Dean urges passage of same sex marriage bill (and so does Leahy)

[cali]

By Joel Banner Baird, Free Press Staff Writer • March 29, 2009

BURLINGTON -- A boisterous crowd cheered former Gov. Howard Dean's support of Freedom to Marry legislation and health care reform Saturday at a Vermont Democratic Party reception at the Hilton Burlington.

Dean's emotional endorsement of both issues headlined his acceptance of the 10 annual David W. Curtis Award.

The event celebrated Dean's tenure as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee -- and his 50-state strategy that is credited for helping return the party to power in Congress, and for President Barack Obama's victory.


Dean urged Vermont party members to press forward in this year's legislative drive to grant marriage rights to all Vermonters, regardless of gender.

"Vote your conscience, not your district," he advised legislators.

"Stand up for doing the right thing; for being a human being," he continued. "Put human rights above politics -- because if you don't, you'll regret it for the rest of your political career."

Conservatives, he said, should note that the first American soldier to "take a bullet" at the onset of the current war in Iraq was a gay man.

The late David W. Curtis, for whom the awards are named, was an openly gay civil rights activist in Vermont, died at age 61 on Aug. 7, 1999, while serving as the chairman of the state's Democratic Party

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http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090329/NEWS03/90329004/1001/NEWS

And although the Free Press article doesn't say so, a diary at kos says that Leahy also spoke up for passage of the marriage equality legislation.

From the kos Diary:

When Pat Leahy took the stage, the applause was thunderous. Vermont's senior senator is a beloved Party fixture. leahy noted the historical importance of marriage equality, and that Vermont was helping lead the way for the nation.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/3/29/714398/-Dinner-with-Dean,-Leahy,-Sanders,-Welch-and-McCaskill

[Reeta77]

1. K&R - n/t.

[cali]

2. yay. someone commented.

thank for the k&r.

I think GLBT rights and marriage equality are the civil rights issue of our time. And two prominent pols with national recognition speaking out for it, is a damned good thing.