People from all over Vermont came to the state house Wednesday to take part in hearings on a proposed gay marriage bill.
People crowded the largest room in the Statehouse, sitting in any available spot, overflowing to hallways and stair wells, to listen to testimony from average citizens to state senators.
Testimony went back and forth, one person against gay marriage, like Bishop of Burlington Salvatore Matano who said, "a legal union is one man and one woman."
Advocate Rosemary Pelletier asked, "which of the married people here has had to come before the legislature and had to beg for the right to marry the person they love?"
Nine years after take back Vermont signs were first displayed on lawns during the fight over civil unions -- those signs are back -- displayed Wednesday in front of the state house -- as Vermont considers whether to join Connecticut and Massachusetts in legalizing gay marriage.
Setting up those signs Nicole Corin reasoned, "marriage has always been open to the public, anyone has the right to get married. What we are talking about now is changing the definition of marriage."
While those supporting the bill wore yellow buttons with the slogan "from legal rights to equal rights"- saying civil unions promised to be the same as marriages -- but that just hasn't happened.
Testimony will continue in front of the senate judiciary committee this week, lawmakers hope to reach a decision on this bill by the end of their May session.
