Campbell faces threat over gay marriage issue
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Times Argus Staff - Published: November 20, 2008
MONTPELIER — Senate Majority Leader John Campbell, D-Windsor, will not formally introduce his bill making gay marriage legal in Vermont until January when the Legislature reconvenes, but Wednesday an angry opponent of the idea called the Statehouse to threaten him over it.
The anonymous woman threatened to blow up his house, Campbell said.
"It is disturbing," he said. "You never can tell if this is someone who is giving an emotional reaction or if there is some seriousness to it."
The state now has a civil unions law — the first in the nation — that grants same sex couples many of the legal benefits of marriage.
However, advocates and some lawmakers, including Campbell, believe same sex couples should have the same legal rights of heterosexual couples.
His bill, which has already been drafted, would specifically exempt religious organizations from having to recognize such marriages, Campbell added.Campbell said it is one thing to have someone react with a threat against a lawmaker, however distasteful and worrisome. However, his family was also threatened by Wednesday's phone call, which police are investigating, he said.
"They should not be exposed to threats of this type," Campbell said. "You don't expect that in Vermont."
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