Partnership System for Gays Advances

A key committee of the Vermont House voted in Montpelier in favor of developing a broad domestic partnership system for gay and lesbian couples instead of broadening marriage statutes. The House Judiciary Committee voted, 7 to 3, for what Chairman Thomas Little described as a system “different than, broader than” domestic partnership plans that have been discussed. The Legislature has been grappling with how to respond to a state Supreme Court ruling that said gay and lesbian couples are being unconstitutionally denied the rights and benefits that accompany legal marriage. The court said the Legislature could rectify that by expanding marriage or creating a parallel domestic partnership system.