Residents begin filling out gay marriage applications
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Rutland City Clerk Henry Heck holds up the application for a Vermont License of Civil Marriage at City Hall on Thursday. CASSANDRA HOTALING / RUTLAND HERALD |
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By DANIEL BARLOW VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: August 14, 2009
MONTPELIER – Very quietly – and with little fanfare – same-sex Vermonters have begun filling out the necessary paperwork to get married next month.
Vermont town clerks began offering civil marriage license applications to same-sex couples this month as the Sept. 1 start of the state's new law allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry draws near.
Couples with a wedding planned after Sept. 1 can pick up a Vermont License of Civil Marriage application at their local town offices – the document that, once signed by the correct authorities, allows them to get a marriage certificate.
"I picked up mine today," said Jace Sheppard of Colchester who plans to marry his civil union partner Michael Sheppard on Sept. 1 after the two get out of work for the day. "We're going to sign it soon and probably return it tomorrow."
So far, very few same-sex couples in Vermont seem to be lining up to get the applications, although more than two weeks remains in the month before the start of the new law.
Some towns are just not expecting a blitz of same-sex unions. Susan Clark, assistant city clerk in Rutland, said they've had one couple take out a wedding application, but don't really expect too many more in the next several weeks.
"We've only had 63 civil unions since that became law," she said. "We just don't do many here. I don't foresee a bunch of people lining up."
In Montpelier, the state capital of 8,000 where supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage battled just months ago, no gay or lesbian couples have yet to ask for a civil marriage license application, according to City Clerk Charlotte Hoyt.
"We had one phone call, but we never heard back after that," she said.
Brattleboro, the liberal hub of Windham County, is the location of the state's first civil union. Nine years ago, Town Clerk Annette Cappy kept her office open past midnight to allow a lesbian couple to get the union (the two later broke up and dissolved the civil union).
But it's doubtful that such an event will occur this year. An assistant town clerk in that town said there have been no requests so far to keep the office open late for same-sex ceremonies on Aug. 31 and so far no one has picked up the applications for a civil marriage.
Sheppard, who has been with his partner for nearly six years, said the two splurged on their civil union ceremony last year are now planning a more intimate gathering for their wedding.
"We spent a lot last year, but now everyone is broke," he joked.
daniel.barlow@rutlandherald.com
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