The leaders of the Vermont House and Senate have appointed a commission to ask Vermonters whether the Legislature should allow same-sex couples to marry, The Associated Press reports. The volunteer commission will hold public hearings and is scheduled to complete its study by the end of April and report to the Legislature.

In 2000, the Legislature passed a law that allowed same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. Vermont's citizens have not forgotten that difficult debate, said Jenny Tyree, associate marriage analyst for Focus on the Family Action.

"It's no surprise that those who fought for civil unions are now pushing for same-sex 'marriage' in Vermont," she said. "For most same-sex 'marriage' advocates, civil unions are just one step along the path toward changing marriage for everyone. 
 
"Their viewpoint seems to be that marriage is just a legal term that can be changed easily, but this view denies that across human civilizations, marriage exists for one purpose – to give children the gift of two biological parents."
 
Gov. Jim Douglas, a Republican, told the AP he believes the Legislature will be better served by focusing on issues such as high property taxes and the high cost of living in the state.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Twenty-seven states have amended their constitutions to protect traditional marriage. Click here for a map.