Council members originally considered eliminating President's Day as a paid holiday to celebrate the activist on his March 31 birthday. Two years ago, the state Legislature made Chavez's birthday an optional state holiday. Chavez's birthday is an official state holiday in California and is recognized in Arizona. Chavez, who died in 1993, founded the United Farm Workers Union in 1962 to push for better pay and safer working conditions. The House narrowly approved a bill Wednesday to replace Vermont's civil unions law with one that would offer marriage benefits not only to same-sex couples but also to others who cannot legally marry.
Critics say it is an attempt to demean gay relationships.
Speaker Walter Freed had to break a 69-69 tie to advance the proposal to a final vote today. At least two House members said they might vote against the bill then because they do not want the state endorsing same-sex relationships at all. The measure appears doomed in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Democratic Gov. Howard Dean, who signed the civil unions law, has also said he would veto a repeal. The sponsor, Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Peg Flory, said sexual orientation should not be a factor in determining who qualifies for marriage benefits.