Sunday, September 15, 2002
U.S. presidential hopeful says he would recognize same-sex unions
A story released today by the Associated Press reports that Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said Saturday that if elected president he would recognize the marriage rights of same-sex couples.
Dean said he would not propose a federal law to give same-sex couples the right to get married, but he would advocate that the federal government recognize state laws that granted same-sex couples the rights and benefits of marriage.
Vermont is the only state in the country that formally recognizes relationships of domestic partner couples. Through a pact known as civil unions, passed by the Legislature in 2000, the state grants same-sex couples all of the rights and benefits of marriage that are conferred by state government.
Dean made a point of saying that Vermont has not passed what is commonly referred to as same-sex marriage, emphasizing that civil unions are a parallel, but separate, institution. Nonetheless, the law does confer state benefits to same-sex couples, such as state tax advantages and health care and inheritance rights.
Dean, who is retiring as governor in January after 11 years and is running for president, said it was not the federal government's role to become involved in marriage statutes. But if individual states follow Vermont's lead and create what amounts to marriage contracts for same-sex couples, the federal government should recognize them.
Dean's position essentially would undo a law known as the Defense of Marriage Act. That law, passed during the Clinton administration, prohibits the federal government from recognizing marriages between any couples except one man and one woman.
Dean said as president he would not be able to undo that law without the approval of Congress. But he said he would encourage Congress to repeal it and recognize same-sex relationships.
