Expert comment from the University of Pennsylvania Same-Sex Marriage in Vermont
Note for TV and radio: The University of Pennsylvania has a satellite uplink facility with live-shot capability and an ISDN line.
April 7, 2009
Expert: Tobias Barrington Wolff Professor of Law University of Pennsylvania Credentials: • Researches and teaches constitutional law, conflict of laws, sexuality and law • Author of the one of the lead amicus briefs before the Iowa Supreme Court, representing a coalition of civil rights groups
Quote: “Vermont was the first state to adopt civil unions as a separate form of relationship recognition for gay couples. With their vote in favor of full marriage equality, the Vermont legislature has now offered their judgment, after 10 years of experience, that civil unions do not constitute an adequate alternative. That judgment will likely have a major impact on the continuing deliberations in states like New Hampshire and New Jersey, which currently offer civil unions to same-sex couples but are considering full marriage equality, and New York, where the legislature is considering the enactment of a marriage equality bill that the governor has indicated he would sign, and every other state in which the issue of equal treatment for same-sex couples is under active discussion.”
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