VPR/Nina Keck

The Reverend Erica Baron of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Rutland

The law replaces civil unions, which were available to gay and lesbian couples for 10 years.   

Several couples exchanged vows at midnight, just as the new law went into effect. Many others are planning weddings in the weeks and months to come.   

VPR's Nina Keck reports that a Rutland pastor will be busy with weddings this weekend.

(Keck) The Reverend Erica Baron of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Rutland will perform at least six same-sex marriages this weekend in Rutland and Bennington.  She says she's looked forward to seeing gay and lesbian couples marry for years.    

(Erica Baron) "Starting today the state of Vermont is no longer asking me to discriminate against people who come to me and ask me to marry them and that feels really good."

(Keck) Baron says the state's landmark civil unions legislation was vital in furthering the rights of same sex couples.    But she says culturally and practically, civil unions and marriage are different.   She says Vermont has made those differences obsolete.

(Baron) "Marriage has a long history in our culture. It's a word that everybody understands and it implies a level of commitment and it means that everyone has access to the same institution.   And we're not sort of separating out gay and lesbian couples and making their relationships second class relationships."

(Keck) She says that while she'll be officiating at at least six same-sex marriages this weekend, her congregations in Rutland and Bennington will be on hand to provide refreshments and help the couples celebrate.  

For VPR News, I'm Nina Keck in Rutland.