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Civil Unions and Democracy

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
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Created: October 5, 2002
Latest Update: October 5, 2002
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

Threat to Civil Unions in Vermont

Site Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individual Authors, September 2002.
"Fair use" encouraged.

In the last California Election, Proposition 22 was passed, which said essentially that marriage must be between persons of different gender. Thus, "civil unions," or marriage between persons of the same gender, is not legally possible in California at this time. At the time of the California election we had up quite a bit of material on gay marriage. I'll hunt for it, and link it for you. I didn't realize the issue was going to come up again so soon. I subscribed to the listserv so I can follow the Vermont election.

We will discuss this as an issue of social justice. Remember that we will have illocutionary discussions for the purpose of coming to understand one another. Sometimes these issues touch the person next to us far more deeply than we realize. Please be respectful and caring of each of us as we open ourselves to understanding many different cultures, many different alternative lifestyles and lifeworlds. jeanne

On Sunday, October 6, 2002, Tom Gray posted to one of my listservs:

From: "Tom Gray"
Subject: Civil Unions in Danger

Greetings,

Two years ago Vermont passed Civil Unions, becoming the first and only state to guarantee same-sex couples all the rights and freedoms of marriage. It is a good law and is working beautifully--as you may know, the New York Times, undoubtedly influenced by Vermont's decision, recently began accepting announcements from same-sex couples for its wedding page.

But Civil Unions are in danger. A conservative victory in the Vermont governor's race in November could mean the repeal of gay and lesbian couples' civil rights. The right wing could set Vermont and the nation back in the fight for equal rights.

One candidate for Vermont governor supported Civil Unions two years ago when others were silent. One candidate for governor will defend Civil Unions. One candidate for governor will veto any attempt to repeal Civil Unions. That candidate is Doug Racine.

Doug Racine invites you to join an electronic mailing list ("listserve") of Civil Union Supporters for Racine to keep up to date on the campaign to save Civil Unions.

To subscribe to the listserve, simply send an e-mail message to: racine-civil-subscribe@yahoogroups.com . For more information on Doug, visit www.dougracine.com .

Thanks for your attention and best wishes,
The Racine 2002 Campaign

In connection with this alert that I receive as a person of left perspective, should like you to read The Spirit of Democracy on Doug Racine's Web Site. Backup. Shades of Florida in 2000! We are a country sorely divided on many issues as we face a difficult future. But I never realized how threatened Democracy was in that process. I think we all need to read about this far-away election, and ponder how the results will affect our democratic future.