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On Saturday, Same-Sex Couples in Vermont Become First Beneficiaries of Civil Union Law

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: It is not quite marriage in the eyes of the law, but for some gay couples in the U.S. state of Vermont, a civil union is the next best thing. On Saturday, they become the first participants of the new law that extends some legal protections to same-sex couples.

As CNN's Bill Delaney now reports, Saturday's union ceremonies are likely to raise some complicated issues nationwide.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL DELANEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As Kevin Gato and Declan Buckley celebrated their love and commitment at the First Universalists Society in Hartland, Vermont Saturday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Granted this ceremony be blessed.

DELANEY: What makes the world go around remained the same.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do.

DELANEY: If for some, the world turned a bit upside down, as for the first time anywhere, Vermont's civil union law conferred on gay and lesbian couples nearly all rights and privileges of traditional marriage.

DECLAN BUCKLEY, CIVIL UNION PARTICIPANT: The gay men that I work with have been seen only in terms of their sexual behavior, and I think we have sort of accepted that way, where it's really about two people being together, and loving each other and having a partnership over our lifetime.

KEVIN GATO, CIVIL UNION PARTICIPANT: I've always wanted the same thing that my parents have, but with a man. And now I'm getting it.

DELANEY: Kevin Gato's parents have been married 59 years.

A few of Vermont's 247 town clerks did refuse licenses for civil unions Saturday. At least 20, though, were issued, including Declan Buckley and Kevin Gato.

ROBERT DIXON, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE: And today, my friends, Vermont is the first state to have a civil union law, and we will not be the last.

DELANEY: What worries opponents of civil union all over the country, Buckley and Gato are not from Vermont, and hope to transport their civil union status and hundreds of rights, involving taxes, inheritance, hospital visitation, to New Hampshire.

(on camera): They may be able to. Gay and lesbian legal advocates are expected to argue, among other things, that since Article IV of the Constitution, the "full faith in credit" clause, allows marriages in one state to be valid in another. Civil unions should be, too.

(voice-over): Opponents of civil union in Vermont say thousands of gay and lesbian couples may now head for their state.

Dwight Duncan is a law professor in Vermont's neighboring state of Massachusetts.

DWIGHT DUNCAN, LAW PROFESSOR: This is just the beginning. What is being attempted really is a radical redefinition of marriage. From my knowledge of the Massachusetts courts, I think they would jump at the opportunity at the opportunity to recognize and extend benefits to Vermont's civil unions.

DELANEY: As in a picture-perfect corner of Vermont, what makes for a legal union took on a whole new look.

Bill Delaney, CNN, Hartland, Vermont.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NELSON: At the stroke of midnight Saturday Caroline Conrad and her partner were the first to take advantage of the Vermont law. She joins us now for more on the issue of same-sex marriages, and joins us by phone as well.

Mrs. Conrad, the first question I wanted to ask you, is why is this law important for you and your partner.

CAROLYN CONRAD, CIVIL UNION PARTICIPANT: The law is important for us because we really crave the legal recognition that our heterosexual friends and family members have. We need the protection. We own a house together. We have created a life together. And the protections that are afforded us through the union creates a security and safety that most people take for granted. Knowing that if something happens to my partner, I would have ownership of the house. If anything happens to me medically, she would be able to make decisions for me. Knowing that our taxes and our ownership is united similarly to a marriage, those kinds of things give you the peace of mind that really, I think, most people deserve in our society.

NELSON: Does it concern that many other states in the union may not recognize your alliance, your union?

CONRAD: It is concerning for me. As a resident of Vermont, it will -- obviously, that won't be a problem for me. It concerns me because I think that human rights should be across the border of any state throughout our whole country. And I believe that at some point, we will get there.

But at this stage, I'm just thrilled that Vermont had the courage to go forward and to recognize their gay members and go ahead and make this really groundbreaking move.

NELSON: All right, thank you for taking the time to talk to us. Carolyn Conrad, who with her partner were the first to take advantage of the Vermont law, very early Saturday morning.

And we're also going to be joined in just a moment by Vermont state representative Rusty Valsangiacumo, who is a Democrat. He opposes the civil union law, and he says he's going to work to overturn it.

Mr. Valsangiacumo, are you there?

ORESTE VALSANGIACUMO (D), VERMONT STATE REPRESENTATIVE: Yes, I'm right here.

NELSON: Tell us why you oppose this law.

VALSANGIACUMO: Well, I don't think this law in the best interests of our national security. Just think if this had been the norm in the '20s and '30s, we wouldn't have the manpower to get involved in WWII. You know, this lifestyle doesn't produce a new generation. And if we don't produce a new generation, then what will happen? Humanity would self destruct, and there'd be nobody left on Earth. So it's in the best interests of the state of the nation.

NELSON: Some might say to that, this is just a recognition of a law or a state of affairs affecting a small minority, and it's just, in the interests of fairness, is recognizing what is inevitable.

VALSANGIACUMO: What do you mean is inevitable? I don't think it's inevitable, I mean, unless if you have people like we have in our court that says, well, you've got to give these people benefits. You give them benefits for what? They don't -- they're not the same situation as a married couple. A married couple produces families, and it's in the best interests of the state and the nation. These people are just not doing anything like that, so why should they say that they're entitled to some special benefit?

NELSON: So you draw the line on the production of children?

VALSANGIACUMO: Well, that's right. I mean, if you don't produce a new generation, what's going to happen?

NELSON: OK, thank you for coming by to tell us your views, state representative Oreste Valsangiacumo, who is opposing that law.

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