The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • 5

www.burlingtonfreepress.com SA Marriage Equality Bill Gay marriage: How the new law works The Burlington Free Press Wednesday, April 8. 2009 vLIf tun HI1V 11 1 iiWs, The Burlington Free Press covered the historic vote live at www.burlingtonfreepress.com. These are the Tweets sent on our Web site and on Twitter.com 10:09 a.m. NEW LAW: Same-sex couples will be able to marry beginning Sept. 1.

CIVIL UNIONS: Civil unions obtained before Sept. 1 remain valid. No new civil unions will be granted after Sept. 1. Couples with civil unions who want to marry must obtain marriage licenses and have marriage ceremonies.

STATE RECOGNITION: Same-sex marriages from other states have already been recognized in Vermont. The new law removes any uncertainty. Same-sex marriages performed in Vermont will be recognized in at least the other three states in which gay couples may marry, along with New York and the District of Columbia. FEDERAL RECOGNITION: The federal government continues to give legal recognition only to heterosexual marriages. OTHER STATES: Courts in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa have ruled that same-sex couples can marry.

The Iowa ruling came last week and the first gay marriages will be allowed there on April 24. The California Supreme Court ruled in May that same-sex couples could wed, but California voters reinstated a gay-marriage ban in a November referendum. fl PENDING QUESTION: The New Hampshire House of Representatives passed a same-sex marriage bill by a vote of 186-179 on March 26. The Senate has yet to vote on the bill. Gov.

John Lynch has expressed opposition to same-sex marriage but hasn't said whether he would veto a bill if it came to his desk. MORE INFORMATION: For answers to common questions about Vermont's same-sex marriage law, go to www.leg.state.vt.usmiscsll5faq.pdf bfppolitics: Senate votes to override Douglas veto vtfreetomarry; vtgaymarriage 11:03 bfppolitics: Vt. State House votes to override governor's veto. Same sex marriage bill is now law. vt vtgaymarriage 11:05 bfppolitics: Vt.

State House votes to override governor's veto. 100 for the override, 49 against. vt vtgaymarriage I ft 'I Business community praises law Action called 'lifestyle incentive' It-si -v. Photos by GLENN RUSSELL, Free Press Sandi (center) and Bobbi (right) Cote-Whitacre of Milton celebrate Tuesday after the Legislature overrrode Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of the same-sex marriage bill.

They have been together as a couple for 42 years. House vote on veto override Senate vote How the Vermont Senate voted to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill to allow same-sex marriage. The vote was 23-5 in favor of the override. Yes (23) Tim Ashe, D-Chittenden; Claire Ayer, D-Addison; Susan Bart-lett, D-Lamoille; John Campbell, D-Windsor; William Carris, D-Rutland; Matthew Choate, D-Caledonia; Ann Cummings, D-Washington; Harold Giard, D-Addison; Robert Hartwell, D-Bennington; Jane Kitchel, D-Caledonia; Sara Kittell, D-Franklin; Virginia Lyons, D-Chit-tenden; Mark MacDonald, D-Orange; Richard Mazza, D-Grand Isle; Dick McCormack, D-Windsor; Hinda Miller, D-Chittenden; Kevin Mullin, R-Rutland; Alice Nitka, D-District; Douglas Racine, D-Chittenden; Richard Sears, D-Bennington; Peter Shumlin, D-Windham; ane Snelling, R-Chittenden; JeanetteWhite, D-Windham No (5) Randy Brock, R-Franklin; William Doyle, R-Washington; Vince llluzzi, R-Essex-Orleans; Hull Maynard, R-Rutland; Robert Starr, D-Essex-Orleans Did not vote Edward Flanagan, D-Chittenden; Phil Scott, R-Washington.

House Majority Leader Rep. Floyd Nease (seated), D-Johnson and Rep. Willem Jewett, D-Ripton, count votes Tuesday at the Statehouse. House majority leader's mother dies during vote As House majority leader, it was Rep. Floyd Nease's job to make sure the votes were in place for Tuesday morning's override of Gov.

Jim Douglas' veto. At about 8:15 a.m., Nease, a Democrat from Johnson, received word that his mother had been taken to the hospital in New Hampshire. A short time later, he learned that she had died. Nease, whose vote was needed for the override to succeed, stayed until the vote was over. He left the Statehouse immediately afterward.

Terfi Hallenbeck, Free Press "Twenty-first century businesses are more likely to grow and expand in areas that embrace diversity and equality" and more inclined to invest "in areas that don't believe that 'separate, but equal' is an acceptable foundational principal," Torti said. "Civil unions created a condition of 'separate, but equal' and we as a society rejected that decades ago." A community "that is more inclusive or accepting is going to have an advantage," Mayer said. Kevin Dorn, Vermont's secretary of commerce and community development, could not be reached for comment. Tourism boost? "People like to go where they feel welcome, accepted, where they feel equal. Vermont, as a resort destination will have an advantage," Torti said.

Vermont Commissioner of Tourism and Marketing Bruce Hyde doesn't expect to see waves of people streaming to Vermont because same-sex marriage is being legalized, however. In the wake of Vermont's decision to approve civil unions, Hyde said there were a wide range of opinions on how it would impact tourism. 'People are going to boycott' or 'people are going to flood he said, recalling predictions from 2000. "I don't think we saw either." Tourists spend about $1.6 billion in Vermont annually, Hyde said. Gay and lesbian travelers tend to be more affluent and spend more, he noted, so it's likely gay and lesbian niche businesses will continues to develop.

"As we saw with civil unions, businesses developed that niche and become very successful," he said. Sugarbush Resort, which began to host weddings last summer, is considering a marketing campaign to advertise gay weddings at the mountain resort, said Win Smith, resort president. Aside from possible tourism, Smith agreed that allowing gays and lesbians to marry in Vermont will help the state's businesses by enhancing their ability to attract a highly qualified work force. Contacted by Mayer a few days ago, Smith signed the letter to the legislators, after sleeping on it for a night. "It's a very emotional issue," he said, but it's "the right thing." "I think the message is: Vermont is a welcoming state and I think that just helps with our brand," Smith said.

Contact Dan McLean at 651-4877 or To get Free Press headlines delivered free to your e-mail, sign up at www newsletters. By Dan McLean Free Press Staff Writer Paul Millman, president of Chroma Technology said passing the same-sex marriage legislation in Vermont creates a "lifestyle incentive" that will bolster the state's economy. "Our governor is wrong," said Millman, who helped draft a letter signed by about two dozen business leaders, to lobby legislators the evening before their vote to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto. "What will make Vermont's economy strong is more creative people coming to Vermont." Leaders of Vermont's business community say the Legislature's override of the governor's veto Tuesday could help build the state's labor force, entice socially conscious companies and lure more tourists to the Green Mountain State.

"I'm convinced that everything we do like this makes our state attractive to smart, creative people and they don't have to be gay, they can be straight and creative. Our company is filled with both kinds," said Millman, whose Rock-ingham-based optical filter manufacturing company employs 89 people. State officials have said Vermont's aging work force is problematic and have attempted to lure a. younger demographic to the state. Gay marriage, Millman said, is an issue younger generations tend to support.

"The world that I grew up in separated people by race and by gender and by sexual orientation," said Millman, 61. "The world of the 20-year-old is really inclusive. They really like the fact that people are different." "People have expressed an incredible emotional pride in our state as a result of this vote," said Don Mayer, CEO Small Dog Electronics and a board member of the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility; Mayer helped unify members of the business community on the issue. "It will bring us yet another tool to bring the best employees to Vermont," said Mayer, who pushed for the bill's passage. The passage of the law won't have a detrimental effect on existing businesses or prompt others to leave Vermont, said Tom Torti, president of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, which represents roughly 2,500 businesses.

"We testified that we don't think the same-sex or marriage equality law would be in any way bad for business," he said, noting just one Chamber member contacted him to express their opposition. How the Vermont House voted to override Gov. Jim veto of a bill to allow same-sex marriage. The vote was 100-49 in favor of the override. Yes (100) Janet Ancel, D-Calais; Peg Andrews, D-Rutland City; Bill As-wad, D-Burlington; Charles Bohi, D-Hartford; Bill Botzow, D-Pownal; Christopher Bray, D-New Haven; Mollie Burke, P-Brattleboro; Margaret Cheney, D-Norwich; Alison Clarkson, D-Woodstock; Jim Condon, D-Colchester; Chip Conquest, D-Newbury; Sarah Copeland-Han-zas, D-Bradford; Gale Cour-celle, D-Rutland City; Susan Davis, P-Washington; David Deen, D-Westminster; Anne Donahue, R-Northfield; Johan-nah Donovan, D-Burlington; Sarah Edwards, P-Brattleboro; Alice Emmons, D-Springfield; Debbie Evans, D-Essex; Michael Fisher, D-Lincoln; Bill Frank, D-Underhill; Patsy French, D-Randolph; Eldred French, D-Shrewsbury; Frank Geier, D-South Burlington; Gary Gilbert, D-Fairfax; Maxine Grad, D-Moretown; Adam Gre-shin, l-Warren; Sandy Haas, P-Rochester; Helen Head, D-South Burlington; Martha Heath, D-Westford; Mary Hooper, D-Montpelier; Stephen Howard, D-Rutland City; Richard Hube, R-Londonderry; Tim Jerman, D-Essex; Willem Jew-ett, D-Ripton; Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero; Kathleen Kee-nan, D-St.

Albans City; Warren Kitzmiller, D-Montpelier; Tony Klein, D-East Montpelier; Patti Komline, R-Dorset; Diane Lan-pher, D-Vergennes; Mark Larson, D-Burlington; Joan Lenes, D-Shelburne; Lucy Lerlche, D-Hardwick; Bill Lippert, D-Hines-burg; Jason Lorber, D-Burlington; Terry Macaig, D-Williston; Steven Maler, D-Middlebury; John Malcolm, D-Pawlet; Ann Manwarlng, D-Wllmlngton; Richard Marek, D-Newfane; Cynthia Martin, D-Springfleld; Linda Martin, D-Wolcott; Jim Masland, D-Thetford; Jim McCullough, D-Wililston; Virginia Milkey, D-Brattleboro; Alice Miller, D-Shaftsbury; Sue Mlnter, D-Waterbury; Mark Mitchell, D-Barnard; Anne Mook, D-Bennington; John Mo-ran, D-Wardsboro; Mike Mro-wlckl, D-Putney; Floyd Nease, D-Johnson; Betty Nuovo, D-Middlebury; Anne O'Brien, D-Rlchmond; Michael Obuchow-skl, D-Rocklngham; Scott Orr, D-Charlotte; Carolyn Partridge, D-Wlndham; Kathy Pellett, D-Chester; Peter Peltz, D-Wood-bury; Paul Polrler, D-Barre City; Ann Pugh, D-South Burlington; I I Patrick Brennan, R-Colchester; Cynthia Browning, D-Arlington; Bill Canfield, R-Fair Haven; Gregory Clark, R-Vergennes; John Clerkin, R-Hartford; Howard Crawford, R-Burke; Tim Corcoran, D-Bennington; Michel Consejo, D-Sheldon; Dennis Devereux, R-Mount Holly; Eileen Dickinson, R-St. Albans Town; Andrew Do-naghy, R-Poultney; Peter Fa-gan, R-Rutland City; Peg Flory, R-Pittsford; Robert Helm, R-Castleton; Mark Higley, R-Low-ell; Richard Howrigan, D-Fair-field; Ronald Hubert, R-Milton; William Johnson, R-Canaan; Duncan Kilmartin, R-Newport City; Thomas Koch, R-Barre Town; Joseph Krawczyk, R-Bennington; Leigh Larocque, R-Barnet; Richard Lawrence, R-Lyndon; Robert Lewis, R-Derby; Michael Marcotte, R-Coventry; Norman McAllister, R-Highgate; Patricia McDonald, R-Berlln; Francis McFaun, R-Barre Town; James McNeil, R-Rutland Town; John Morley, R-Barton; Mary Morrissey, R-Ben-nlngton; Linda Myers, R-Essex; Patricia O'Donnell, R-Vernon; Chuck Pearce, R-Richford; Jan-Ice Peaslee, R-Guildhall; Peter Perley, R-Enosburg; David Potter, D-Clarendon; Gary Rels, R- Kesha Ram, D-Burlington; John Rodgers, D-Glover; Heidi Scheuermann, R-Stowe; Ernest Shand, D-Weathersfield; Dave Sharpe, D-Bristol; Megan Smith, D-Mendon; Shap Smith, D-Morristown; Robert South, D-St. Johnsbury; Krlsty Spengler, D-Colchester; William Stevens, l-Shoreham; Tom Stevens, D-Waterbury; Donna Sweaney, D-Windsor; Tess Taylor, D-Barre City; George Till, D-Jericho; Kitty Toll, D-Danville; Larry Towns-, end, D-Randolph; Ira Trombley, D-Grand Isle; Linda Waite-Simpson, D-Essex; Kate Webb, D-Shelbume; Richard Westman, R-Cambridge; Rachel Weston, D-Burlington; Jeff Wilson, D-Manchester; Suzi Wlzowaty; D-Burlington; Kurt Wright, R-Burlington; Jeff Young, D-St. Albans City; John Zenle, D-Colchester; David Zuckerman, P-Burlington. No (49) Joe Aclnapura, R-Brandon; Steven Adams, R-Hartland; David Alnsworth, R-Royalton; Kenneth Atkins, D-Winooskl; Joseph Baker, R-West Rutland; Clem Blssonnette, D-Winooskl; Carolyn Branagan, R-Georgla; Rep.

Ken Atkins, D-Wi-nooski, listens as the House of Representatives votes to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of the same-sex marriage bill. Evans voted against the bill and voted to sustain the veto. St. Johnsbury; Brian Savage, R-Swanton; Donald Turner, R-Milton; Scott Wheeler, R-Derby; Phillip Winters, i Did not vote Sonny Audette, D-South 'I.