Article: Vt. Civil Unions Bill Becomes Law

ROSS SNEYD, Associated Press Writer
AP Online
04-27-2000
Vt. Civil Unions Bill Becomes Law

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Gov. Howard Dean has signed Vermont's landmark civil unions bill into law and he did it quietly, with no fanfare.

``The healing process now begins,'' he said Wednesday.

The law, the first of its kind for any state, will allow same-sex couples to form civil unions beginning July 1. That will entitle them to all of the rights, privileges, benefits and responsibilities of civil marriage.

The Legislature wrote a law that is separate and distinct from the marriage statutes. Lawmakers said that was in keeping with the state Supreme Court's ruling that gay and lesbian couples were ...

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