And Vermont Makes Four For Equal Rights

An earthquake may have rocked Italy last week, but I swear the U.S. is feeling a similar seismic shift. Four days after Iowa legalized gay marriage, Vermont joins the fray, becoming the fourth state to grant equal rights, with Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The state's House recorded a dramatic 100-49 vote, the minimum needed to override a veto from homophobe Gov. Jim Douglas, who reckoned that the state's legalized civil unions did enough for homos. The guv commented in the press that the issue of gay marriage is "a distraction during a time when economic and budget issues were more important. What really disappoints me is that we have spent some time on an issue during which another thousand Vermonters have lost their jobs. We need to turn our attention to balancing a budget without raising taxes, growing the economy, putting more people to work."

Hey, Jim, fags are out of work, too, and we still should have the right to marry. Bite me.

Of course, there's a long road ahead, since random state approvals don't do dingo for federal immigration laws, which still forbid recognition of bi-national gay marriage. Further, under the federal Defense of Marriage Act, the U.S. government does not recognize same-sex unions, even those that are legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut and several foreign countries. It's going to take decades to undo the damage put in place by our previous buffoon president. Let's just hope that Obama not only works toward saving the economy, but remembers his campaign vows to social justice, as well.