Unitarian Universalists Speak Before Vermont State Legislature in Support of Same Sex Marriage
Testimony of The Rev. Dr. Nancy Jay Crumbine, Minister,
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley, Norwich, Vermont
March 1, 2000, speaking before the Vermont State Legislature
I am an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister from Norwich, Vermont. I
have come to plead for the children of Vermont, and beg the legislature to open
civil marriage to all Vermonters for our children's sake. As a step in that
direction, we are here today to support the House Judiciary Bill on Civil Union,
H847.
Families of same-gender couples suffer greatly because our society has not
recognized them as families. The lack of support for gay parents which results
in their being forbidden the support of the institution of civil marriage has
tragic consequences, for them, their children, and for the state.
Over the years, I have also listened to many of my Dartmouth students who have
been painfully confused by their own feelings of love and commitment, the dread
and fear of homosexuality they have been taught, and the complete absence of
role models for same-gender couples who wish to marry.
The particular intransigence of homophobia is multi-layered and difficult.
Our failure to recognize same-gender couples as part of our "common humanity"
can be overcome only by the clarity of legal leadership. This is the power of
representative democracy. A minorities rights can never be left up to the majority
rule.
For the state to shy away from full equality for all in civil marriage, because
some members of some religious sects are not "ready", would be a failure of
courage and a tragic compromise.
Thankfully, conservatives as well as liberals are coming to understand this.
The example of Rep. Suchmann, Republican, Windsor-5 endorsing same-gender marriage,
is one of many instances over the last few weeks in which clarity of thought
has taken precedence over confusion of feeling:
The unanimous decision of the Vermont Supreme Court is an historic and joyous
event for all humanity, gay and straight, liberal and conservative. We want
the legislators to know that if they have the courage to uphold the constitution
by granting gay and lesbians their fundamental civil rights, we who are committed
to education and justice will bring their constituencies along the same road
to understanding that they have traveled these past few weeks.
We Unitarian Universalists are committed this week, this year….as long as it
takes…..for the voters of Vermont to understand that social justice is not an
arena of compromise and that gays and lesbians are no less deserving of their
civil rights than any other minority in this state.
UUs
Speak in Vermont
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