Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 13:53:00 -0500 From: Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders Subject: Baker v. State (Vermont Same-Gender Couples Suing for Freedom to Marry) Attorneys for the Plaintiffs: Susan M. Murray, Esq. and Beth Robinson, Esq. LANGROCK SPERRY & WOOL Phone: (802) 388-6356 Mary L. Bonauto, Esq. GLAD - Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders Phone: (617) 426-1350 VERMONTERS CELEBRATE RULING ALLOWING SAME-SEX COUPLES TO MARRY: PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED IN BURLINGTON FOR 2:30 P.M. -------Media Alert------- The plaintiffs in the case Baker v. State and their attorneys will hold a press conference this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel (formerly the Ramada Inn) in South Burlington, to discuss the Courtís decision in the Baker v. State case. The Clarion Hotel is located at 1117 Williston Road, Burlington and the telephone number is (802) 658-0250. -------Press Release------- (Middlebury, Vermont, December 20, 1999) In a landmark decision, the Vermont Supreme Court today ruled in favor of three same-sex couples who challenged the constitutionality of Vermontís marriage laws. Writing for the Court, Justice Amestoy declared, The extension of the Common Benefits Clause to acknowledge plaintiffs as Vermonters who seek nothing more, nor less, than legal protection and security for their avowed commitment to an intimate and lasting human relationship is simply, when all is said and done, a recognition of our common humanity. The Court concluded that statutory benefits and protections of marriage must be extended to same-sex couples. The Court directed the legislature to remedy the discrimination. Holly Puterbaugh and Lois Farnham, one of the plaintiff couples, cheered the Court's ruling, noting, "We'll be celebrating our 27th anniversary together in October. We look forward to the time when we can finally make it official." Stan Baker and Peter Harrigan of Shelburne, and Nina Beck and Stacy Jolles of South Burlington, joined Farnham and Puterbaugh in challenging the State of Vermont's refusal to grant them civil marriage licenses. Susan Murray, co-counsel for the Plaintiffs from the Middlebury law firm Langrock Sperry & Wool, stated: "It's really a win-win situation for everyone. The Court's decision will provide added security and protection to same-sex couples and their families without taking anything away from anyone else." "This is a legal and cultural milestone," added Mary Bonauto, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, and Civil Rights Director at New England-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders. "The Court recognized that same-sex couples need and deserve the same legal rights and protections other people take for granted. The Court's decision paves the way for more secure families and stronger communities." Same-sex couples in Vermont will now be eligible for the protections of a wide variety of laws which recognize the relationship of married partners. For example, they will be able to inherit from one another without a will, make medical decisions if the other is incapacitated, transfer property to each other without tax consequences, and take time from work to care for each other in the event of illness. A surviving spouse will be able to bury his or her own partner, and same-sex couples can be treated as an economic unit for tax purposes. In the event that same-sex married partners break up, they can seek an ordered division of property through the divorce laws. The parties' third attorney, Beth Robinson, explained, "These types of legal protections are extremely important to same-sex couples and the families they form. We can now declare who is our next-of-kin." The parties filed their lawsuit in the Chittenden Superior Court in July, 1997, after each of the three couples was denied a marriage license by their local town clerk. The trial court dismissed the case in December, 1997, and the plaintiffs appealed to the Vermont Supreme Court. The Vermont Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case in November, 1998, and interested parties from all over the country submitted friend of the court briefs. In its ruling, the Vermont Supreme Court suspended the case and retained jurisdiction in order to ensure that the legislature crafts an appropriate response. -30- Founded in 1978, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) is New England's leading legal rights organization for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and people living with HIV. GLAD's mission is to achieve full equality and justice for all individuals in these groups, primarily through impact litigation and education. __________________________________________________________________________ Wonbo Woo Communications Manager Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) phone: (212) 807-1700 x24 fax: (212) 807-1806 email: woo@glaad.org Visit GLAAD Online at: http://www.glaad.org To report defamation, call our toll-free Alertline at: (800) GAY-MEDIA or visit our website Vote for "The 20 Best Lesbian & Gay Films of the 20th Century" at www.glaad.org __________________________________________________________________________ The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. __________________________________________________________________________ 'GLAAD' and 'Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation' are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. __________________________________________________________________________