, which will have a third reading and vote Tuesday; all bills have three readings.

They do a three reading system up there because it gives people a chance to reconsider or amend an item, but it is unlikely a vote would change on the third read.

The House will hear a similar measure today, with testimony before the House Judiciary Committee; the full vote could come as early as next week.

Let's pause, and breathe a second, realizing that this is one more baby step on the road to full equality under the law, because there are those who oppose the same-sex marriage bill, even up there in Vermont.

And they are: Repugnant Senators Randy Brock, Vince Illuzzi, Hull Maynard and Dumbass Democratic Senator Bobby Starr. Other senators, who had been undecided, and then voted for the bill are Democrat Dick Mazza, and Republicans Phil Scott and Bill Doyle.

There was passionate debate, and some really idiotic things said, on both sides of the issue. Democratic Senator John Campbell apparently likes the sound of his voice because he said:
"We're not condoning homosexuality....What we're doing is recognizing that some people are homosexuals."

Really? Some people are gay? Who knew?

Repugnant Senator Randy Brock, who is against the bill because he believes civil unions afford same-sex couples all the rights of marriage, said:
'We have denied Vermonters the full opportunity to express their opinions."

First off, senator, the people elected you to express their opinion, and you have now, so please be quiet and listen. Civil unions are not the same as marriage, because if they were we wouldn't need both. But you want civil unions to keep the homos happy and quiet.

Yeah, that's equality.