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COMMUNIT^ONNECTIONI
SERVING WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA’S LESBIAN, CAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDERED COMMUNITY
HUGE VICTORY IN VERMONT: STATE SUPREME COURT RULES SAME-SEX
COUPLES ENTITLED TO EQUAL BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS
Same-Sex Marriage Legislation is Best
Way for Vermont Legislature to
Comply with Ruling to Treat Sex Same-
Couples Fairly and Equally, Says HRC
WASHINGTON - The Vermont Supreme
Court handed down a monumental deci
sion today, ruling that same-sex couples
must be offered the same “benefits" and
“protections" that married heterosexual
couples now receive. In its ruling, the
court directed the Vermont Legislature to
decide whether these benefits will come
through traditional marriage or through
a similar arrangement such as domestic
partnerships. Today's historic victory
assures that same-sex couples in Vermont
will receive the legal rights and protec
tions they deserve. It also continues the
trend towards offering equal benefits and
protections to gay and lesbian couples,
says the Human Rights Campaign.
“We are thrilled that the Vermont
Supreme Court had the wisdom and
courage to hand down this historic,
landmark decision," said HRC Political
Director Winnie Stachelberg. "There
has never been a logical or justifiable
reason to exclude same-sex couples
from marrying, and this decision vali
dates the unfairness of exclusion. This
is a tremendous victory for gay and les
bian couples in Vermont who are now
one-step closer to being considered
equal in the eyes of the law." Mary
Bonauto, and Susan Murray and Beth
Robinson of Langrock, Sperry & Wool
represented the couples who challenged
the ban on same-sex marriages.
"This is a legal and cultural milestone,"
said Bonauto, co-counsel for the plain
tiffs, and Civil Rights Director at the
New England-based Gay and Lesbian
Advocates and Defenders. "The court
recognized that same-sex couples need
and deserve the same legal rights and
protections other people take for grant
ed. The court's decision paves the way
for more secure families and stronger
communities."
According to the court justices: “We
hold that the state is constitutionally
required to extend to same-sex couples
the common benefits and protections
that flow from marriage under Vermont
law."
"We urge the Vermont Legislature to
legalize same-sex marriage because it is
the most fair and comprehensive way to
comply with the courts mandate that
same-sex couples receive equal treat
ment under the law," said Stachelberg.
The court also ruled that the state legis
lature will have the final say in how
these benefits will be administered. The
court ordered the legislature to act in a
timely manner, which leaves the possi
bility of the legislature taking up the
issue in the next session.
The impact of this decision on the nation
is still unclear and much will depend on
whether or not the Vermont Legislature
approves marriage or a separately con
structed system, says HRC.
“Same-sex couples in Vermont will soon
have legal recognition and protections
afforded heterosexual married cou
ples," said Stachelberg. “The question
that remains is how will these couples
be treated when they visit or move to
other states? For example, if a couple
travels to a neighboring state on vaca
tion and one person ends up in the hos
pital, does his or her partner still have
the same hospital visitation rights he or
she would if they were in Vermont?"
Vermont continued on page 18
Greg Haller and Parker Poole in a scene from Asheville on B’Way’s
The Normal Heart
"Asheville On Broadway"
Actors, Artists and Activists Against AIDS
The Steering Committee of "Asheville
On Broadway" would like to thank the
entire community for it's support and
generosity in making this 1st Annual
World AIDS Day Fund Raiser a great
success. We have received numerous
compliments on the event, and have
realized our goal of not only raising
money for People with HIV/AIDS in
our area, but also the goal of raising
awareness with the production of "The
Normal Heart".
For a first time event we have been con
sistently told that we should be very
pleased with the results. And, as
promised, we are including the details
of how much money was raised and
how it was spent. It has been our
promise from the beginning to produce
a positive event that allows all of you
who gave so kindly to know how your
donations were utilized. We hope this
report accomplishes that goal.
B’way continued on page 14