WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Protests and Parties for Same-Sex Marriage Law

Protests and Parties for Same-Sex Marriage Law

Duxbury, Vermont - September 1, 2009

"By the power vested in me by the state of Vermont, I do hereby recognized, I certify, and yes I do proclaim that you are married and partners for life," Justice of the Peace Greg Trulson proclaimed.

With those words, Bob Sullivan and Bill Slimback made history. Just after midnight they became one of the first couples to marry under Vermont's new marriage equality act.

"When we learned we had the opportunity to be the first I wanted to jump right on it," Sullivan said. "This was something that me and Bill I feel like we've been in line for 17 years."

It's a law not everyone is applauding. Some opponents say marriage should be between a man and a woman.

"This feeds into our disappointment with our elected representatives in Montpelier who continually tell us one thing and do another or on this issue in particular know exactly what Vermonters think abut the issue and then go and do the opposite," said Craig Benson, an opponent of gay marriage.

The new law drew opposition from out of state as well. Five members of the Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas spoke out against the law at rallies in Burlington and Montpelier.

"As long as the words get seen and read our mission is accomplished," said Jael Phelps, of the Westboro Baptist Church. "Our duty is to warn our neighbor that their sin is taking them to hell and to preach the truth."

In both places they were met by much larger groups of counter-protesters-- praising the law and speaking out against what they called a message of hate.

More than 100 people rallied at UVM.

"I'm out here because I'm gay and obviously I've heard about these people in the past and I think they're completely ridiculous and they don't really belong in Vermont, especially not on September first when gay marriage law goes into effect," said Ian MacLeod, a freshman at UVM.

Ben and Jerry's is celebrating the new law by symbolically changing the name of its Chubby Hubby ice cream to Hubby Hubby. It passed out free scoops in support of marriage equality.

Sean Greenwood of Ben and Jerry's said, "That thought of us looking at the social justice issues and equality, this seems to be one that fits perfectly with that."

Tuesday evening a celebration was getting underway at The Essex. It is billed as the state's biggest marriage equality party. There's even a wedding cake-- marking this historic day that weddings are now legal for same-sex couples, too.

Kate Duffy - WCAX News

Related Story:

Making History: Same-Sex Couple Ties the Knot at 12:01 a.m.