Vermont marriage bill: Teenagers give a personal face to fight for marriage equality
March 24, 2009
Supporters of marriage equality in Vermont moved closer to victory when the Vermont Senate voted 26-4 to pass the marriage bill. Among those supporters who can claim credit for helping build bipartisan support for the bill is Outright Youth & Board Representative James Neiley, a gay 17-year-old student at Vermont's Champlain Valley Union High School, who testified last Thursday before the Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee in support of marriage equality. Watch the video of Neiley's testimony:
Gabby Benham, a student at Richford High School whose mother is in a lesbian relationship, also gave moving testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of the marriage bill. Watch the local NBC affiliate's (WPTZ) news report on Behnam's testimony:
By bravely sharing their stories, these young people help make it possible for other LGBT children and parents to have an easier time knowing that their lives and families will be considered equal in their state. The Senate's decision to pass the marriage bill this week moves us one step closer to LGBT equality being a reality in Vermont. The Vermont marriage bill now heads to the House of Representatives.
