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Summarized by Kent Larsen
LDS Representative Tells Vermont Legislature to Amend Constitution
Boston Globe (AP) 13Jan00 N1
By Ross Sneyd: Associated Press
MONTPELIER, VERMONT -- In the wake of last month's Vermont Supreme Court
decision that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to the same benefits
enjoyed by married couples, the Vermont legislature held hearings what
legislation should be enacted to implement the decision. Opponents of
same-sex marriage, including the LDS Church, testified before the
Vermont House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, arguing that the
legislature should either ignore the decision or try to enact a
constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage.
The LDS Church was represented by Burlington lawyer Thomas McCormick,
who helped write a brief to the Vermont Supreme Court for its recent
decision, now called the Baker decision. McCormick told the Judiciary
committee that he thinks the best way to respond was to seek an
amendment to the state constitution that defines marriage as between one
man and one woman.
McCormick told the committee that he thinks permitting same-sex
marriages will lead to other forms of marriage. "What is going to mean
if you redefine marriage today that says, yes, the very attractive
couples in the Baker case can be married? What are you going to say
tomorrow when three or more people want to get married? If you say yes
to same-sex couples, what do you say to two sisters or two brothers who
want to be married?"
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