Vermont Civil Rights Case Study

This outgoing act shows how America is starting to broaden its horizons towards the term gay as an adjective and as a noun. In the year 2000, “Vermont [became] the first state in the country to legally recognize civil unions between gay or lesbian couples” (The American Gay Rights Movement). As we move along in time gay rights are steadily growing and are being respected by more and more people. Even though there are still some people who are still some people who are very much against homosexuality, the way of living still continues.

Historically, the same sex marriage movement can be traced back to the early 1970’s, when gay rights activists begun the movement by bringing forward three suits in Minnesota, Kentucky, and Washington, but none of the suits were successful (Rosenberg). Following these actions in 1986, the case of Bowers v. Hardwick was brought before the Supreme Court

The case was later sent to lower court. Voters approved a constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage. Hawaii gain national attention, over 40 states over the next 10 years will pass the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMAs). That defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. On September 21, 1996. President Bill Clinton, signed Federal Defense Of Marriage Act into a law. Which define marriage at a federal level between one man and one woman. This meant there would be no recognition in same sex nor federal protection and benefits given to married heterosexual couples. Vermont was the first state to introduce same sex marriage by enacting a statue without being required to do so by a court decision. December 20, 1999, Vermont court ruled in baker v. Vermont that Vermont constitution entitles same sex couples to the same benefits and protections afforded by Vermont law to married opposite sex couples. Between 2005 and Sep. 15, 2010, 14 more states followed suit, bringing the total number of states with constitutional bans on gay marriage to 30. On July 19, 2011, the Obama administration announced that it will be supporting a bill to repeal the Defense Of Marriage Act. Another decision on Feburary 23, 2011, Obama instructed the Justice Department ti stop defending Defense of Marriage act, over concerns that it violates the fifth amendment. On May 9, 2012 President Obama was the first sitting

This act was passed to define and protect the institution of marriage which is supposed to be “between a man and a woman”. As a tactic, the state of Vermont promoted same sex marriages by labeling them as “civil unions” (Schowengerdt, 2002). The state of Vermont felt civil unions would provide gays and lesbians with the same financial benefits as heterosexual couples (Stewart, 2004). In 1998, Hawaii’s stated legislation implemented the DOMA amendment that altered the state’s constitution and rejected same sex marriages (Schowengerdt, 2002). Between 1995 and 2000, 28 states passed laws preventing the recognition of same sex marriages (Schowengert, 2002). The purpose of the DOMA was to prevent gays and lesbians from “exporting same sex marriages to other states” (Finnis, 1997). A Florida Federal Judge denied two women recognition of their marriage which took place in Massachusetts. As a result of this denial, attemtps were made to force other states and the federal government to recognize same sex marriages in states where it is legal (Stewart, 2003).

Vermont along with the rest of the fifty states is ran in a republican manor mirroring the influence of the United States government. There are topics with in government that influence our society in a dramatic way. Topics like abortion, and immigration.

The first spark to set flames to the waging war on marriage equality happened on October 15, 1971. In the Supreme Court case of Baker v. Nelson on October 15, 1971, one of three cases brought forth by same-sex couples, Richard Baker and James Richard McConnell were denied a marriage license by a county court clerk in Minnesota in May of 1970 (Minnesota Legislature, 1971, Richard John Baker and Another v. Gerald R. Nelson). The initial trial court dismissed their claim, declaring that the clerk had the power to refuse the right of marriage to gay couples. The couple lost again in the Minnesota Supreme Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court followed by confirming the ruling. For the next twenty four years, basic human rights were continuously denied nationwide in cases similar to Baker v. Nelson and in anti-gay attempts to restrict homosexual marriage. Eventually, there showed signs of hope such as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in May, 1996 and Massachusetts becoming the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in December, 1996. In relatively recent news, the LGBTQ community celebrated a monumental win as the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage a constitutional right for Americans nationwide. On the 25th of June, 2015, many rejoiced this new ruling. Unfortunately, just as many were disgusted at the new legislation. The topic of marriage equality is a unique controversy due to the fact that it gathers so many strong opinions to the cause from many different walks of life.

That was the day the first legal homosexual marriage occurred. Since then, parts of the world have let homosexual marriage into their culture. “In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples” (Gay Marriage State by State: From a Few States to the Whole Nation). Four years later, in 2008, another state legalized it. This state was Connecticut. “Citing that decision in part, dozens of federal district courts declared state marriage restrictions to be unconstitutional, the Supreme Court declined to intervene, and the number of states authorizing same-sex marriage expanded rapidly” (Gay Marriage State by State: From a Few States to the Whole Nation). The last states to legalize it were: almost every state between Texas and Florida, North and South Dakota, and Nebraska. Since then, protests about churches not marrying homosexual couples have occurred, streets have parades marching down them, with people carrying their rainbow colored flags to represent “gay pride” and hoping that this is enough for people to protest with them to let homosexual marriage never be refused again.

Obergefell v Hodges is the case to know when it comes to gay rights in the United States of America. It started in Maryland were Jim Obergefell and his partner, John Arthur were legally married in 2013 (ABC news). Later the couple moved to Ohio where their marriage license was not recognized by the state (ABC news). This hurt the couple and made them feel like they had been denied their basic rights as U.S. citizens. A few months after the case went to trial in the Federal case, John Arthur passed away of ALS or Lou Gehrig disease (ABC news); This led to a whole new cluster of legal issues. When the state went to file Mr. Arthur’s death certificate, Jim realized that his name was not written on the spouse line and would not be due to same-sex marriage prohibition laws in the state (ABC news). Not only did this infuriated Mr. Obergefell, it meant that he wouldn’t be able to receive John Arthur’s social security or receive any of the benefits spouses receive after losing a partner (ABC news). After fighting with the offices for weeks, Obergefell decide to take this issue to court not only to gain the respect his marriage deserved but to fight for all same-sex couples affected

I do believe that Vermont is facing a severe epidemic when it comes to opiate addiction. According to Governor Peter Shumlin, “We 're spending roughly $134 million of taxpayer dollars a year to incarcerate drug- and alcohol-addicted people.” The amount of money spent on addicted people is astonishing. This dollar amount could be greatly reduced if

The Supreme Court ruled that it was not unconstitutional to not give the couple a license (Minnesota Reports 310-311). Not until 2004 did the United States have a state, Massachusetts, which permitted same-sex marriage (Hackl, Boyer, and Galupo 1). There are many reasons why gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual would like to become married. There are financial benefits, legal benefits, physiological benefits, as well as stability (Karasu 13). Some of the legal benefits are martial tax deduction, social security, I.R.A. benefits, Inheritance, health insurance, hospital visits, and even receiving tuition

During the 1980s, Wisconsin became the first state to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation while Vermont became the first state to legalize civil unions between same-sex couples in 2000. The first legal marriage in the US took place in 2004 in Massachusetts. But LGBT couples still did not have complete freedom throughout the country to marry the partner of their choice. California made same-sex marriage illegal in 2008 and the struggle continued till President Barack Obama became the

It is in sweeping terms that would have been unimaginable just about 12 years ago. In 2003, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts became the first state to ratify the right to marriage equality at a state level constitution. Now the Supreme Court of the United States is needed to decide whether the Federal Constitution would require all states to either license same-sex marriages or to recognize those marriages if they’re performed elsewhere in a state that allows it.

The case of Obergefell v Hodges began in early 2014 when a same-sex couple in Ohio believed their Constitutional rights were being infringed upon. The couple included James Obergefell and John James who were legally married in Maryland in 2013. Mr.James became terminally ill and died, but his

Vermont becomes the first state in the country to legally recognize civil unions between gay or lesbian couples. The law states that these “couples would be entitled

Same sex- marriage is still the topic of many peoples conversation across the country. Citizens, divided by politic party, are very passionate about how they feel about it. The president didn’t approve of it at first, but now he finally accepts same- sex marriage, the Judicial System uses its power to dictate to the States, forcing them to accept same- sex marriage. Both houses of Congress continue to debate what marriage means.