As a member of the only major jurisdiction to live through what the country is now grappling with, I just want to give my thoughts on how the issue played out in Vermont after the Baker decision which prompted our Civil Unions law. It's been a pretty remarkable turn-around for one of the most divisive debates in recent Vermont politics.
First off, I'm not going to get into a Civil Unions vs. Marriage debate. In the end, it's not particularly relevant; the debate here didn't really turn on that distinction as much as some people think.
And, make no mistake, the debate here was brutal. Vermonters are used to debating political issues (town meeting is a reality here), and, generally, a political debate is no reason to get upset. But the Civil Unions time was ugly. I had a pro-Civil Unions sign up on my lawn, and I got garbage tossed over my fence. I got my sign stolen repeatedly. I heard people yell out of their cars. And, to be fair, the same thing happened to people on the other end of the debate. It fanned emotions in a way not often seen in Vermont.
The Vermont Legislature, to its credit (and with a strong push from then-Gov. Dean), did not duck the issue and passed the Civil Unions law. The opponents gave the predictable arguments: weakening of the sanctity of marriage, quotes from the Bible, etc. The proponents appealed to American notions of equality and separation of Church and State. The discussion was everywhere.
I could write a book on that time (and others have), but my main point here is to talk about the aftermath. The issue, in a word, died. No one talks about it anymore. The GOP mouths empty words designed to paper over the issue, and the Democrats rarely mention it too. And that's not because people are avoiding it; it just doesn't matter anymore. For any conservative fundraiser hoping for a Roe v. Wade-style fight in the years to come, forget it. Once the law passed, it left the station. Marriage survived, the tourist industry thrived, Vermont was blessed with the sight of loving couples partaking in a joyous ceremony of commitment. The issue of gay rights was no longer gay pride parades, but simple ceremonies and floral wreaths. And even most of the 50-60% of people opposed to the law seemed to mostly forget why they were opposed (there are some bitter-enders, but they're way marginalized).
At the time, I respected the opponents' arguments as deeply held beliefs coming from a moral tradition, but, in the end, it's simply a fight about love vs. hate. One side wants to acknowledge love, the other wants to codify hate. When I look at the effect the law has had in Vermont, it really does seem that simple. I still understand that some people believe otherwise, but seeing the law in practice, it gets increasingly hard to see their point.
So, the fight ahead will be brutal, and I hope John Kerry meets with Howard Dean for some extensive talks on how to deal with it. But, it's a fight worth having, and it's a fight that, once won, will be won forever.