“No candidate has done more to advance marriage equality than Peter Shumlin.  Without his efforts, same-sex couples would not be able to marry in Vermont today.”

The announcement, made in an email to VFMAC supporters, describes Peter’s vital role in bringing the bill to allow same-sex couples to legally marry to a vote in 2009, as well as his creation of a commission in 2007 to hold public hearings about the issue, as key factors in the bill’s ultimate passage.  Robinson noted that both of these actions required considerable political courage, and concluded  “Senator Shumlin stuck his neck out for us in a big way, and he’s earned our support.”

Peter made a promise to himself after watching families getting their rights taken away from them during the passage of proposition 8 that he would do everything in his power to do the right thing and deliver equal rights to all Vermont families.  It wasn’t easy but Peter has established a record of getting tough things done and this was no exception.  Working with thousands of Vermonters, Peter led the effort to make Vermont the first state in the nation to pass marriage equality without a court order.