Judy Lawrence & Pat Collins'
Civil Union 9/22/00
" I'm getting married in the morning.
Ding, dong, the bells are going to chime..."
Well, perhaps no bells chimed and perhaps it's not really a marriage,
only a civil union, but it's as close to marriage as most of
us are likely to get in the near future.
This fall, my partner and I joined more than 500 non-Vermont
residents who have traveled to the state for civil unions since
the law took effect on July 1.
Why drive all the way to Vermont to register in a state where
we don't live? After all, the benefits of civil union in Vermont
only accrue if you reside in Vermont. They mean nothing to out-of-state
residents. Some people might say that. And I might admit that,
on one level, they're correct. Vermont's groundbreaking new law
allowing the registration and recognition of civil unions between
same-sex partners confers almost equal status as marriage, but
only within the state's borders.
"So why do it?" you ask. A reasonable question. But
only reasonable if you assume that straight couples marry only
so they can save on health insurance and access each other's
Social Security benefits in the event of either one's death.
Maybe some straight couples are motivated primarily by those
financial and legal benefits, but I'd prefer to assume that most
are not. I'd like to believe that the reason most people marry
is to declare publicly their love for one another and their commitment
to each other. Many lesbians, in particular, seem to yearn for
a loving commitment and the stability it can bring. Remember
that old joke about what a lesbian brings on her second date?
A U-Haul. Well, it's not so far from the truth for many women.
And if commitment is what you're looking for, Vermont is the
place to go.
Will the Vermont civil union law change anything for lesbian couples living in other parts of the country? That remains to be seen. Legislators all around the country have been watching to see how well Vermont officials who supported this landmark legislation fared in the recent election. The results were not clear: Some supporters were ousted while others won re-election. Needless to say, supportive legislators from other states are likely to remain on the fence for a while longer.
To learn more about what's being done to educate people to actively support this legislation, visit www.freedomtomarry.com.
If you and your partner have decided that a civil union is for you, Bennington, VT is one lovely place to have it happen. Bennington is a small town just inside Vermont's border, a 45-minute drive from Albany, NY. Nestled in the foothills of Vermont's Green Mountains, though close to New York, there's no question that you're in New England. Restaurants with romantic names overlook trickling mountain streams and scenic little inns and guesthouses dot the landscape. The air feels cleaner and fresher, and the people are far more relaxed than in the Northeast's
larger cities.
Several things are required in order for a civil union to be legal. A town clerk must issue a license and a ceremony must be held by a justice of the peace or a licensed clergy person. The JP or clergy person then signs the license and returns it to the town clerk. A couple of weeks later, the couple receives their official certificate in the mail. The cost is a mere $40 and no other documents are required. To read the text of the bill visit www.vtfreetomarry.org.
To marry or not to marry, that is the question that many lesbian couples are asking themselves. Whether or not a civil union is for you, it's wonderful that we now have a choice.