HB.73 NOW SIGNED INTO LAW

New Hampshire has now become the 6th State to officially legalize Same Sex Marriage. In an astonishing 198-176 house vote the bill immediately left for Governor Lynch where he signed the bill making New Hampshire a part of the Same Sex Marriage Alliance of States! ( my special term for it hehe ) Welcome New Hampshire residents to freedom to marry the consenting adult you wish! We from Vermont are proud of you all who made it happen.

Governor John Lynch Released a Statement ( Click Here )

On a personal note I am very surprised with this, as I have always thought New Hampshire to be very conservative State, but it looks like the damage to the republican party has given us some breathing room from the oppression, lets not stop the fight everyone! Our sisters and brothers are still struggling in other states and we are struggling federally! Lets continue to open the hearts and minds of those around us!

~Celeste~

original images were taken from national geographic and nhftm

Granite State's Day of Decision

On June 3rd VTFreeToMarry ( a crucial organization for passing same sex marriage in Vermont ) is helping to organize a rally in Concord, New Hampshire on June 3rd from 9AM to 12PM EST. ( Address Information Below )

The rally will be for the support of Same Sex Marriage Bill HB 73, the state legislature will be making a final vote to the proposed changes to the bill by Governor Lynch, after which ( if it passes ) will then go back to Governor Lynch with or without changes to the bill, where he has stated that he will sign the bill if it meets his criteria.

But opposition has been promoting hate and lies, whether it be through televised commercials with claims of bribery, or protests and door to door slander of the LGBT community. So we need every able body to counter the opposition. Come to the state house plaza and bring your friends, family and anyone who wishes to come! Every person will count ( in or out of state ), this is a peaceful rally, please show your support for HB. 73 to the New Hampshire State legislature.

Please also contact them and remind them how crucial this bill is to equality in NH.

New Hampshire: Senate
New Hampshire: House of Representatives
New Hampshire: Governor Lynch

Rally Address ( Be There! )

Date:	Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Time:	9:00am - 12:00pm
Location:	The State House Plaza
Street:	107 N Main Street
City/Town:	Concord, NH

For More Information on the Rally ( Click Here )
If you are in the Vermont Area Get on the Equality Bus! ( Click Here )

When Injustice is Upheld

When injustice is upheld the human race as a whole loses. When injustice is upheld the religious driven movement of a public majority gains strength to oppress further human dignities, rights and basic freedoms.

As we have known it through history... popular belief is not always the correct belief. Where civilizations have fallen to popular belief, others thrive on such popularity and the discrimination and torture of a minority is all but imminent.

Thanks to the judges of California, this radical shift in the constitution could permanently damage the constitution not only as a state, but possibly infect the righteousness of the constitution nation wide. This virus that has consumed the very heart of what it means to be free, needs to be eradicated or all shall fall to the terror that it will froth.

Is it right to take this back to the ballot? Why should we face and fight for continued discrimination? When our opposition uses the media as a blunt instrument to demonize who we are, too do nothing but lie. When we fall to the majority, will our rights ever be safe? After all, should our rights not be protected from ballot initiatives? Fighting for another ballot initiative, wise or foolish? You decide~

Proposition H8 is nothing but legal terrorism.

~So much for Human Rights~

~Celeste~


image is of unknown origin, I do not claim ownership of this image, all credits to the one who created it

Maine Legalizes Same Sex Marriage!

Yay another wonderful day, the Governor of Maine has now signed marriage equality for same sex couples! Maine is now the 5th state to legalize same sex marriage and is now the 1st state to legalize same sex marriage through legislation without having to override the Governor.

Surely this is a wonderful day for the United States, the world and for all Terran kind. I hope to see more liberation of the discrimination in the upcoming months! Lets slay the beast, Proposition 8 and put an end to the hatred once and for all! <3

~Celeste~

Same Sex Marriage Vermont SUCCESS

I am so happy after so much opposition and harassment from those against S.115. It has now come! Today at about 10:30PM the bill became law after overriding the Governor's veto. Vermont is the FIRST state to legalize same sex marriage VIA legislation! This gives hope for California, this gives hope for all the other states fighting for marriage equality.

This also gives us all hope to strike down DOMA, the fight has just begone but we are gaining momentum at such a fast rate. Thank you Iowa, thank you Sweden, you may have helped us to get our marriage in Vermont! This is such a historic moment for our world, for LGBT citizens everywhere!

I am also pleased to announce that Vermont is the FIRST state to successfully pass same sex marriage legislation and override a governors veto. It is amazing how far we have come in 9 years, even though I was too young to understand politics to this degree... I am so happy and this gives me so much hope and happiness for the future of the United States!

THANKS TO THE HOUSE OF REPS, THE SENATE, AND MOST OF ALL VTFREETOMARRY YOU MADE IT POSSIBLE, I LOVE YOU ALL ^.^

Now if you'd excuse me, I'm going out to celebrate!

Fight the Hate!
Give the Love!

~Celeste a lesbian Vermonter~

Governor or Dicator? S.115 Vetoed

Dictator to harsh of a statement? Who can respect this man for vetoing my marriage, our marriages, our children's, friend's, and relatives marriages? He has absolutely no right to do this and I think there should be a law passed preventing Governors from vetoing civil rights legislation.

At the very least the Governor is consistent with cowardly acts. He claims he is for the State of Vermont, yet ignores a minority of people within it and ignores an overwhelming majority of support for the states senate bill 115. The bill was supported 26 to 4 and 97 to 53 ( predicted overall house count ). The very fact that he can ignore this, and completely ignore all the issues revolved around it.

I did not once see a press conference, a statement after the Governors so called announcement to veto the bill and it is unlikely that we will see any now that he has done it also. The Governor has an uncanny cowardice for avoiding the public when it comes to the real issues, especially issues he causes. I have written him 10 emails and some letters, within a year and a half, and have I received a single letter? a single email? NO, clearly he cares more about his personal belief than the welfare of other human beings. Clearly he doesn't give single thought as to the other opinions of Vermonters.

It is also important to note that I am pretty positive that he did not once involve himself in the issues underlining this bill. More as he saw something he didn't like, he stuck to his dislike and ignored the facts presented to him.

Jim Douglas is not a Governor, he is a dictator.

~Celeste~

Vermont House of Representatives S.115 Approved!

Thursday Bill Approved 95-52: On Thursday the house of representatives heard many testimonies from other representatives. Same Sex Marriage proposers sat and watched as many members of the house spoke for and against S.115. You can view the entire debate video at the Burlington free press. ( Click here )

Representatives for the bill gave emotional speeches, some were brought to tears, others paused in the pain and more tears as well as lost for words. I too found myself weeping to the heart breaking stories. I cannot see anyone who could not feel the pain we feel everyday, the discrimination, the reason why we wish to get married and why it is the right thing to do.

As for the opposition, for the most part it was pretty much the same as you'd expect. The repeated "Marriage is traditionally between a man and a woman." One representative was honest about his decision who opposed the bill, that it was based on religious grounds, which despite my disagreement, it seemed that he honestly wanted to vote for the bill. However, I appreciate that he was honest and not hiding behind slogans like other's who opposed the bill did.

Votes came in heavily for the bill, 95 to 52, with absent members of the house. Representatives gave reasons for their decisions, I am also proud to announce that my home town's representative voted YES for the bill!

Friday Bill Approved 94-52: The vote did not decrease, various representatives were not available. One representative who was not there on Thursday showed up to vote yes for the bill. I estimate the total house of representatives for the bill is 97-53. Nevertheless, this means our fight needs to be taken to Governor Douglas and his plans on vetoing the bill.

Help Us, donate to Vermont Free To Marry, or contact the Governor and House of Representatives today! Contact the representatives and ask them to support vetoing the Governor's veto. A few members of the house who opposed the bill, already have come out and said they will vote to veto the Governor's veto, should he veto it.

Governor Douglas: Email ( Click Here ) or call 1-800-649-6825 - urge him to reconsider!

House of Representatives: Email or Call ( Click Here )

~Celeste~