A moment infamy at Vermont's State House today as Gov. Howard Dean signed H.847 into law behind closed doors and without a signing ceremony at 1:30 PM. On April 25, 2000. Questioned hard by the press of the unusual signing, the governor indicated it was to begin the process of healing by minimizing the appearance of "triumphalism".

Suspicious minds believe the lack of a photo opportunity that might have included smiling shots of Judiciary Chairs Richard Sears and Thomas Little along with the governor was a choice concerned more with the November election than with concern for the opponents of the bill.

Legislative wags are talking now about the "Gay Governor" and "Howard the Coward". Whatever the reason, Dean's closeted choice seemed sure to make all sides unhappy while making him look like President Clinton signing the Defense of Marriage Act on a Saturday night.

The rushed passage and signing of H.847 insures that Vermont's gay activists can travel to Washington, DC, this weekend for the Gay Millennium March with a fresh scalp to celebrate. Something to help unsour the taste of recent defeats in the California initiative and the Virginia Supreme Court ruling.