This Day In History, 1999

VERMONT RULES ON SAME SEX COUPLE RIGHTS

Five years ago today, the Vermont State Supreme Court ruled in Baker v. State (98-032) that gay couples are entitled to all the benefits, protections and responsibilities given to heterosexual married couples by the state. Denying gay couples such rights was discriminatory and unconstitutional under the Vermont state constitution. The court left the details of the remedy to the Vermont legislature. Rather than legalize gay marriages, the legislature created a parallel institution: civil union.

The text of the decision can be found here: http://www.lambdalegal.org/sections/library/decisions/vermont

Wikipedia's entry on the decision can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_v._Vermont

ALA Conference

The American Library Association is having its midwinter meeting at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston from January 14-19, 2005. I'll probably buy an exhibits only membership and attend in my capacity as a town Library Trustee. Anyone else thinking of going?

More information can be found at http://www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/midwinter/2005/home.htm