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Beyond Vermont By C. M. Berman
Will Civil Unions spread to other states?

On July 1st, Vermont passed a historic Civil Union Law that offers some of the benefits of marriage to same-sex couples, and now at least seven other states are considering similar laws.
Couples who receive a Vermont civil union have, for instance, property and inheritance rights like those of married couples. However, Vermont's Civil Unions are not currently recognized in any other states or by the Federal Government. In fact, there are thirty-two states that ban same-sex unions of any kind.
However, the Associated Press has reported that some states, many of them in New England, are looking at the Vermont law as a possible model for their own civil union bills. States where such bills are being considered include Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. According to the Associated Press, David Smith of the Human Rights Campaign said that "other legislatures wishing to enact equal benefits, equal status for gay and lesbian people will look at this."
In New York, State Representative Tom Duane, a democrat from Manhattan, has said that he is currently considering a bill based on the Vermont Civil Union law. In Rhode Island, State Representative Michael Pisurato is crafting legislation that would go further, and expand marriage to include gays and lesbians.
Around the country, many still oppose any recognition of same-sex couples. But the tremendous interest and discussion generated by the passing of Vermont's bill has itself been valuable, according to Tim Sweeney, the Deputy Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda in New York. "The whole movement in Vermont has created a tremendous amount of education and discussion about lesbian and gay relationships and the kind of discrimination we face," said Sweeney. "It has been an extremely positive discussion and very helpful to humanize lesbian and gay relationships and our families."