By Melanie Nathan
Vermont’s ground-breaking civil union and marriage equality laws may be partly attributed to the advocacy of new associate justice Beth Robinson, who was sworn in by Governor Peter Shumlin, to Vermont State’s Supreme Court Monday.
The 46-year-old Robinson, an out and open lesbian, was one of the lawyers who represented three couples in a landmark 1999 state Supreme Court decision that prompted the Legislature in 2000 to make Vermont the first state to offer marriage-like rights and benefits to same-sex couples.
She later led Vermont Freedom to Marry, which pushed for and won passage in 2009 of the country’s first gay-marriage law that wasn’t directly prompted by a court decision.
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Vermont State has also seen leadership by State Senator Patrick Leahy who led the Senate Judiciary Committee this past month to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, the legislation to repeal DOMA, through committee toward the House floor.
Photo:
Beth Robinson, of the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force, reacts as votes get close enough for a veto override for the same sex Civil Marriage law at Vermont’s State House April 7, 2009 in Montpelier, Vermont. Hundreds gathered at the State House as the Vermont House and Senate voted to override yesterday’s veto, by Governor Jim Douglas, of the state’s new Civil Marriage Law. The passage of the override will make Vermont the first state to enact a same sex civil marriage law through legislation, and not a court order. (April 7, 2009 – Photo by Jordan Silverman/Getty Images North America
O-blog-dee-o-blog-da 
congratulation
Absolutely wonderful news! We need more qualified GLBT people in positions of trust and responsibility like Ms. Robinson. Blessings and peace!
Equality for all!!!
Thank you to all in the gov’t who are pushing for our rights!
TF
Congratulations, too. I’m sure Beth Robinson will do an outstanding job in her new role. The people of Vermont are lucky to have her.