which are granted to married couples, such as spousal immigration benefits, appointment as guardian of a minor, support payments in a divorce action, and making partner medical decisions. Most gay couples are also denied the benefits for their partners given by their employers like medical and retirement benefits since they are not married. It was during the 1970’s some lesbians and gay men also began to advocate the legal right to marry. But, the most recent break through on legalizing same sex marriage occurred on April 26, 2000 when Gov. Howard Dean of Vermont signed into law a bill that will grant gay couples nearly all of the benefits of marriage. The Governor said short after, “I think it is a courageous and powerful statement about who we are in the state of Vermont,” this bill took effect on July 1, 2000. “That will entitle them to all of the hundred of rights and responsibilities available to married couples under Vermont law in such areas as taxes, inheritance and medical decision-making,” according to the Lesbian and Gay Marriage Resource site. But the bill does not officially grant marriage licenses to same sex couples in Vermont, it just recognizes the unions of between gay couples granting them benefits they would receive if they were married. Before Vermont made its mark on the process of legalizing marriage, Hawaii was to thought to be the first state to make a significant mark on the judicial system concerning this issue. But, Hawaii was one of the first states to challenge the judicial system over the issue of same sex marriage, in the case of Baehr v. Lewin. “The case began in 1991 when three same sex couples were denied marriage licenses by the Hawaii Department of Health brought suit in state court against the director of the department. Hawaii law required couples wishing to marry to obtain a marriage license.” But since the Hawaiian law did not exactly explain th...
