Congratulations, Vermont!

Vermont has now joined Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa in legalizing same-sex marriage. It is the second state whose legislature passed a bill to legalize it (after California in 2005 and 2007), and the first state in which such a bill has become law. Therefore, it is the first state to legalize same-sex marriage without a court order. The vote in the House was 100–49, overriding the veto by only a hair! One less yea vote and the veto override would have failed. Sources inform me that this is only the seventh veto override out of 134 vetoes by a Vermont governor since the 1830s. Most excellent.

Marriage licenses can be obtained by same-sex couples starting September 1. Civil unions will be available until this date. Congratulations, Vermont!