Boost for gay marriage campaigners: CEN 4.17.09 p 6.

Supporters of gay marriage won two victories last week in the United States after the Vermont legislature turned back a veto by the state’s Republican governor of a Democrat-sponsored bill making marriage “gender neutral”, and the Iowa state supreme court overturned a state law banning gay marriage. The Episcopal Bishop of Vermont, the Rt Rev Thomas Ely — who had lobbied the state legislature in support of gay marriage — on April 7 applauded the vote saying he hoped it would “inspire other states to enact comparable legislation and that ultimately the legal provisions of full marriage equality will be provided to all citizens of the United States.” The Bishop of Iowa, the Rt Rev Alan Scarfe, also endorsed his state’s move in support of gay marriage. In a Good Friday pastoral letter to the diocese, he said the ruling “clarifies for me what the issue is that is facing the Church. Like so many who support the rights of gay and lesbian people, I thought civil unions would provide adequate protection for their relationships. I began to see things differently as I heard the arguments presented in court several months ago.” Read it all in The Church of England Newspaper.